The Devil's Excrement

From Spain’s El Pais: It is a crime to protest in Venezuela

Protesting in the streets of Venezuela is, from now on, synonymous with crime. The Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega, has announced it will open proceedings against all those citizens who “protest for any reason” and that in hher opinion, only seek to “destabilize the constitutionally elected Government. “I wish that those who rise up in hostility against the constituted Government , should know what are now consequences,” Ortega said, while she moderated her owm radio program “in line with the Public Ministry”, which airs every Friday at a  state broadcaster . Her opinion is that (these) behaviors fit perfectly into the crime of civil rebellion “that under Venezuelan law is punishable by 12 to 24 years in prison.

AIn early July, also through her program, Luisa Ortega also proposed that Parliament approve a controversial “crimes against media law” to punish the media for disseminating information that “incited hatred” or generated “anxiety” among the population.

The first “rebels” at the discretion of the prosecutor, are already behind bars. The prefect of the city and 11 workers from the office of Mayor of Caracas, governed by opposiont’s Antonio Ledezma, were arrested Wednesday for participating in the march which took place on Saturday 22 August against the recently adopted Education Bill, which removes some autonomy from universities and establishes a system to establish the “new consciousness” at socialist schools. . All were accused of “obstructing public roads”, “incitement to crime” against police and injuries. According to the prosecutor, this protest, which involved thousands of Venezuelans, was convened by the parties of opposition and civil society organizations to generate “a climate of violence” and “create a scenario similar to the 11 and 12 April 2002, when there was the coup in Venezuela that removed Hugo Chávez from power for 48 hours.

The statements by the Prosecutor has been nothing but another sign in the marked tendency of the government of Hugo Chávez for the criminalization of protest. Since 2007, at least 300 students have been arrested for participating in demonstrations against the closure of private TV channel Radio Caracas Television and against the constitutional reform proposed by Chavez to establish the indefinite re-election since then, 256 of them have to present themselves regulraly in fron of a  judge regularly and are banned from leaving the country.

Both President Chavez and Prosecutor Diaz have criticized the union of journalists, who is also ready to protest against the growing threats to freedom of expression in Venezuela. Two weeks ago, 12 reporters were assaulted with sticks and stones by a group of Chavez’ supporters while distributing leaflets in downtown Caracas, against one of the articles of the new Education Bill which provides for the immediate closure of media to disseminate content generate “terror” in children.

Chavez justified the beating, saying that this protest was a “provocation” against the people, while the prosecutor said that the journalists involved in such acts cease to be journalists and become politicians. The person responsible for this aggression, only one worker was arrested Avila state TV channel, was released a week later.

There is no hiding the fact that last Saturday’s march in rejection of the new Education Bill has unsettled the regime’s nerves. In the span of one week, the regime has jailed 12 peaceful protesters, including tonight the jailing of the “Prefecto” of the Metropolitan District (The highest civil authority below the Mayor), as the Government continues searching for Oscar Perez, one of the organizers of last Saturday’s march, who will be charged for nothing more than…organizing it.

And while the only person charged in the attack of the Cadena Capriles reporters is at large, released on his own recognizance, al of these people are being sent to jail, including Prefect Richard Blanco, being sent to the Yare jail, the same one where Hugo Chavez was sent to after his 1992 bloody coup attempt.

And this is now state policy as clearly oulined and defined by the ineffable and fascist Prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who threatened to jail those “citizens that march for any motive”, altering peace with the only purpose of destabilizing the Government. Truly remarkable fascist logic by the person in charge of defending the country’s laws.

In fact, as if this was not enough Ortega suggested that marching and protesting may even be considered civil rebellion, which carries a penalty from 12 to 24 years.

Of course, when a peaceful opposition march is attacked by Chavistas hiding at a school (on a Saturday?) in San Cristobal, nothing happens. This does not create panic or fear. I imagine in the Prosecutor’s fascist mind, the marchers deserve the treatment. It’s the new “Double Way” of XXIst Century Facism in Venezuela.

And as if this was not enough, even passive criticism of the Government is now being persecuted, as in the case of the medical doctor who dared suggest that four people had died from swine flu at her hospital and may be charged with “providing false information…which may cause panic or anxiety in the population”. (She is not the first one to question Venezuela’s numbers on swine flu which are considered to be statistically quite low)

This is all aimed at intimidation: Organize a march, you may be sent to jail, speak against the Government, you may be sent to jail, write criticizing the Government, I may be sent to jail.

It’s a new phase, the criminalization of protest and dissent, a continuation of the dictatorial and fascist ways that the robolution has been implementing more and more as its popularity drops and the economy coems apart at the seams.

After a couple of weeks of threats against Colombia from economic blockade to war and his promise that he would show the world how dangerous Colombia’s agreement with the US is, not even his buddies, including the revolutionary ones, bought the story and despite the Dictator’s claim that he had achieved  everything he wanted to, this was very far from the truth.

Chavez spent his time backing up his claims with an academic white paper that does not represent US policy but apparently Ms. Golinger sold to him and his advisers as the Rosetta stone on US strategies. But it was one of hundreds of such papers available over at the National Defense University website. Hell, as you can see on the top, just contact the staff if you want to add another white paper to the list.

In the end, there was no condemnation for the US-Colombia agreement, no mention of military bases and some, like Evo Morales and Chavez did not deliver on any of their threats that “if the agreement does not contain x,y, or z” they would not sign. None of their demands were included and they all signed.

I managed to watch bits of the Unasur meeting at lunch time and I think I watched the best highlights from everything I have read. From an overall point of view, it is clear that there is a fairly professional class of Presidents in South America led by Lula Da Silva, who appeared impatient and with better things to do. In the end he even said it, as he blasted Ecuador’s President Correa for giving a speech for the gallery and trying to grab the limelight.

But it is clear that Brazil, Chile and Argentina know well that the US is their main customer and they do not want to upset those relations, while they are getting tired of Hugo’s antics, jokes and “I am going to be brief” speeches. Lula reportedly convinced Chavez not to create a crisis, but this seems to be the story of Chavez’ life at these summits, someone convinces him to be the sheep he has always been when another President is in the same room.(Or when someone confronts him like February 1992 or April 2002)

Evo Morales was absolutely pitiful, blaming all but his haircut on US imperialism. Correa was clearly “on” lying once in a while to show us all what a great job he has done as President, but with little substance.

I was surprised at Alan Garcia, who gave a very in your face speech, essentially blasting everyone around for holding a summit on such a narrow topic. His best quip was to say something like ” While we all claim to love our people, we spent US$ 38 billion in weapons last year”. You had to love that one even if coming from a man which such a corrupt past. He also laughed at Chavez asking him why would the “US want to dominate your oil if you sell it all to them”. There were smirks and laughs all around the table and the snide by Garcia and Chavez’ defense after the meeting was equally pitiful, arguing that Venezuela does that because it has “10,000 gas stations and seven large refineries in the US”. Another fib by Chavez, who should know as Gustavo Coronel points out today that there are only three left (Hugo sold them!) and the 10,000 gas stations use CITGO gas and sign, but are independently owned. Moreover, Venezuela still exports more oil than even the seven original refineries used to ever consume.

Ms. Kitchner was her proper self, more concerned with the Summit being successful than saying anything with content. Ms. Bachelet had more substance than most, making more realistic and practical proposals with substance.

Uribe as usual held his ground, responding with facts and refusing to yield on Colombia’s right to reach an agreement with any country it wants. AS Correa criticized Colombia ‘s asylum of Carmona, Uribe snapped back, saying he could not compare a legal process that took place in his country with the fact that the top two leaders and terrorists of the FARC are currently in Venezuela and that information has been provided to the Venezuelan Government and nothing has been done.

In the end, I came away with the feeling that they were divided in three groups and only Peru, Chile and Colombia have given any serious thought to Latin American integration. Venezuela, Ecuador and Bolivia are trapped in blaming everything on the US and most of our countries are focused in their own problems and politics.

In the end, it was a waste of time, a step back for whatever Unasur wants to be and a clear demonstration that our fascist Dictator has fewer and fewer pieces of clothing and most of those at the Unasur meeting are tired of him.

The Government’s main webpage was hacked as seen above. This is gobiernoenlinea.ve via @NestorVenegas. Note it says Freedom of Expression (misspelled) and below the Cuban and Venezuelan flags: We don’t want a Venezuela like Cuba. Author Root Mafia, whatever that means.

This is not a joke, from the website of the Government’s TV station

Of course, it is not a “weapon”, but the use of intelligence to identify terrorists groups…but leave it to VTV to make a headline out of it, even if it is deceiving.

It’s hard to write about Venezuela sometimes. The double discourse of Chavismo is so cynical, that sometimes words can not describe the outrage I feel sometimes. Everything is so manipulated, justice inexistent except for the goals of the fake revolution. But just as I am convinced that it can not get any more bizarre, it does.

Take the march by the workers of the Metropolitan Mayor’s office. They went to the Supreme Court, walking, they are three or four blocks apart, to ask the Highest Court in the land for Justice. Essentially the new Metropolitan area law, issued by Chavez to screw the opposition Metropolitan Mayor, has taken away some rights from them. It does not matter which ones, for this discussion or whether we agree or not. That’s besides the point

What matters is that they went to the Highest Court of the Land, accompanied with lawyers and with a written request: Can the Court protect us?

Except they did not get a Justice, or a clerk to meet with them. Somehow, in the paranoia of the regime, thirty people walking towards the Supreme Court represents a threat and they got gassed over and over. And to top it all off, they arrested eleven of the protesters.

Let’s compare that, with Chavez’s buddy, supporter and terrorist Lina Ron. The day she went to Globovision, she was accompanied by around 40 of her buddies in motorcycles. They threw smoke and tear gas bombs, invaded the TV station and intimidated and terrorized those inside the TV station.

After the scandal and the images seen worldwide, Lina Ron was arrested, but she was the only one. One out of forty people who would be considered criminals and terrorists in any civilized country. The Government had no recourse but arrest her. But they never said anything abut the other three dozen terrorists who are still at large, despite being taped live while they attacked. And the Government knwos who they are, they are all members of the La Piedrita gang.

And the double standard continues with the attack on the reporters from Cadena Capriles, which I noted in this post, showing how the Chavistas attacked the reporters. Once again, despite the pictures and videos and the fact that the attackers were identified as being workers of Government sponsored Avila TV, only one, just one of the attackers was charged. And he is already out on the streets!

Contrast this with the poor soul who was driving a van helping the students during a protest months ago and was accused of carrying Molotov cocktails. Despite the fact that there are videos showing the Captain of the police planting the gasoline containers in the van, this poor soul is still in jail. And he is sick and they don’t want to allow him to leave jail to be taken care of.

And then there is the bizarre case of Richard Blanco, who is the civil Governor (Prefecto) of the Metropolitan Mayor’s office. Blanco was present at last Saturday’s march and yesterday he was arrested for damaging the barriers used in containing the demonstration that day.

Imagine that! First of all, how could they pinpoint him exclusively? Second, videos clearly show that the barrier was penetrated due to the action of Colonel Benavides, who ordered the repression of the march. So, who is to blame more, Blanco or Benavides?

But despite calls by human rights groups to remove Benavides from his position, Chavez awards him the highest honor in Venezuela, the Simon Bolivar merit award and this pitiful Colonel celebrates it in true robolutionary fashion, drinking Moet Chandon champagne, directly from the bottle. And it is clear that Benavides violated a number of articles from the Venezuelan Constitution. But who cares?

But the charges against Blanco are so ridiculous, because if damaging the Government’s property was enforced, Chavez should be in jail forever for his wholesale destruction of Venezuela, Maletagate players should be in jail as they are investigated (which tehy are not), including the Minsiter of Energy and Oil who had to approve the US$ 800,000 in the suitcase, as well as paying for the flight, or the guy who built the bridge in Bolivar State which collapsed last week as it was being inaugurated. Or how about the six dollar books which Venezuela bought in Uruguay for four hundred dollars a piece? In this case, you can be sure that the dollars were also acquired at Bs. 2.15 per dollar. The revolution always has money for such shenanigans.

But in the end, Chavismo has divided its discourse, its justice, its actions, the people of Venezuela in two. If you are with the “process” and the Dictator, you can do what you want. But if you oppose them and stray one centimeter, they will find a way to get at you. No matter how ridiculous the charge may be.

It’s discrimination at its best, its fascism, its a two class system, which has nothing to do with social level, poverty, education, but just has to do with beliefs and opinions.

And that in the end, is the biggest violation of our rights.

Send images if you have any that fit the idea.

Only a fascist regime rewards repression with such efficiency and speed:

Chavez rewards National Guard Colonel for his repression of Saturday’s march

The Finance Minister recommends that to address the crisis, Venezuelans, among other things, must “develop a culture of savings”, as this weakness  constitutes one of the structural problems of our economy. Of course, Ali Rodriguez is quite correct in the diagnosis, but it would be nice if he could explain to us how to save in a country where the Government’s economic policy pushes for spending income rather than  savings and the families that manage some savings of their income, save , but in dollars or euros abroad. If Ali explained how to save under these conditions he would have achieved a feat equivalent to squaring the circle.

On the one hand, how to save in a country where the inflation rate is twice the interest rate banks pay savers? The maximum interest rate that banks pay for fixed-term deposits are 13.5% and 8% for savings accounts. The annualized inflation rate (July 2007-July 2008) is 26%. Exactly twice as much. So whomever puts their money in a fixed term deposit in one year it would have lost half its value. It is not that there is no culture of savings, but people are not stupid and will not save to lose money. But where does this inflation come from? Precisely the chavoeconomics.

The extremely high inflation rate in Venezuela is the result of government policy. ; The outrageous spending, recklessly executed based on the flood of petrodollars, the exchange policy, which discourages “endogenous” production  and favors imports, given the cheapness of the controlled dollar , but at the same time creating a parallel market where the exchange rate, higher than the controlled one, is referenced for overall economic activity to perpetual harassment operations of the productive sector, both manufacturing and agriculture, which together with the crushing weight of imports, decreased domestic supply of goods of all class, strongly encouraging;
repressed inflation by price controls, which erupt every now and then forcing the government to approve these brutal adjustments, in addition to the continuing political conflict and encouraged by Chacumbele by the volatility of the rules, pushing inflation to levels that double interest rates on deposits . No savings are possible. People tend to spend all their income as quickly as they can, so that the fast rising prices do not swallow their money, Thus, people can’t save and because they can’t save  there is no money for  “endogenous” investments. Whose fault is it? Additionally, anyone who can protect their income from inflation transforms their Bolivars into  dollars or euros in accounts abroad.

Even at the parallel rate for the dollar, it is more profitable to buy the green bills and take them out of the country rather than leave the Bs here. This, without mentioning  the appetite for the dollars at Bs.  2.15 which are easily satisfied by the various devices used to acquire them “legally”.

Since the introduction of exchange controls, 40 billion dollars have been saved … outside. Whose fault is it? That is why Ali will never be able to square the circle.

Chavez imposes medal on Benavides for “terrorizing Venezuelans”