When the first People’s Ombudsman, known in Spanish as the “People’s Defender”, German Mundarain ended his term, I could not believe that his replacement could be any worse than he was. Essentially Mundarain spent his time defending the Government and seldom seemed to remember that his role was to defend the “people”.
His replacement Gabriela Ramirez has simply followed in his steps. Today, Ms. Ramirez with her characteristic clairvoyance, simply refuted all of the accusations of accused drug dealer Walid Makled. Clairvoyance, because given that there has been no investigation of the case and Makled’s accusations, she would need to have special powers to say like she did:
“No Venezuelan officials are related to the drug dealer” and “Justice will be made in this case”
Ms. Prieto added: “If we were to believe a person being processed for drug trafficking, more than we would believe the representatives of the State, we would live in a backwards world”
Well, Dear Gabriela, if we follow your logic, explain to us why, if there was an investigation of Mr. Makled already in 2004 for drug trafficking, he managed to be assigned: 1) The storage for the most important port in Venezuela 2) The distribution of urea for all of Venezuela and 3) The Government approved his purchase of what was then the largest local commercial airline in Venezuela?
Can you explain Gabriela, just as an example, why it was Makled had a credential of the Venezuelan Supreme Court signed by none other than Justice Eladio Aponte^2, who just happened to be a former Military Prosecutor?
And can you explain Gabriela, how Makled managed to evade the manhunt against him by the police, escape the country and he claims that he did so under the protection of Generals? Do you know Gabriela in whose house in La Lagunita was Makled staying at during this time?
And have you checked Gabriela whether Makled paid or not Bs. 880 million to General Marin Leal, who just happens to be in charge of Chavez’ transportation?
And how about the quarterly payment of US$ 150,000 to the same General Marin Leal? Have you really looked into this and whether it took place or not? Let’s make it simple: Have you Gabriela Ramirez, the People’s Ombudswoman, checked General Marin Leal’s lifestyle and assets?
And have you checked whether is true or not that the current Commander of the Navy, General Carlos Aniasi Turchio, was the person that signed off on the Puerto Cabello port concession for five years in 2006? And can you also checked wif the General who laughed at the Constitution and classified as a drug kingpin by the US DEA signed off on that deal?
And have you Gabriela, informed yourself whether the son of former Vice-President Ramon Carrizales was or not an employee of Makled, while Carrizales was Vice President?
Don’t you think Gabriela Ramirez that it is these questions that make us wonder whether it is you that lives in the backwards world, failing to do even the most basic due diligence on Makled before you go and defend Hugo Chavez and his corrupt cronies?
These are just some questions and before you ended then you had to go and assure us that the rights of the subway protesters were not violated. Have you read their testimonies? Have you read how they say that the police stole even the food that their relatives left for them? How about the fact that the charges of terrorism did not hold water? How about the fact that both Chavez and the Vice President spoke of them as being guilty and they were let go?
When you don’t even have the decency to defend pregnant and lactating women who are unfairly jailed for exercising their Constitutional right to protest, then I have to ask you Gabriela Ramirez?
Who lives in the backwards world? Who understand her job backwards? Just read your job title and your mandate and you may understand. Can you?
Or simply read Article 280 of the Constitution:
“The People’s Ombudsman is in charge of the promotion, defense and vigilance of the righst and guarantees establsihed in the Cnstitution and international treaties on Human Rights, besides the legitimate, collective and diffuse interests of the citizens”
Gabriela, in none of what you did and say today or do and usually say you do that. YOU have it backwards!
The Devil's Excrement 
May 23, 2011 at 5:17 am
[…] kanske “borde” vara) – president Chavez eller hans chavismoanhängare. Det är inte heller folkets ombudsman, som inte verkar bry sig om folket alls, och hon om någon borde vara den med mycket civilkurage […]
November 20, 2010 at 3:04 pm
well, moctavio, it was forgotten to told to us poor in Europe, that Ven-Iran+ Nicaragua are going to build second Panama canal, this time an old american- vanderbildt dream of nico canale grande. There are quarrels with the political director of the action, Pastrana, that this time is only killing cows, not senators. This will be financial hole for Venezuela (starts by attack to Costa Rica). Well, the Autobahn- speedway costs in Germany x, but one km after the borders (only visual) our speedway for cars cost 2x. Two times more than in the Bayern. I can imagine what this will do with your budget. The France survived “krach” due to Panama. So, but you will go, for my sorrow, to havana level economy…
November 18, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Deanna:
“Being a woman, I’m really disgusted and ashamed that after decades of women’s struggle to get equal treatment and opportunity and respect in their professions, these Bolivarian women act no better and even worse than their male counterparts who are in power.”
Being a man, I am disgusted as well. Being a human being I am disgusted. Yet, who is put into office, or elected? Not those who give a rat’s ass about the people, but those who will play the game in exchange for power or money. Male or female.
Gabriela Ramirez would not have the position if she had not shown herself willing to kiss ass. (Please excuse the rudeness, but we are talking about world politics here) The few women who would act as a compassionate woman are either excluded or already in prison, which is where Gabriela will be if she tries to do her job as it is supposed to be done.
As the Russians say so well, scum rises. To me the question remains, how do we eliminate the scum from having any access to power, especially when the scum are presently the only ones who control access to power?
And I’m not just talking about Venezuela.
November 17, 2010 at 2:21 pm
According to the government Makled is or was a drug dealer…but he is lying about who was involved in his illegal activities
What I do not understand is that, if Makled is lying and nobody in the government has been involved in any drug dealing or corruption act, how he could move so much drug around?
He must be Superman, Spiderman or/and he had Harry Porter’s invisibility cloth!
November 17, 2010 at 11:29 am
The Colombian government just declared that Chavez promised Santos to detain and extradite an unspecified group of FARC gorillas to Colombia. I am sure we are NOT talking about the fat cats living in Lagunita, but rather some lowly Colombian campesinos.In any case it would serve the purpose of showing that Santos is not extraditing Makled just for money.
The US government declared that they respect the Colombian decision to extradite Makled to Venezuela instead of the US.This arrangement is convenient to all parties because the Obama administration has no interest in Makled testifying openly in a US court and making public evidence that would put the US on the spot of having to do something about Chavez’s criminal behavior.Obama has enough on his plate right now and does not want to see this can of worms opened.
November 17, 2010 at 10:30 am
Is there anyone in Venezuela’s government who is not so crooked that will have to screwed into the ground when they die?
November 17, 2010 at 9:45 am
Indeed, excellent point Jeffry, as Hugo says “I am the people”, Gabriela is, literally, fulfilling her job description.
November 17, 2010 at 7:41 am
You miss the fact that Hugo Chavez has declared that “I am the people”. Thus, the “peoples’ defender” must defend him from individuals whose rights he is ignoring, breaching, or denouncing.
There is a term in criminal law for the comportment of Ms. Defender. It is “wilful blindness” and converts mere negligence into criminal culpability.
November 17, 2010 at 6:30 am
That Makled is to be extradited to Venezuela is not a done deal. It is the Colombian Supreme court that decides this, not Santos.
Granted, what Santos expressed may sway the court, but it is no guarantee. We can gnash our teeth if the court decides, 8 to 12 months from now, to extradite to Venezuela, but for now everyone has to wait. I get he feeling that meanwhile Colombia is going to wring every scrap of info from Makled that it can, if only to accumulate more hole cards to keep up their sleeves.
November 17, 2010 at 6:09 am
Being a woman, I’m really disgusted and ashamed that after decades of women’s struggle to get equal treatment and opportunity and respect in their professions, these Bolivarian women act no better and even worse than their male counterparts who are in power. Everytime I read news about what’s happening in Venezuela, there seems to be a woman who is involved in some of the most brutal actions and stupid decisions, so that it makes me wonder whether they are not taking vengeance for having been mistreated in the past. Examples abound in this present government: Luisa Ortega, Morales who heads the Supreme court, Cilia Flores, Varela, this Gabriela Ramirez who pretends to protect the “people”, even the judge in INOF who has decided that Afiuni should be humiliated and brutalized (imagine being threatened with an internal examination every time that her interview is shown on TV by Globovision!!!). My disgust is such that everytime I see their faces, I feel nauseated and want to vomit!!!! Also, I know that some Spanish surnames are very common, but has anyone wondered whether Ortega and Morales are related to the idiots that rule Nicaragua and Bolivia????
November 17, 2010 at 5:03 am
Colombia just blew itself a free trade deal with the U.S, and now the increased trade with VZ that they’ll definitely need will help prop Chavez up.
All things being equal, you don’t extradite a major drug dealer to a country that’s on the LIST for government-sanctioned drug dealing. The U.S. Congress is going to rake him over the coals the next time it comes up in session.
Not only forget the trade deal, but there are going to be serious questions asked about the wisdom of U.S. drug-fighting investment there.
It’s hard to separate the “Court’s decision” on this from Santos’s wishes, so I’m kind of tongue-tied as to who’s really at “fault.” Analyze it:
1) Last week, Hugito claimed Santos had promised him that Makled would go to VZ.
2) Santos denies it.
3) Yet Makled does indeed go to VZ.
November 17, 2010 at 3:42 am
It must be a treat of some Venezuelan lawyers, what about Marino Alvarado from PROVEA saying that he is “100% sure” that ETA terrorist Arturo Cubillas is innocent?
Hence, not only does one find clairvoyant legal professionals in high government positions, they’re to be found also in reputed NGOs, meant to be aligned with the opposition.
November 17, 2010 at 1:22 am
I agree Miguel. Let’s give Santos the benefit of the doubt. Time is in his favor. Many things can happen and he does have an “authethic supreme court” to cover his promise. In the meantime “our angels” look good” and that works in his favor too.
November 17, 2010 at 12:46 am
I think it’s a ploy. Santos said it would take 8 months, thats eons in Venezuela/Colombia relations. Chavez could be threatening santos by then and all Santos wants is to get paid
November 17, 2010 at 12:41 am
THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS!!!
ITS OFFICIAL THAT MAKLED WILL BE DELIVERED TO VENEZUELA.
WHAT THE FUCK IS SANTOS THINKING.THIS ISA GREAT LOSS.
I HATE VENEZUELA SO MUCH!!!!
IMPUNITY FOR THOSE FUCKERS AT MIRAFLORES!!!
November 17, 2010 at 12:07 am
So what is she saying? Walid should be released and promoted to head of drug enforcement or something?
November 16, 2010 at 10:58 pm
It´s nice to piss against the wind! the second time at an angle!