The Devil's Excrement

In a carefully plotted week of repression and suppression of dissent, Hugo Chavez completed his pre-Easter sweep of the opposition when after the overdue sentencing of the heads of the Metropolitan Police during the stormy days of April, 2002 events took pace and they were found guilty and condemned to 30 years in jail.

It was certainly a day for infamy, as the Simonovich, Forero and Vivas were found guilty and in a clear message to all Venezuelans were given a 30 year sentence, the maximum possible, despite the fact that the Prosecution could not connect the men charged with the terrible deaths that day. In his closing statement, the Prosecutor revealed the perversity of the whole thing as he stated: “None of the weapons carried by the accused fired the bullets that injured the people..” Evidence was so scant that it took five years for them to be able to orchestrate a trial.

Despite this and the flimsy evidence, the whole process was manipulated for years and was resolved this week as part of the orders by Hugo Chavez to deal with the opposition this week while he was away and as Venezuelans got ready to take next week off as part of Easter week. His underlings obeyed, as his biggest political contender of the last ten years, Manuel Rosales was persecuted even in the absence of an arrest order, his former buddy and current enemy Raul Baduel was jailed today and the April 11th. 2002 deaths were pinned on the metropolitan policemen in charge of protecting the peaceful march that was first shot at that fateful day.

The almost five years of their trial, full of violations of the most elementary principles of Venezuela’s laws, contrast with the trial of the pro-Chavez supporters caught on camera shooting at the march. These men were given a quick trial and despite the much stronger evidence against them, were quickly found innocent, tried and allowed to go free. Their picture that day:

was much stronger than any of the evidence against the men sentenced today.

But this process was not about justice, but about establishing who rules Venezuela at will and decides what the law should or not do.

And the whole charade was carefully orchestrated to isolate and distance Chavez from it in his characteristics cowardly way. While he was in the Middle East traveling and supporting murderers, his orders were carried out with an efficiency reserved only for the repressive acts of his Government, but never for anything constructive.

And there seemed to be many messages for both Chavez’ buddies as well as his enemies: If you are against me, don’t try to lead the opposition and if you are with me, never dare turn on me or you will never see the light of day. Justice is no longer a valid word in Venezuela, the Hugo Chavez Government has no scruples and no intention of talking or reaching a truce with the opposition, let alone a meaningful dialogue with those that are against him. He is the President of the 5o-plus per cent that votes for him, the rest are men without a country, enemies of the State, oligrachs that want to oppose the only political project in Venezuela: The perpetuation of Hugo Chavez in power.

And it is indeed a sad day, as people are shocked at what many expected to happen. Anyone that thought there would be leniency did not follow the trials of Uson or General Rodriguez or the persecution of General Gonzalez Gonzalez, all institutional men that worked with Chavez, but when they had had enough, either left or confronted the Dictator, were in turn confronted with the full force his power and the police and military forces he controls.

And by the time most Venezuelans come back home from their Easter vacation ready to fight, Chavez will change topics and initiate a different war somewhere else. And like the Teflon Dictator he is, nothing will stick to him among his supporters, that adoring quasi-religious crowd that despite their hardships, continue to believe the lies and excuses of our devious and  incompetent President.

And Venezuelans will be left to wonder who will be next and how will the next confrontation develop. And those that think that violence and death will not be part of our future have short memories. Hugo Chavez and his peons have no morals, no scruples and no limits to what they will do to preserve his power and protect their newly found wealth.

It was a day that will be remembered in Venezuelan history if what is to come does not completely overshadow the indecency and immorality of this week’s events.

A very sad day, even if expected, when justice became an empty word in Venezuela and fear was driven into the minds of all Venezuelans who believe in rights and freedom. But a day that we will see repeated in the future, as we have allowed Hugo Chavez and his cronies to steal and rape our country, appointing him as the only ruler of the new oligarchy, which in the end appears to be the only force capable of removing him in the future.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has clearly decided to set aside any pretense of democracy as it intensified a campaign against opposition leaders, apparently aimed at isolating and removing anyone that could become a visible head of the country’s opposition. While earlier Chavez had used more subtle ways of neutralizing opponents, such as the disqualification of candidates from the opposition from running for office, this time the subtlety has been left aside and the Government has displayed a ferocious attack against opposition leaders.

The first victim of this wave was former Presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, who was investigated by the National Assembly and in the end was charged with corruption by an examination by the Comptroller of Rosales’ own statements throughout the years of his personal assets, which the Comptroller deemed to not be justifiable based on his salary.

Rosales has been accused in the media by Chavismo leaders and in the last few days has been treated  as if he is avoiding an order to be captured, while in reality no arrest warrant has been issued.

I am told that the Judge that was supposed to sign such an order declared herself to be ill and the Government has not found anyone that would sign the order for Rosales’ arrest. Rosales has been in hiding and has an audience with the Prosecutor on April 20th., where charges will be presented against him. Adding to that, today he was denounced for attempted homicide  by some workers injured in a riot in front of the office of the Maracaibo Mayor, which Rosales heads.

The second victim today was retired General Raul Baduel, a member of Chavez’ inner circle for many years and the man that single handedly brought Chavez back to power in 2002. Baduel retired in 2007 as Minister of Defense and opposed Chavez Constitutional referendum that year, helping the drive to defeat that proposal. He was charged with corruption, accusing him of administrative irregularities as Minister.

Baduel was arrested forecfully today by military police and there was no arrest order as required. According to his son, the path of his car was blocked and he was placed in a station wagon at gunpoint. Baduel had been to all audiences in which he was charged and had been allowed to be tried while in freedom. It is unclear why this was reversed and his lawyer says there will be an audience tomorrow.

Finally, today a pro-Chavez Deputy Iris Varela, called for an investigation of Teodoro Petkoff’s mother, who died in 1974. Petkoff, a vocal and forceful opponent of the Chavez administration, said it was unbelievable that the Government was bringing up his mother’s probate tax statement, saying the only objective was to disqualify opposition leaders.

The Chavez administration has also been very aggressive taking away responsibilities from opposition Governors and Mayors, which are assigned to them by the Constitution. Last month, the Government removed all ports and airports from their administration and today the National Assembly approved a new Bill for the Capital District of Caracas. In the words of some of the Deputies proposing this Bill, it is needed to limit the action of the opposition Mayor of the Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas if we are to have a “socialist city”. Clearly, this Bill violates the will of yhose that voted for Mayor Ledezma in November, a victory that Chavez went out of his way to avoid. Previously he had disqualified Leopoldo Lopez who was leading the polls by having the Comptroller find him guilty of administrative irregularities and banning him from running for office for seven years.

Thus, Chavez’ anti-democratic roots have surfaced clearly as he represses dissent, creating fear in those that oppose his now dictatorial regime. His total control over the institutional framework of the country attempts to disguise his true intentions, but there is no longer an attempt to even maintain the pretense of legality, it is an all out media campaign to hide the facts and find opposition leaders guilty of corruption even before they have been tried.

Curiously, as has been the case during his cowardly regime, this all fronts attack is made as Chavez is traveling and his loyal cronies follow his orders, allowing him to distance himself from the fray.

Expect this attack to continue against the media and other opposition figures as the economy deteriorates and Chavez continues his only real project: The preservation of Hugo Chavez in power forever.

Caracas is abuzz with expectations for the upcoming Miraflores Ball with Sudan’s President and revolutionary hero Omar al-Bashir. al-Bashir has not confirmed his attendance yet, but other guests are being contacted and offered movies and support to attend, among others (picture take from here):

al-Bashir will dance with Campbell, kiss Penn, hug Spacey and call Glover “my bro”.

They are all invited to the book burning ceremony afterwards. Mugabe is not coming, with inflation rampant in his country, he can’t get his credit card limit increased. Saddam is dead. Pity, he would have come…

One will get a Simon Bolivar sword in absentia, the other one posthoumously.

Chavez will take cheap shots at the elegant President…

A grand time will be had by all.

Clooney, Spielberg and other smart people are not coming…