Somebody sent me the link to this website devoted to the Venezuelan Electoral system. It is well done and there are over 20 presentations on the problems of our electoral system, including evidence of fraud, problems with the electoral registry and the like. A lot of the material complements or explains with voice and slides, some of the stuff found in my RR Models section. Unfortunately, it is only in Spanish.
Government sells US$ 1.5 billion in bonds at exchange rates at least twice the official rate
November 13, 2007According to
the Government spokesmen, including the Minister of Finance, the
parallel foreign exchange market is either irrelevant or non-existent,
depending on whom you talk to. We are told that it is tiny, less than
5% of imports at times. Other times, we are told the Government does
not care what happens to it, because it is irrelevant.
the Government spokesmen, including the Minister of Finance, the
parallel foreign exchange market is either irrelevant or non-existent,
depending on whom you talk to. We are told that it is tiny, less than
5% of imports at times. Other times, we are told the Government does
not care what happens to it, because it is irrelevant.
But
reality says otherwise. When you don’t know whether something has been
purchased with official CADIVI dollars or not, there is room for profit
and when the foreign exchange office CADIVI is slow to approve funds,
importers are forced to go to the swap market, which is quite legal as
the swapping of securities is explicitly excluded from the exchange
control illegalities Bill.
reality says otherwise. When you don’t know whether something has been
purchased with official CADIVI dollars or not, there is room for profit
and when the foreign exchange office CADIVI is slow to approve funds,
importers are forced to go to the swap market, which is quite legal as
the swapping of securities is explicitly excluded from the exchange
control illegalities Bill.
But there is another
reality: The Government has either issued or sold to the market some
US$ 13.5 billion in securities so far this year, in order to keep this
“irrelevant” market down. This does not include the structure notes
sold to the local banks, because little is revealed as to who buys
them, how much and why some and not others. Now, to give you some
perspective US$ 13.5 billion represents 38% of what the foreign
exchange control office has approved so far this year. Of course, the
Government has sold all sorts of instruments, including bonds
denominated in dollars at the official rate of exchange, which are
hybrids and some, very few Bolivar denominated ones. But the dollar
fraction is at least 30% of it, to which you have to add the actual
swap market.
reality: The Government has either issued or sold to the market some
US$ 13.5 billion in securities so far this year, in order to keep this
“irrelevant” market down. This does not include the structure notes
sold to the local banks, because little is revealed as to who buys
them, how much and why some and not others. Now, to give you some
perspective US$ 13.5 billion represents 38% of what the foreign
exchange control office has approved so far this year. Of course, the
Government has sold all sorts of instruments, including bonds
denominated in dollars at the official rate of exchange, which are
hybrids and some, very few Bolivar denominated ones. But the dollar
fraction is at least 30% of it, to which you have to add the actual
swap market.
Now, the official rate of exchange
is Bs. 2,150 per US$, but these sales by the Government to help
maintain the parallel rate down are done at a rate above the official
rate and below the parallel swap rate.
is Bs. 2,150 per US$, but these sales by the Government to help
maintain the parallel rate down are done at a rate above the official
rate and below the parallel swap rate.
Today,
the Government announced the allocation of its latest effort to fight
the “phantom” parallel market, a US$ 1.5 billion issue composed of two
Bolivar denominated bonds or Vebonos and a dollar denominated bond,
which matures in 2038 and has a 7% coupon. The bond was named Venezolano I, since it had no Argentinean component like three of the bonds sold in the last twelve months. For the first time ever, the
Government used an auction system, even if it had a slight twist.
Basically people could put in their orders at any price and they would
receive the bond with dollars valued at Bs. 2,150. People will turn
around tomorrow, sell the bonds and effectively they will be buying
dollars at a higher rate than the official one.
the Government announced the allocation of its latest effort to fight
the “phantom” parallel market, a US$ 1.5 billion issue composed of two
Bolivar denominated bonds or Vebonos and a dollar denominated bond,
which matures in 2038 and has a 7% coupon. The bond was named Venezolano I, since it had no Argentinean component like three of the bonds sold in the last twelve months. For the first time ever, the
Government used an auction system, even if it had a slight twist.
Basically people could put in their orders at any price and they would
receive the bond with dollars valued at Bs. 2,150. People will turn
around tomorrow, sell the bonds and effectively they will be buying
dollars at a higher rate than the official one.
How much higher? Well,
the results of the “auction” are such that those that bid over 136% for
the bond will get 100% of the amount requested. At 136, the effective
price for each dollar obtained is roughly Bs. 5,400 per dollar. Thus the
Government is tacitly selling dollars at a rate, which is way over
twice the official rate of exchange. Those requesting between 122 and
125 got 20% and between 125 and 135.99 got 35%. Thus, at the lowest end
of the scale, people paid Bs. 4,500 per US$, still twice as much as the
official rate of exchange. The non-existent parallel market has been
around B. 6,200-6,300 lately.
the results of the “auction” are such that those that bid over 136% for
the bond will get 100% of the amount requested. At 136, the effective
price for each dollar obtained is roughly Bs. 5,400 per dollar. Thus the
Government is tacitly selling dollars at a rate, which is way over
twice the official rate of exchange. Those requesting between 122 and
125 got 20% and between 125 and 135.99 got 35%. Thus, at the lowest end
of the scale, people paid Bs. 4,500 per US$, still twice as much as the
official rate of exchange. The non-existent parallel market has been
around B. 6,200-6,300 lately.
Thus, the market that does not exist, that “mediatic” instrument
used by the opposition to destabilize, received a healthy dose of
foreign currency by the Government today and there are promises that
the Government will sell into it some US$ 600 million in the remainder
of the year.
used by the opposition to destabilize, received a healthy dose of
foreign currency by the Government today and there are promises that
the Government will sell into it some US$ 600 million in the remainder
of the year.
Unfortunately, at best, this will
keep the swap market constant, due to the pent up demand, nerves and the high monetary liquidity, in this
virtual and supposedly non-existent market. Just the Government validating prices around the Bs. 5,500 level will set that as the ultimate lower floor for the time being.
keep the swap market constant, due to the pent up demand, nerves and the high monetary liquidity, in this
virtual and supposedly non-existent market. Just the Government validating prices around the Bs. 5,500 level will set that as the ultimate lower floor for the time being.
If one side does not want to debate in a democracy, should the debate be cancelled?
November 12, 2007
Am I missing something?
In
order to promote a debate on the proposed Constitutional Reform, the
Electoral Board was planning to hold debates between those promoting
the NO vote (the opposition) to the reform and those promoting the YES
vote (Chavez and his cronies). However, those promoting the SI, meaning
Chavez and his people, did not show up to any of the meetings and never
replied as to who would “debate” for their side. The first debate was
scheduled to take place tonight, paid by the Electoral Board.
order to promote a debate on the proposed Constitutional Reform, the
Electoral Board was planning to hold debates between those promoting
the NO vote (the opposition) to the reform and those promoting the YES
vote (Chavez and his cronies). However, those promoting the SI, meaning
Chavez and his people, did not show up to any of the meetings and never
replied as to who would “debate” for their side. The first debate was
scheduled to take place tonight, paid by the Electoral Board.
What does this mean?
–Nobody is in favor of the SI vote?
–They have nobody they trust to debate for them? How about the autocrat himself?
–Are they afraid?
–They don’t like to debate, they just obey the autocrat.
In any case, why is the solution to simply cancel the debates?
Does this make any sense?
The
NO side clearly has a position and is willing to defend it, if the
other side does not want to send someone; it seems to me the worst
possible thing to promote democracy is precisely to cancel the debate.
After all, the SI vote will use the Government’s resources and power to
promote its position, while the NO has few resources. Why should they
lose the opportunity to have people learn their position? I just don’t
get it.
NO side clearly has a position and is willing to defend it, if the
other side does not want to send someone; it seems to me the worst
possible thing to promote democracy is precisely to cancel the debate.
After all, the SI vote will use the Government’s resources and power to
promote its position, while the NO has few resources. Why should they
lose the opportunity to have people learn their position? I just don’t
get it.
But this is indeed a strange country
these days anyway; only yesterday I learned through former Minister of
Defense Baduel (curiously that part of the interview is not online)
that Chávez does not even attend Cabinet meetings. Baduel actually said
that Chavez was not present at a single one of the Cabinet meetings he attended during the year he was Minister.
these days anyway; only yesterday I learned through former Minister of
Defense Baduel (curiously that part of the interview is not online)
that Chávez does not even attend Cabinet meetings. Baduel actually said
that Chavez was not present at a single one of the Cabinet meetings he attended during the year he was Minister.
Amazing,
no? At the end of the day we (as in the whole country) are in the hands
of Vice President Jorge Rodriguez whose only managing experience prior
to the Electoral Board was managing the office for student tickets of
the Metropolitan Mayor’s office. I guess that is not much better that
Chavez’, managing the commissary at one of the bases he was at.
no? At the end of the day we (as in the whole country) are in the hands
of Vice President Jorge Rodriguez whose only managing experience prior
to the Electoral Board was managing the office for student tickets of
the Metropolitan Mayor’s office. I guess that is not much better that
Chavez’, managing the commissary at one of the bases he was at.
And then we wonder where all the billions have gone? Why is everything such a mess?
The whole thing really gets harder and harder to understand every day.
So, back to the original question, why don’t they want to debate?
Is Chavez taking the King´s suggestion seriously?
Opinions welcomed…
The Hall of Shame of Violence in the Venezuelan Bolivarian revolution
November 11, 2007It never ceases to amaze it when the supporters and cheerleaders of the robolution and their leader Hugo Chavez are capable of defending him on the face of the violence of the last week, as if Chavez did not have a bloody and violent past.
Only last Sunday, Chavez was talking about leaving no stone unturned as he led a million of his supporters through the middle class districts of the East of Caracas. Are these the words of a peaceful person? Or how about the new slogan of his revolution? Patria, Socialismo o Muerte (Fatherland, Socialism or Death) which does not exactly sound like the symbols of peace or coexistence. Only this week, he led a sing along in one of his rallies in which referring to his buddy, co-conspirator and former Minister of Defense Raul Baduel, who this week said Chavez proposed Constitutional reform was a coup, on with the whole stadium was chanting “Baduel, Traidor, te sale el paredon” (Baduel, traitor, the firing squad for you), not precisely a very peaceful and endearing term to refer to your former friend who saved your hide and your presidency only five years earlier.
Let’s make it very clear, we are talking about this guy:
On the left, Hugo Chavez in 1992, after leading a very bloody coup that left over one hundred people dead, many of them civilians and who until he realized he could win an election refused to participate in one. Some democrat, no? Well, the picture on the right is Hugo Chavez fourteen years later, caressing one of his new Kalashnikov rifles upon their arrival and I am not kidding, that day he said he felt touching the rifle, like you do with a new girlfriend.Sick mind, no?
Peaceful, he ain’t…
And yes, there have been deaths on both sides during demonstrations and marches, but last time I looked, when El Universal used to keep statistics, deaths were running at a nine to one ratio, with the opposition suffering the largest numbers in this tragedy. And things are so bad that over one hundred Venezuelans have died in political demonstrations in the last eight years. From both sides, they are all human beings and Venezuelans. And we always hear about the forty horrible years of the IVth. Republic, but somehow each and everyone of those that died in marches and demonstrations in those forty years has a place in Venezuela’s history. Those of us old enough to remember can recall the shock that first time a female student was killed in a protest by violent police in 1961, her name was Livia Gouverner and she was a member of the communist party. We were socked. And the name Jorge Rodriguez first came about not because of the fascist man who now occupies the Vice Presidency after being Head of the supposedly independent Electoral Board. No, we all remember the outrage when his father, Secretary General of the Liga Socialista was killed without mercy in 1976 by the cops. But there are so many dead these days that nobody remembers. They are vague memories and irrelevant to the outlaw Government of Hugo Chavez.
I remember Jose Vilas because I knew who he was and know a lot of people who knew him. But so many remain faceless on both sides, total impunity surrounding their deaths. And one should not forget that Government does have a much higher responsibility. They are responsible for safety, as well as for justice. But few of those responsible for the deaths of the last few years have been punished. In fact, few of the leads have been followed even when they were staring in the Government’s face.
Take for example the pictures below
Who can forget the infamous shooters of Puente El Llaguno?
On the left, the infamous shooters of Puente El LLaguno, most of them employees of the Libertador District, whose Mayor was caught on TV telling people to come down armed to defend the revolution. These guys were tried very fast and found innocent of any of the deaths that took place below, despite the video and the deaths. The picture on the right is the people marching below as these guys were shooting. Do you see any guns? No, there were not any. By the time that mayhem was done, there were 24 deaths, 16 were anti-Chavez, 8 were pro-Chavez, but that is irrelevant, they are all Venezuelans, what is relevant is that the Chavez dominated “truth” commission squashed any investigation. The numbers come from a book written by some reporters who tried to reconstruct all of the murders. The Government has never even began to do its job.
But curiously, while the Puente El LLaguno shooters above were quickly tried and found innocent, the cops leading the march below on the right near the “water whale” and their bosses are still in jail. They have yet to be tried, after five years in prison in violation of all Venezuelan laws. Such is the level of impunity in the revolution. By the way, the Government raised a monument to the shooters of Puente El Llaguno, they are heroes of the robolution.
But we can continue to this “Hall of Shame” of violence in the revolution.
Everyone seems to remember the general strike in 2002, but some forget it was supposed to be a three day strike, then, a man never known to use weapons walked into Altamira square and alone and in seconds managed to kill three and wound 22 with a Glock, loading it once. I was there, some of the pictures below are originals. It was terror, it was shock. The man was also tried very fast and as far as I know he still in jail, but nothing will ever change my mind that it was impossible for him to do it alone. By the way, two nights earlier the same man appears in a video of people unloading guns with he Mayor of Libertador at PDVSA. I don’t believe in coincidences!
Then recall the 2004 referendum, some people dared to go out and protest in the belief there was fraud. But the protests were quickly quenched when Mrs. Maritza Ron was killed at Altamira square. The whole thing was so visible, that not only did we see the gunmen up close (below left) but also from above (below right:
Yes, three shooters got off the cars with No signs on them (at the
time No is today’s Yes and Yes is No) and began shooting. Only the one
in the middle was ever caught and quickly tried. Curiously, his face was captured in the crowd at Danilo Anderson’s burial, at a time when he was supposed to be in jail. Impunity everywhere!
And then there are the marches, like the one to the CNE or the Supreme Court this week. The pattern is the same: Opposition asks for permit, permit is granted, Chavistas without permit gather to block the way, cops or National Guard gasses the opposition, never the pro-Chavez forces.
Below on the left, there is a group of Chavistas in Charallave in 2003, for God’s sake, you can even see cops there shooting at the marchers on this side. Two people died that day, it was, of course all blamed on the opposition. Or the picture on the right in Los Proceres, truly my baptism of fire. The opposition had the permit, the Chavistas had the guns, that day at least I can say we both got gassed, one of the few. But that same day I was shot at with real bullets, don’t think I am a real hero, when the cop told me to get down on the floor, I had no idea why he was telling me to do so. It was only afterwards when I realized what those phantom whizzing things going near my head were. That day, I did not see anyone on my side with weapons bigger than the panties the women pinned to the barbed wired, mocking the soldiers.
But this week, we are to believe we are the violent ones. It has been
the Chavistas calling for the intervention of Globovision and the
universities, so after a peaceful march to the TSJ, the Grupo Alexis Vive, one of Chavez’ fringe paramilitary groups, was at the university waiting for them, except the students were not intimidated and the cavalry in the form of police motorcycles and hooded men came to the rescue, bypassing the police barricades at every single entrance to the University.
Within an hour the Minister of the Interior was on TV blaming the opposition and official TV channel VTV was interviewing the “pacifist” students of the revolution. The ones that claim to be against all forms of violence and the like, but then…the same Bolivaraina “leader” Jose Feliz Valera is caught redhanded with a gun in his right hand:
giving new meaning to the word “pacifist”.. Ghandi would not have been very proud of them.
And thus, we have a Hall of Shame for the violent people of the revolution. They are armed, they are out of control and they have the tacit backing of the autocrat, while the dumb cheerleaders and supporters of the robolution and PSF’s rally around their peaceful leader, the same one that claims not to have heard the King telling him to shut up, because he never listens. The same one tjat does not attend Cabinet meetings, the same one that could care less if Venezuelan kids go without milk, because he has no clue that this is happening as he only tries to project and perpetuate himself in power.
There are many more pictures that could have gone into the Hall of Shame of the Violent revolution, like the day the Chavista march destroyed religious icons in Altamira Square with the Vice-President being present. Of course, the police did nothing. Or the day Chavez called the Supreme Court a “pile of shit”. inducing riots around the building where the Highest Court resides. But the point is, the violence has been so one sided that to even pretend they have nothing to do with it is stupid.
Chavez makes no effort to hide his intentions, he has said both publicly and privately that if his revolution is blocked, his weapons are nearby and he will take them up to move his revolution forward. So, to the apologists of the Bolivarian violent revolution, please go fool someone else, It is all in this blog, you have no pictures to show like the ones I have, because violence is on your side…
And we are supposed to believe Hugo Chavez is democratic, peaceful and non-violent…
Yeah, sure…
From eating its own, to shortages, to useless bickering, the Venezuelan robolution shows how empty and undemocratic it is
November 11, 2007It
was quite a week. Baduel’s surprise announcement that he considered the
proposed Constitutional reform a coup, brought back Chavez’s praying
mantis effect in earnest as Chavez’ buddy, the man responsible for
Chávez coming back on April 2002, was suddenly called a traitor, right
winger, oligarch and a puppet of the US. Even Chavez led a sing-along
with his supporters at a rally, chanting ” Baduel, traitor, you deserve
the firing squad”, in another demonstration of who is the promoter of
hate and violence in Venezuela.
was quite a week. Baduel’s surprise announcement that he considered the
proposed Constitutional reform a coup, brought back Chavez’s praying
mantis effect in earnest as Chavez’ buddy, the man responsible for
Chávez coming back on April 2002, was suddenly called a traitor, right
winger, oligarch and a puppet of the US. Even Chavez led a sing-along
with his supporters at a rally, chanting ” Baduel, traitor, you deserve
the firing squad”, in another demonstration of who is the promoter of
hate and violence in Venezuela.
And
while we thought it would stop there, Chavez chief fascist, Deputy Luis
Tascon, the co-creator with Chavez of that list to discriminate
Venezuelans on the basis of their political beliefs, was thrown out of the newly created Socialist party PSUV, for expressing his support for the former General.
while we thought it would stop there, Chavez chief fascist, Deputy Luis
Tascon, the co-creator with Chavez of that list to discriminate
Venezuelans on the basis of their political beliefs, was thrown out of the newly created Socialist party PSUV, for expressing his support for the former General.
It
was in some sense remarkable that these two emblematic figures of
Chavismo would depart on the same week. But it shows how little
democracy there is in the way the country is being run, nobody is
allowed to question the democrat, nobody is allowed to go against him,
nobody is allowed to speak out against the autocrat, and if you do, you
are kicked out, accused of being right-winger, a traitor and a member
of the opposition. We have no king to tell Chavez to shut up; we have
no king to defend the dying democracy of our country.
was in some sense remarkable that these two emblematic figures of
Chavismo would depart on the same week. But it shows how little
democracy there is in the way the country is being run, nobody is
allowed to question the democrat, nobody is allowed to go against him,
nobody is allowed to speak out against the autocrat, and if you do, you
are kicked out, accused of being right-winger, a traitor and a member
of the opposition. We have no king to tell Chavez to shut up; we have
no king to defend the dying democracy of our country.
And
while I welcome Baduel’s statement and agree with Tascon’s defense of
Baduel’s rights, I will not remove either from my list of people who
have played a significant role in the violation of the human rights of
the Venezuelan people. As such they will always be subject for
prosecution an in Tascon’s case, my blog can be used to build the case
against him when he is brought to trial. Baduel should also be charge
as he allowed for the abuses and crimes against Venezuelans to continue
while he was both a General and a Minister of Defense. When he came to
Chavez’ aid in 2002, he should have reestablished Constitutional order,
but not brought Chavez back. Chávez planned and was directly
responsible at that time for the deaths and injuries of over one
hundred Venezuelans and Baduel knew that Chavez, Deputies of the
National Assembly and the Prosecutor General had planned the attack on
unarmed marchers at the highest levels of power.
while I welcome Baduel’s statement and agree with Tascon’s defense of
Baduel’s rights, I will not remove either from my list of people who
have played a significant role in the violation of the human rights of
the Venezuelan people. As such they will always be subject for
prosecution an in Tascon’s case, my blog can be used to build the case
against him when he is brought to trial. Baduel should also be charge
as he allowed for the abuses and crimes against Venezuelans to continue
while he was both a General and a Minister of Defense. When he came to
Chavez’ aid in 2002, he should have reestablished Constitutional order,
but not brought Chavez back. Chávez planned and was directly
responsible at that time for the deaths and injuries of over one
hundred Venezuelans and Baduel knew that Chavez, Deputies of the
National Assembly and the Prosecutor General had planned the attack on
unarmed marchers at the highest levels of power.
But he would have played no role then and somehow he feels he does now. God help us!
Meanwhile,
the oh so democratic Chavez Government has yet to respond to the
Electoral Boards call for debates on the proposed Constitutional reform
before the referendum on Dec. 2nd.
Thus, an already illegal reform, not discussed even within the National
Assembly when it was made, will remain under wraps if Chavez’ PSUV
party has its way. The Members of the Electoral Board have contacted
both William Lara, in his dual conflict of interest role of Minister of
Information and spokesman for Chavez’ PSUV and Vice President Jorge
Rodriguez. Neither has committed the Government to present someone to
debate during the first debate on Monday.
the oh so democratic Chavez Government has yet to respond to the
Electoral Boards call for debates on the proposed Constitutional reform
before the referendum on Dec. 2nd.
Thus, an already illegal reform, not discussed even within the National
Assembly when it was made, will remain under wraps if Chavez’ PSUV
party has its way. The Members of the Electoral Board have contacted
both William Lara, in his dual conflict of interest role of Minister of
Information and spokesman for Chavez’ PSUV and Vice President Jorge
Rodriguez. Neither has committed the Government to present someone to
debate during the first debate on Monday.
In
the face of this, the Electoral Board proposes a uniquely Chavista
solution: Let’s cancel the debate. Jeez, these guys are overflowing
with democratic concepts. If one side does not show up, the free
airtime an all TV stations that the CNE had offered should be provided
to the forces of democracy that are wiling to debate the illegal reform
with anyone.
the face of this, the Electoral Board proposes a uniquely Chavista
solution: Let’s cancel the debate. Jeez, these guys are overflowing
with democratic concepts. If one side does not show up, the free
airtime an all TV stations that the CNE had offered should be provided
to the forces of democracy that are wiling to debate the illegal reform
with anyone.
Meanwhile,
the economy continues to show the strains of the misguided policies of
Chavez and his collaborators. The lack of milk in supermarket shelves
has already led to open fights and police intervention when milk trucks
have arrived at supermarkets. People’s hands are stamped when they
acquire milk at the Government’s Mercal markets and one can no longer
have coffee with milk at Restaurants and cafes. Only a “negrito” or
‘guayoyo” available, just when the Minister of Foodstuffs had said the
problem would be resolved. Not since the beginning of the supply
problems with milk began earlier in the years had the situation gotten
to be so critical.
the economy continues to show the strains of the misguided policies of
Chavez and his collaborators. The lack of milk in supermarket shelves
has already led to open fights and police intervention when milk trucks
have arrived at supermarkets. People’s hands are stamped when they
acquire milk at the Government’s Mercal markets and one can no longer
have coffee with milk at Restaurants and cafes. Only a “negrito” or
‘guayoyo” available, just when the Minister of Foodstuffs had said the
problem would be resolved. Not since the beginning of the supply
problems with milk began earlier in the years had the situation gotten
to be so critical.
And in its infinite wisdom, the Government sprung a new automotive policy on car companies starting on Jan. 1st.
Only companies with manufacturing capability will be allowed to import,
which makes some sense, but every car sold after that date will have to
have LNG capability. Look for cars to be scare now, but that will be
good for traffic.
Only companies with manufacturing capability will be allowed to import,
which makes some sense, but every car sold after that date will have to
have LNG capability. Look for cars to be scare now, but that will be
good for traffic.
And
then of course, Chavez did not win the simpatico of the year award upon
his arrival in Chile. First, he needlessly stated upon landing that
Bolivia should have access to the sea, a touchy subject which is really
none o his business. He has scolded others in the name of sovereignty
for much less. And even before he had his confrontation with his former
buddy Zapatero and the King, he criticized Chile for the lack of social
progress in that country. But Chile’s Foreign Minister challenged
Chavez’ in his ignorance, saying let anyone study what has been done in
Chile and all of Latin America and see if anyone can match the social
progress of that country.
then of course, Chavez did not win the simpatico of the year award upon
his arrival in Chile. First, he needlessly stated upon landing that
Bolivia should have access to the sea, a touchy subject which is really
none o his business. He has scolded others in the name of sovereignty
for much less. And even before he had his confrontation with his former
buddy Zapatero and the King, he criticized Chile for the lack of social
progress in that country. But Chile’s Foreign Minister challenged
Chavez’ in his ignorance, saying let anyone study what has been done in
Chile and all of Latin America and see if anyone can match the social
progress of that country.
And
the truth is nobody can. Chile has the best health care system in Latin
America, a booming economy and the best improvement in terms of social
inequality of any country in the region in the last twenty and/or ten
years. But that is the dirty secret that Chavez, Evo, Ortega and the
like don’t want to tell their “people”, how Chile used free markets and
tough policies to become the country that it is today. As Zapatero told
Chavez indirectly before the incident today, it is time to face
realities, to leave ideologies aside and do something to improve the
lot of the people. It is time to be practical, act democratically and
have a common effort of the State and the private sector to achieve
real results and prosperity for the people.
the truth is nobody can. Chile has the best health care system in Latin
America, a booming economy and the best improvement in terms of social
inequality of any country in the region in the last twenty and/or ten
years. But that is the dirty secret that Chavez, Evo, Ortega and the
like don’t want to tell their “people”, how Chile used free markets and
tough policies to become the country that it is today. As Zapatero told
Chavez indirectly before the incident today, it is time to face
realities, to leave ideologies aside and do something to improve the
lot of the people. It is time to be practical, act democratically and
have a common effort of the State and the private sector to achieve
real results and prosperity for the people.
But
much like the local debate on the Constitutional reform, Chavez will
not take up this international one either. Not only does he have no
clue as to its reality, but he does not care. He is not a man of
democracy and debate; he is just an autocrat who cares little about his
people except for his own projection and power. That is why crime has
tripled since his ascent to the Presidency in 1998 and while health care
statistics have worsened in those same eight years, despite the
hullabaloo about some of the health related misiones. But don’t worry,
since epidemiology statistics are not improving Chavismo found a
wonderful way of solving the problem, last month it eliminated the 67-year-old Weekly Epidemiology Bulletin of the Minister of Health.
much like the local debate on the Constitutional reform, Chavez will
not take up this international one either. Not only does he have no
clue as to its reality, but he does not care. He is not a man of
democracy and debate; he is just an autocrat who cares little about his
people except for his own projection and power. That is why crime has
tripled since his ascent to the Presidency in 1998 and while health care
statistics have worsened in those same eight years, despite the
hullabaloo about some of the health related misiones. But don’t worry,
since epidemiology statistics are not improving Chavismo found a
wonderful way of solving the problem, last month it eliminated the 67-year-old Weekly Epidemiology Bulletin of the Minister of Health.
A typical brainless solution by the revolution.
King of Spain tells Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez to shut up
November 10, 2007Even the ultimate diplomat (and oligarch!) the King of Spain could not stand it any more and told Chavez:
“Why don’t you shut up!”
After Chavez threatened the Continent with violence, relived his mythical story of the 2002 coup with the 5,000 around the palace now in the millions and insulting former Spanish Prime Minister Aznar.
November 10, 2007
In today’s El Nacional, Prof. Luis Pedro España exposes very clearly how distorted things are getting distorted in Venezuela. España is without a doubt the country’s foremost expert on poverty, but the Government unfortunately has no use for his extensive knowledge of that matter.
Hummer for eggs by Luis Pedro España
There is no milk but
there is yogurt. There is no sugar, but there is Splenda. There are no
eggs, nor meat, nor rice, but there is caviar, salmon and all the
things needed to make Sushi. What type of economy is this? Who are the
geniuses that play politics in the name of the poor and the result is
that all that is available are the goods for the rich?
The battle against inflation does not only consist in that
articles do no go up in price, it is also necessary for goods to be on
the shelves. Scarcity is the hidden face of inflation. When you try to
fit it into a corset, not only the economy, but human nature itself, the
senseless signs of communism or Bolivarian socialism begin to appear:
there is no milk for the kids, but there are imported crackers for pets
The Government knows it and I suppose they must be surprised at it. But
its reaction, its next economic measures will likely be even worse. The
little understanding, when it is not ideological denial of the basic
rules of economics will take them to make the disequilibria even more
extreme.
They are not going to rectify. They will continue with the
senseless interventions. That is why we are only centimeters away from
one of the multiple ministries aaproving quarterly price lists for
3,000 to 5,000 articles of consumption. It is probable that before
December Mercal will introduce the “famous Cuban rationing cards” for
articles like sugar, rice and powdered milk. Thus, while the poor stand
in long lines, their hands are stamped so that they do not go back to
the end of the line, or they ask for their ID card to buy things
simultaneously, on the other hand, the middle and high classes travel
at half or a third of the price and they buy even more imported
articles.
The horror of the authorities because of the importation of
luxury items, whether they are Hummers or the much-maligned Scotch
whisky, is forcing them to introduce even more controls. Now they will
prohibit car imports and surely many other luxury items, but we will
continue seeing them, the political bosses or their wives will show off
what is forbidden to everyone else. Inflation, scarcity of basic goods
and the pernicious regressive subsidies that are behind the price of
gasoline and the huge foreign exchange differential, only work in the
direction opposite to what the intention of the controls is supposed to
be. This Government that pretends to be the Robin Hood of Latin
America, in reality is a Hood Robin. A villain that takes away from the
poor in order to give it to the rich.
But we know what will be the end of these decisions. The whole
continent lived through it after the collapse of its economies in the
eighties and we lived it after Lusinchis’ Government and the terrorific
adjustment of Perez II.
The Government appears not to understand that only
stimulating, creating the conditions for productive investment and
increasing national production it is that it will be possible to
placate inflation, defeat scarcities and provide good employment for
Venezuelans.
It is quite probable that the authorities are counting on the
price of oil as the artifice to sustain the economic unfeasibility of
its international policy. But the reality is different. Whatever the
price may be, nothing will save us from the economic chaos we will
undergo, a product of the gigantic error that is implied in getting rid
of local production, attacking property and ignoring the most
elementary rules of economics.
Sooner or later we will pay the political obstinacy of the State
of doing without that part of society, which it considers it enemy.
While that arrives, we can test the barter system that the Government
likes so much, thus, I trade a Hummer for twelve dozen eggs!
The armed riders of Puente El LLaguno II
November 8, 2007
While we have known that the Chavez Government lacks scruples and has an absolute disregard for the law and the truth, it never ceases to amaze us how cynical they can be in terms of distorting the truth. The savage and brutal attack on the students by a group of Chavista thugs is quickly becoming a sort of Puente del Llaguno II, where the hoodlums that attacked the students returning unarmed from their peaceful march are now supposed to have cornoered and attempted to lynch the “poor” Chavistas who were at the University.
First of all, pro-Chavez and anti-Chavez students coexist peacefully at Central University, so there is no explanation for this sudden impulse to lynch them. They have faced each other in debates and elections and there has only been violence whenever outside groups have gone in and stirred it up. Like yesterday.
Let us first recall, that at around 4 PM, the Vice-Minister of the Interior and Justice sent police groups to all entrances of Central University and appeared on TV saying that he was doing this to stop any extraneous groups from creating violence. Why did he do this and why did he say it? Then the violence began and in most of the videos and pictures (there is one in my mind that is not clear if the guy is part of the pro-Chavez thugs or not) those armed, organized and attacking the students with weapons and on motorcycles are pro-Chavez groups.
Today one of the readers of the blog posted this link to human rights group Provea which shows pictures which prove very clearly the impunity with which yesterday’s attack took place and how the Government tacitly had to have allowed these armed groups to go into the University.
The top two pictures show guys on motorcycles, most of them without plates, being directed by an armed person in the background. Even worse, some of the motorcycles without plates happen to be police motorcycles. Below you can see on such motorcycle, no license plate, no required helmet on the passenger and it clearly says Police on it. How could these people get through the police barriers? Why no plates? Who controls the Metropolitan Police? Are any of these people students?
In the bottom you can then see four such motorcycles. The one on the extreme right the guy has a heavy rifle, none of them have helmets and at least one of the motorcycles is a police motorcycles.
These are supposedly the “heroes” who came to aid the people trapped inside and who have even been on the Government’s TV station today explaining what heroes they are.
Thus, we seem to be in the face Of Puente El Llaguno II or perhaps The armed shooters of Puente El LLaguno II. On April 11th. 2002, the peaceful march going under a bridge began being shot at by gunman who were caught on camera. These gunmen, many of them employees of the Chavista City Hall of the Libertador District, were found to be innocent in a speedy trial, while the Metropolitan Police Officers protecting the march below remain in jail to this day without even being brought to trial.
In a few months, these shooters will be in the streets if they are ever jailed, much like the man who killed Maritza Ron on August 15th. 2004, who curiously attended the burial of Danilo Anderson when he was supposed to be in jail and the Puente El Llaguno shooters who are back at work for the revolution, more loyal than ever.
This is the revolutions without scruples, this is the violent revolution, these are the crimes of Hugo Chavez.
Shooter clearly seen without hood
November 8, 2007Somebody sent me this picture. The guy below left is the same one on the right as well as being the one in the previous post in the picture that has been seen around the world, shooting at the students behind the door (You can see him in many pictures in Daniel’s blog). Maybe the Minister of the Interior can identify him or maybe he might not if it is not convenient to find him:
Students march peacefully, but are met with violence on their campuses as they return
November 7, 2007Students marched today and introduced an injunction in the Venezuelan Supreme Court asking that the proposed reform be postponed because it is illegal and has not been known and discussed by the people. I was very impressed by the clarity of the concepts expressed by the students that were allowed to speak, as they outlined very succinctly the reasons why they think the proposed changes, as well as the procedures followed, were absolutely illegal and fraudulent.
The march was peaceful, as pro-Chavez groups were kept at bay (at last) by the police, so that they could not interfere with the march. However, as the students returned to their universities, armed groups in motorcycles showed up in at least two universities in Caracas and Merida and began shooting at the students. There are at least nine injured as I write this, and while there has been rumors of one dead person, but this has been denied by authorities.
Below images of the shooters on the left, trying to push a door open to shoot at the students as well as a lone man with a gun and hooded face shooting at the students. There are videos that should reveal more later on. For now, just note that the student on the right has a gas mask on and a t-shirt that says “NO” to the Constitutional reform, clearly coming from the march. One of the guys on the left trying to push the door open has a gun and is trying to shoot them. Who do you think is the aggressor here?
The Minister of the Interior is on TV saying that the students returning from the march ¨trapped¨123 students (how precise!) and tried to lynch them and that is what led to the shootings. Curiously, he did not explain how the motorcycle riders got through the police barriers that were supposedly ¨blocking all entrances¨ to the University or the fact that the students who are injured are mostly coming from the march (I do not say all, because I can not confirm it). The Minister says that the students were frustrated because their march was peaceful. He did talk about the “party” surrounding the approval of the Constitutional reform.
The Devil's Excrement 