The Devil's Excrement

Two headlines in Venezuela’s daily El Nacional:

Castro’s firing squad kills three hijackers of ferry (Front page and page B-10)

The three were found guilty of hijacking the ferry, there were no injured or harmed or killed, eight others were found guilty and face prison terms from two years to life. Interesting how quiet the US media is about this (except Miami papers, of course). There were only nine days between the hijacking and the sentencing, demonstrating its political nature. Where are all the Human Rights organization’s today?

Evo Morales: Venezuela is in the process of becomeing a second Cuba (Front page and page A-5)

Now, don’t get Mr. Morales wrong, he is actually very happy about this. As Head of Bolivias’ coca growers, he is delighted that we are going towards the Cuban model. According to him, this is wonderful, even if poor people are doing worse. In fact, in his rampant ignorance he says that in Bolivia GDP is growing, but he can’t see how people are doing better. Well, here GDP is shrinking but we can actually see how people are doing worse, but that is irrelevant to him. As a matter of fact, critical poverty under Chavez has become worse than Iraq’s! But you know, I must be a technocrat that only thinks of stupid numbers.  Let’s grow more coca! Mr. Morales was invited to “celebrate” the anniversary of the Miraflores Massacre, which to him was “the people defending the Chavez Government” somehow.

So, after reading the front page, should I be estatic that my country is becoming a second Cuba? What does Mr. Morales have in his brain? Coca? Derivatives of Coca? If we are becoming Cuba, it is clear who has the weapons: The Government, not the opposition……

For a year we have been hearing that Hugo Cahvez never wanted to resign, that he almost did so under duress. That he never signed anything. That he was kidnapped by some military officers. Well, today the Attorney General, former Chavez’ Vice-President Isaias Rodriguez, provided a “new” version. Surprisingly, the Attorney General says that Chavez wanted to resign but four Generals opposed it. According to Rodriguez, Chavez imposed his conditions on his resignation but the four Generals did not approve. Now this revised version of history is quite different from the “coup” that the world has been convinced took place. In fact, it disagrees with the version provided by Chavez himself today. If four Generals opposed his resigantion, then these Generals were the “anti-coup”. One should also ask: Why was Chavez ready to resign? Guilt? Given that there is testimony of how Chavez had planned to defend himslef using the bolivarians cricles, this points out once again towards a central role by Chavez himself in the shootings that took place a year ago.

Note: Yes, one could consider what Pedro Cramona did the next a day a coup, it did violate the Constitution, but it is as much of a coup as Chavez’ resigantion was one. Under the law, he left the Presidency and resigned.

Not much new can be said about today. To me it is the Anniversary of a shameful day. To the Chavez Government it is a time for celebration, a celebration as empty as their revolution. Nothing more fitting to me that to post this from today’s Tal Cual front page, the list of those that were killed one year ago. Today, not one person is in jail for what is now called the massacre of Miraflores. A day of shame or a year of shame? You be the judge, to me it is very clear.

Two Venezuelan cameramenn from channel 4, received yesterday the “King of Spain” award for their video of the April11 th. massacre. Those seeing shooting at the peaceful march in the video were freed last week and President Chavez and those accused have actually said that the video is not real and that it was edited……

Amnesty International issued today a report on Venezuela on the anniversary of the April 11th. tragedy. Here are some quotes:

“It is time that both the government and opposition stop attempting to use the events of April 11 to serve their political agendas and instead create the climate in which the facts can be established, justice can be secured and the victims can receive reparations.”

“The recent dismissal of murder charges against those accused of shooting from the Puente Llaguno, and the failure to charge Metropolitan Police implicated in the deaths and injuries suffered on 11 April, demonstrate the weakness of the official investigation. It also raises serious concerns about the capacity of the state to effectively prosecute all those responsible,”

“Impunity for human rights violations leaves the victims and their families without redress and encourages further violations. This can only fuel the climate of violence undermining the rule of law and human rights in Venezuela.”

“Impartial and effective investigations into human rights violations committed in April 2002 and subsequent incidents are the only means of rebuilding confidence in the police and criminal justice system and ending the climate of impunity,”

While I agree that April 11th. should not be used by either the Government and the opposition for tehir own political gain, I disagree on blaming the opposition for the absence of a “truth” commission. Such a commission does not existe simply because Chavez’ MVR blocked all efforts for it through its majority in the National Assembly.

Somebody took the trouble of compiling the home and cellular phone numbers of all of Chavez’ Deputies in the National Assembly. If you have anything to say to them please call them and tell them. Here is the full table, courtesy of CEF

CELL AND HOME TELEPHONES OF MVR DEPUTIES

While the European left comes to Venezuela to “celebrate” the anniversary of last year’s events, which is obscene on its own right, the Venezuelan left held a seminar yesterday to talk about the fraud that Chavez’ revolution represents. The event was organized initially by most center-left and left wing parties in Venezuela, but the Democratic Coordinator decided to join  in the effort. Ironic how distance makes the European left think that there is something worthwhile left in Chavez’ revolution while the local left, together with the federation of unions comes together to talk about the frudulent revolution.