It was a very intense and confusing day in Venezuela today. It all started with Vielma Mora’s statements, which likely threw a curve ball at Nicolas, who can barely handle a softball. While many were wary of Vielma’s statements or confessions, who cares? The importance of Vielma’s statements is not that he may become the leader of any force, but that it throws a monkey wrench into Nicolas’ dream world. A shaky Maduro now has to face internal dissent, when he can barely manage his own faithful groups.
Because even when Vielma tried to backtrack:
He still said “I assume my words one by one“. i.e., no censorship, no repression, no overflights, no Leopoldo in jail, even if he “loves” the revolution.
Jeez, if he loves it so much, why is it so imperfect? Why not just blast it and be done with it?
And as Maduro met with motorcycle drivers, the wrong image, even if they were not part of the same armed groups terrorizing Venezuela today, you have to wonder what goes through Nicolas’ clearly feeble mind. He should have never left his bus driving position.
And for those PSF’s visiting us recently claiming the US wants Maduro to go, I remind them that you know little about what is going on here in Venezuela. Among other things, besides the worst repression of the last 15 years, “Madurismo” or whatever you may want to call that guys’ following, is avoiding the Constitution blatantly, including:
-The Venezuelan Supreme Court is full of Justices who are alternates. In order to name full time members of the Supreme Court, you need 2/3 of the Deputies of the National Assembly to approve them, something Maduro wants to avoid.
-The same is true of the members of the Electoral Board, whose terms expired in April of last year. The Government has made no move to elect them.
-And the Comptroller died two yeras ago and has yet to be replaced. Another position that requires 2/3 majority.
And even Henrique Capriles, who days ago was taking a Ghandi-like position, today came out blasting Maduro and refusing to meet with him. I heard only part of what he said, so here is Bloomberg’s quotes:
BFW 02/24 20:14 *CAPRILES SAYS VENEZUELA HAS TO FIND `EXIT’ TO MADURO PRESIDENCY
BN 02/24 20:14 *CAPRILES SAYS `THE BOAT IS SINKING’ AFTER REJECTING TALKS
BFW 02/24 20:13 *VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION GOVERNOR SAYS HE WON’T ATTEND TALKS
BN 02/24 20:07 *CAPRILES SAYS 242 PROTESTORS STILL DETAINED
BN 02/24 20:06 *CAPRILES SAYS 649 VENEZUELANS DETAINED IN PROTESTS SO FAR
So much for a Mandela style or Ghandi-like posture, Capriles finally seems mad.
And he should be. And he should not call for a “truth” commission, unless Maduro has some form of gesture, like releasing Leopoldo Lopez or Simonovis, or all of the above.
Or Maduro could resign too…Given the deaths, the repression, the human rights violations, that is what Maduro should really do. He will have to soon anyway.
In fact, Capriles (can’t find the quote) suggested that Maduro had committed genocide, not easy words to pronounce when you are talking about a President.
But with twelve deaths form the depression so far and over 600 detained, that is exactly what is going on in Venezuela.
Because Art. 53 of the Venezuelan Constitution says anyone can gather publicly with anyone without permission.
And Art. 55 says security forces have to respect people’s human rights
And Art. 49 says every person has the right to be judged by his natural judges, but Leopoldo is in a military prison, where he was charged.
And the same Art. 49 says that every person has the right to know why he is being charged, have access to the evidence and time to prepare a defense. None of this is being followed in Venezuela with the protesters.
And on top of that they are being killed (twelve so far) injured and repressed violently, without Maduro even showing that he knows what is going on in the country he presides over.
And to top it all off, Maduro declares Thursday Feb. 27th. and Friday Feb. 28th. to be holidays, so that Venezuelans will have six days off in a row, since next week are the Carnival holidays.
Clearly Maduro does not want to offer peace, he is hoping protests will go away. But like Valentine’s day, when the same strategy backfired, he may be surprised again.
In fact, people are as militant as ever today. What did Vielma know that he said what he said? Why did Capriles become aggressive all of a sudden?
I don’t know, but when two such dissimilar political figures act the same way, something is afoot. Some crack in the facade is showing. Some weakness is being perceived and they both want to take advantage of it.
Remember, if Maduro resigns, the Constitutional way out of it is elections within a month and both sides seem to be jockeying for position in that race.
just a feeling…
(And Ramirez talked about Sicad 2, who cares?)
The Devil's Excrement 