The Devil's Excrement

We have seen weeks of abuse of power as Chavez and his Government have overwhelmed the media and the country with advertising in favor of the SI vote on Sunday’s referendum. This is not new, we have seen it before but never of the magnitude of the last six weeks.

But what is particularly bothersome (and irksome) is how intolerance against the actions of the opposition have become outright discrimination and the slightest excuse is used to create obstacles in not only and unfair way, but clearly undemocratic and in violation of people’s rights:

• This week, the municipal Government of the Libertador District denied the opposition students permits for two marches in favor of the No vote on the referendum. Marches that favor the Government’s side are never banned or their path corrected, only the opposition’s. But what is worse is the conflict of interest whereby the mayor of the Liberatodor Municipality happens to be Chavez’ Head of campaign in favor of the SI vote Jorge Rodriguez. Rodrigues was Head of the Electoral Board before becoming Vice-Presdient of the country in that nothing-is-a-conflict-of-interest attitude that Chavismo has. Rodriguez was elected Mayor in Novemeber but ahs devoted all of his time since then to his current resposibility of making the SI win tomorrow.
• A concert by singer Soledad Bravo, “A chant for love” which was supposed to take place today (Valentine’s Day) at Central University was canceled at the request of the union of that University which argued that given that it was an “opposition” concert, this created the possibility that there could be riots (for love?). Of course, if the union says no, that’s it as the workers will not show up.
• And then of course, Spanish Deputy Luis Herrero was kidnapped and put on an airplane for saying that whiel he was not promoting a Yes or No vote, people were being threatened and you can only vote in freedom. He then said, and this irked the Government: ” Never vote led by the fear that in a premeditated way a dictator is trying to translate into the spirit of the people”. Of course, when Evo Morales, Daniel Ortega and Rafael Correa come and support Chavzea nd particiapte in an election rally, it is fine, but when a Deputy that can see clearly that Venezuela is no longer a democracy speaks, he is “insulting the dignity of the country”. The President of the EuropeanHans-Gert Pottering Parliament called the expulsion “unacceptable” and a disdain towards democratic institutions.
• And then of course, the members of the Electoral Board (CNE) continue acting as Government agents in overt fashion, it was actually the Head of the CNE that ordered the deportation of the Spanish Deputy and another member of the CNE “challenged” the opposition to give an opinion about what the Deputy said. As if the opposition did not recognize Chavez’ dictatorial tendencies. Of course, Chavez came out and citicized the Deputy insulting him in his customary fashion.
• And then, of course, Lech Walesa never came to Venezuela despite denials by the Government that it was not stopping him from coming, but it is now twice that the Polish leader has been unable to come due to the intimiadtion of the Veneuzelan Government.

This entry was posted on February 15, 2009 at 2:41 am and is filed under Venezuela.