The Devil's Excrement

As usual Francisco Toro does an excellent job in describing the reaction of the international press to recent events in Venezuela. Particularly interesting is his news that a different reporter will arrive to replace the sloppy reporting of Juan Forero of the NYT:

The Full Mugabe

There’s one positive side to this whole Carlos Fernández incarceration hubbub: the foreign press is finally taking the gloves off. After months of not quite knowing how to deal with the crisis, of not being entirely sure whether to treat Chávez like a normal democratic president or an autocrat, the Fernández episode seems to have tipped the scales. It’s the Mugabization of Hugo Chávez in the court of world public opinion. It’s still far from complete, but now it’s definitely on the way.

Consider this remarkable story by Scott Wilson in the Washington Post. I’ve been friends with Scott for a long time and consider him one of the best journalists around. I understand the pressure he’s under – both from his editors and his personal sense of journalistic ethics – not to write any further than the facts will allow. Whatever, intimately, he might have thought or felt about Chávez, for a long time the facts were just too nebulous and contradictory for him to give Chávez the full Mugabe treatment. I had the feeling he understood, at a gut level, how dangerous Chávez was. But Scott doesn’t draw a paycheck to tell the world how his gut is feeling – his job is to tell the world what happened. And it hadn’t happened, yet.

Now it’s happened, and his treatment in the Post is absolutely brutal. I’ve never seen the government take it this hard in a reputable foreign news story before. I think a lot of foreign journalists were, in a sense, waiting for a big stink-up to pounce – and now the stink-up is here, the government’s heavy autocratic character is in plain for all to see, and the pouncing has started.

Good.

Reuter’s is just as harsh as the Post – they played that papaya quote for all its worth – and AP is just acerbic – I can’t think of a lead anywhere near as biting as this one in any AP story I’ve ever read out of Venezuela. The NYT is flying in David González tonight, and while I only know him superficially, he’s a fantastically talented reporter and can be expected to write some good stuff.

Is it the Full Mugabe yet? Not quite. But the treatment Chávez is getting now is far, far closer to it. My fear is that he’ll use the international media blackout that will come with the start of the war on Iraq for cover – people will be very nervous here the day the war starts. Specifically, it’s easy to foresee that he’ll move against the independent TV stations within minutes of the start of the war. Under normal circumstances – and the stories of the last few days bear this out – he’d be pilloried abroad for a stunt like that. But with the green lights streaking over the skies of Baghdad on CNN, who can tell?

From the Tyromaniac, for those that think that things can’t get any worse or that deterioration will bring a President down, on what is happening in Nauru, an island which went from having one of the world’s highest per capita income to broke in less than a decade:

There is a common believe, extracted from normal gravity, that basically says It can’t only get better or You can’t fall down from the floor. The news about Nauru, a tiny Pacific island which is totally cut from the outside world, as the country slides into seeming chaos, should send shivers down the spine of anyone doing this gravity analogies…

With a title “Vengeance in Venezuela” the New York Times covers quite well the events of the last few days. What is hard to understand is why this Editorial is well balanced, accurate and thought out, while Juan Forero continues to provide the sloppiest, shoddiest and most biased coverage of any foreign newspaper for the same publication. Weird, no?

Security today was absolutely obscene as opposition leader Fernandez was brought from the headquarters of the intelligence police to the Courthouse. There were dozens of National Guards and intelligence police officers as Mr. Fernandez, President of Venezuela’s Chambers of Commerce was brought handcuffed. Contrast this with the fact that the self-confessed assasin of Plaza Altamira was moved on Jan. 9th. with only six intelligence officers being present. Is this political or what?

Meanwhile for those abroad that have read that there was a judge order against Mr. Fernandez and his detention was “legal”, we point out the following facts about what the law says in Venezuela:

-You can not be detained without showing you the order from the Court.

-You can not be detained without a representative from the Attorney General’s Office being present.

-In a procedure to detain someone, the officers of the law have to be in uniform and use official cars.

-Once detained, a prisoner can not be held incomunicado. Both his lawyers and lawyers from the Ombusdman’s office have to have access to him.

None of these were followed in this case. Moreover, for over five hours there was no information about whether Mr. Fernandez was in jail or had been kidnapped. This is absolutely illegal, it is a violation of Mr. Fernandez’ rights and is simply called state terrorism.

From the Reuters page (BCV10) of the Venezuelan Central Bank reporting the results of the today’s Treasury Bill auction: “Down with Dictatorship, freedom for the jailed opposition leaders” obviously anonymous

The events of the last few days have, for once, been reported fairly in the international press and created a strong reactions at all levels. The US Government expressed its concern over the detention of Carlos Fernandez. As I said last night, even Human Rights Watch which has been somewhat timid in criticizing the Chavez administartion was even forcefull yesterday over the deaths of three military officers that were murdered this weekend. Even the infanous New York Times placed a headline that said ” Venezuelan Strike Leader arrested” I would have preffered oppsoition, but for the NYT, its an improvement. Our friend Andy at the Financial Times, did his usual good job, apparently earlier than customary!

Meanwhile in our own blog world, which clearly reports things first and propagates them quickly, Glenn` Reynolds of Instpundit covered and updated the events, wishfully in response to my e-mail, but he seems to be on top of things anyway. He doubled it up by covering it in his MSNBC site, in what may be the best short article on why Cahvez has turned intoa  Dictator and Dictator’s in general. Meanwhile our friend at lookbackinanger, continues to understand the importance and relevance of what is happening in my country and discusses it amply (and generously to me!). Scott at Burton Terrace is always on top of things here, while Brazilian valetefrates also pays attention to us on this incredibly tense and stressful day.

While Hugo Chavez said at noon that he was informed at midnight of the “decision by a judge to detain” Carlos Ortega and Carlos Fernandez and he said “go ahead” (whatever happened to independent powers”, a half dozen of Chavez’ MVR Deputies had already appeared on TV to back the decision by the judge “live” from the Vice-President’s office. Chavez was so cynical as to say “I think” he has been captured, but he cant fool anybody. Moreover Cahvez said when he was told about it, he smiled with pleasure. What a sadist, no?

Meanwhile, besides the information that the judge ten months ago was the lawyer that defended those caught shooting at the demonstration when 19 people were killed, the prosecutor who brought the charges happens to be the niece of the Attorney General who was Chavez’ first Vice-President. The Attorney General has sat on his ass on dozens of cases that include almost 50 deaths and 700 injured, but is quick to find vaporous charges agasint the most important leaders of the opposition.

Meanwhile, while one of Chavez’ Deputies said there was a list of one hundred people that were going to be detained, the Attorney General said he has “only and so far” ordered the capture of the two Carlos’, who are the natural leaders of the unions and the private sector. By the way, the Head of the Federation of Unions Carlos Ortega, said that he will not hand himself in as he fears for his life. He has gone into hiding, but refuses to leave the country.

Now, even the People’s Ombusdman, one of the most pathetic characters of the Chavez Government said the detention “was not transparent” since there was nobody present, no order to capture Mr. Fernandez and Mr. Fernandez was detained without access by his lawyers for twelve hours. Does this mean the end is near and the Ombusdeman is trying to distance himself?

Curiously, many politicians now interpret yesterday’s actions as the reason why Chavez did not go on his trip to Malaysia as well as a ploy to distract attention from the succesful number of the referendum petitions known as the “Firmazo”, which was presented last night. I disagree, this is a step towards more repression. What I am afraid of is that coming so close to the Declaration against violence and for peace and democracy, we can only expect things to get worse from now on.

A Deputy from Chavez MVR party just said that the list of those that may be detained for their responsability in the General Strike has approximately 100 names in it (http://www.globovision.com/politica/2003.02/20/velasquez/index.shtml). If there is any doubt where we are headed, this simply confirms it.

A Deputy from Chavez MVR party just said that the list of those that may be detained for their responsability in the General Strike has approximately 100 names in it (http://www.globovision.com/politica/2003.02/20/velasquez/index.shtml). If there is any doubt where we are headed, this simply confirms it.