The Devil's Excrement

In a glimmer of hope for justice in Venezuela, the Constitutional Hall of the Supreme Court voided last week’s decision by the Chavez controlled National Assembly to remove one of the Justices of the Court.  The Court said the decision violated the principle of separation of powers, it represented interference of one power over the other and violated the rights of the Jutice himself. Coincidentally or not, the Justice was the one that wrote the majority opinion that the high ranking officers who refused to followed Chavez’ orders in April were not involved in a coup.

According to the country’s Constitution, the National Assembly names the Justices, but it is the Court itself the one that can approve first the possibility of removing a justice.

Last night, organized crowds of Chavez’ violent “Bolivarian Circles’, simultenously attacked a large number of TV and radio stations. In some, there is considerable damage, particularly those that are not in Caracas. In others, it was just the threat of uncontrolled violence which is not only physical, but also psychological. Chavez’ Assembly Deputies led the attack in many cases. Only when the Secretary General of the OAS warned the Government, did they some of them change sides. This is a not only a violation of Venezuelan law, but also International Treaties on Human Rights and Freedom of Speech. The General Strike has to continue, it is clear what Chavez and his partisnas want. We have to get rid of him!

(By the way, I find it amazing how few reports (if any) there are so far in the international media about what happened last night)

I subscribe to a single investment newsletter, the one written by Don Hays I not only find it useful, but it is also honest and very insightful. When Venezuela was mentioned twice in the newsletter I wrote to Don and he actually mentioned this site in his newsletter. Yesterday, he mentioned it, once again, and I think it is interesting, particularly for us Venezuelans to read his view on how important our battle has become:

“The strangest thing about human nature is that so often this massive restructuring of a country or a world is not made without tremendous unrest and almost always a bloody struggle as those that refuse to admit their “failed” policies, do everything in their power to hold on to power. That is certainly the way it looks to me now in Venezuela and Iran, two countries that are striking and being attacked by the “failed” regimes of those countries. My heart goes out to those that are having to suffer, but unless my vision is totally clouded, their suffering and battle will set the stage for the reinvigoration of these nations to greatly increase the freedom and Democracy for their children, grandchildren and off-springs for many decades to come. I cited this link to you on Friday, but if you want to follow the progress of the Venezuela situation from one of those brave dissidents that is a subscriber of mine in that country, you can do so on this link: http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/ I don’t personally know this gentleman, but the on-the-spot news is refreshing in that it hasn’t gone through the media or government filter. It is the emotions of the man on the street in that “

So keep those thoughts in mind when things get tough!

The events of tonight appear to have been an attempt by the Chavez Government to manipulate the media in a manner very similar to what it did in April. As the general strike has progressed, the government can no longer deny that it is extremely succesful, much like the April strike at the oil company which ended with a massacre, Chavez’ brief departure and return, “then the people asked him to come back”. This image that there was a coup and thousands of people then took to the streets calling for Chavez’ return  has been perpetuated ever since.

I get the feeling a similar plan was on tonight. Chavez’ Bolivarian Circles, who are just paid hoodlums, would go to all TV stations, surround them and then the Minister of the Interior would go on TV and say this was just the “people” defending their President. However, before the Minister of the Interior came on, Cesar Gaviria, who happened to be dining with some members of the media, adressed the nation asking the Government to act immediately to stop the organized attack on the media. Later, the Heads of all the major TV stations also came on TV asking people to stay home. When a few minutes later the Minister of the Interior came on, it was very clear that these were not spontanous acts by the people, but a coordinated attack, thus discrediting the Minister’s speech or simply short-circuiting it.

To me it is now quite clear why the Government had been so quiet all the day, it was planning how to counterattack the media and international success of the opposition. Unfortunately for them, while in April the world was not watching Venezuela, it is now, particularly through the eyes of  OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria, who in the last four weeks has clearly seen the cynicism, lies and treachery of Chavez and his partisans. Gaviria is still too trusting of the Chavez Government and I think he will regret it, but at least he is playing an important role in containing the Government, if only so far.

The Secretary General of the OAS, Cesar Gaviria, has just gone on TV calling on the Government to act energically against the groups who are intimidating the media at this time. Gaviria called this act a violation of the right of freedom of speech. Three Caracas TV stations were simultaneously surrounded by Chavez’ Bolivarian circles, while a fourth one in Maracay, south of Caracas, was actually taken over by the violent crowd.

The rumor is that there will be a fake video on tonight saying that Cahvez has resigned to prompt people to take to the streets to celebrate and have a violent confrontation with the Bolivarian Circles. This is only a rumor, but I am saying it so that if it happens, it can not be turned around later by the Cahvez administration as they usually do.

Acording to the Management of the oil Industry, only 20% of national flights took off today with most international cancelled. In the Metropolitan area some dispatch og gasoline reestablished by the military. 30% of the gas stations are out of gas in Caracas. In the East 90% of gas stations is out of gas. In the West 95% of gas stations are out of gas. 44 tankers are anchored in the Coast of the country. 1.9 million out of 2.8 million barrels of oil is not being produced daily. 80% of gas production is shutdown. All refineries are shut down. Electric supplies are OK.

Right now (10.30 PM) Chavez’ Bolvarian Circles have surrounded two TV stations, shouting slogans. This appears to be a sign that the Government may be ready to escalate violence.

Curiously, four of the people detained on Friday night after the massacre, were realeased today even before ballistic tests had come back from the lab throwing into question the partiality of the investigation.

On a positive note, the Secretary General of the OAS announced that the Government offered to consider having elections under certain conditions. The opposition replied that only if the elections take place in the first quarter of 2003.

The country is at a standstill, no gas, no banks, no airports, subway beginning to shutdown, Government offices beginning to rebel today…today it was the tax office….tomorrow?.

The Chavez Government has yet to show up the the negotiationg table. No Central Government official or high ranking military has said a thing today. Yo can cut the tension in the air with a toothspick. Tonight I will relay the status report of the oil industry.

More pictures taken by Oscar Sabater both Friday night and in yesterday’s burial

This picture was taken at yesterday’s burial of the victims of Friday’s massacre by Oscar Sabater (El Negro) (Many Thanks!), who dilligently sent it to me as I failed to bring my camera in the rush to get there. I was impacted by the gray/black colors of our usual colorful flag. To me, it reflects the feeling of many Venezuelans who have been in mouring not only since Friday, but long before that. Newspapers estimate 30-50 thousand people showed up at the burial.

This picture was taken at yesterday’s burial of the victims of Friday’s massacre by Oscar Sabater (El Negro) (Many Thanks!), who dilligently sent it to me as I failed to bring my camera in the rush to get there. I was impacted by the gray/black colors of our usual colorful flag. To me, it reflects the feeling of many Venezuelans who have been in mouring not only since Friday, but long before that. Newspapers estimate 30-50 thousand people showed up at the burial.