XML FeedsCategory: Politics
Guri Dam Drops to Lower Levels: Strafor Global Intelligence
By Other Sources on 8 May, 2010
May 7, 2010 | 1817 GMTVenezuela: Guri Dam Drops to Lowest LevelJUAN MABROMATA/AFP/Getty ImagesSummaryThe water level of Venezuela’s Guri dam is at the lowest since the electricity crisis began, and the country’s thermoelectric sector is in no… more »
Chávez Decaffeinates Venezuela
By Other Sources on 4 May, 2010
By MARY ANASTASIA O'GRADY The late Milton Friedman once quipped that "if you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert, in five years there'd be a shortage of sand." Friedman was using hyperbole to make a point about central plannin… more »
Report details violence and lost freedoms in Venezuela
By Other Sources on 1 Mar, 2010
THE ORGANIZATION of American States has failed to respond to the steady deterioration of Latin American democracy during the past few years, even though the defense of democracy is supposed to be one of its primary missions. Now the OAS -- and governments throughout the region -- have been shamed by one of its own branch organizations. Last week, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights issued a searing and authoritative report on the destruction of Venezuela's political institutions and the erosion of freedom under President Hugo Chávez. It's a powerful and sometimes chilling account of what OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza and the organization's permanent council have been ignoring... more »
“Chávez Is Losing His Grip; The end is near for his revolution”, Newsweek, February 8
By Other Sources on 8 Feb, 2010
Mac Margolis, “Chávez Is Losing His Grip; The end is near for his revolution”, Newsweek, February 8, 2010 In his 11-year rule, Venezuelan strong-man Hugo Chávez has outlasted all manner of angry foes, conspirators, and mounting chaos. Until no… more »
Fabiola Sanchez: Students end hunger strike in Venezuela
By Other Sources on 9 Dec, 2009
The Associated Press, December 8, 2009 CARACAS, Venezuela A group of college students ended a hunger strike after 17 days following a meeting Tuesday with Organization of American States representatives to air their concerns about human rights in Venezuela. Student leader Julio Rivas said the protest achieved its objective and the three OAS officials visiting from Washington agreed to relay their concerns to OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza.A dozen students started the protest Nov. 21 outside the OAS office in Caracas, aiming to press the body to look into their complaints, including allegations that President Hugo Chavez's government abuses the legal system to persecute opponents."Today we have an official OAS commission that came to receive the complaint of human rights violations, of repression and political persecution," Rivas said.In a statement, Insulza said OAS officials were relieved the students ended the hunger strike, "because that way talks regarding a possible visit from the Inter-American Human Rights Commission can be taken up."Insulza noted such a visit would have to be authorized by Chavez's government and said he hoped the administraiton would allow him to personally visit Venezuela... more »
Chávez Plays Damage Control as Scandal Widens
By Other Sources on 8 Dec, 2009
CARACAS, Venezuela -- President Hugo Chávez scrambled to distance his government from a brewing banking and corruption scandal that claimed one of his closest collaborators on Sunday and could claim other top officials.Speaking on his weekly television show, Mr. Chávez announced the resignation of Jesse Chacón, one of the government's most powerful officials, who was serving as science and technology minister. The announcement came a day after the arrest of Mr. Chacón's brother, Arné Chacón, president of Banco Real and Baninvest, two of seven small banks taken over by the Venezuelan government last week."I respect and love Jesse very much, and I know he understands," said Mr. Chávez. He said Mr. Chacón's resignation freed the official from suspicion in the banking scandal... more »
Chavez urges 3-minute showers to conserve water
By Other Sources on 22 Oct, 2009
Reuters CARACAS (Reuters) - Leftist President Hugo Chavez called on Venezuelans on Wednesday to stop singing in the shower and to wash in three minutes because the oil-exporting nation is having problems supplying water and electricity. Venezuela has suffered several serious blackouts in the past year because of rapidly growing demand and under-investment, which has been aggravated by a drop in water levels in hydroelectric dams that provide most of its energy. Chavez announced energy-saving measures and said he would create a ministry to deal with the electricity shortages, which have affected the image of his socialist revolution before legislative elections due in 2010... more »
Advocates Appeal to Brazil on Venezuela's Political Prisoners and Mercosur
By Other Sources on 21 Oct, 2009
Representatives for political prisoner Eligio Cedeno visit Brazil to raise awarenessSAO PAULO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of the Venezuelan political prisoner Eligio Cedeno are visiting Sao Paulo and Brasilia this week to seek urgent support against the ongoing abuses of human rights and political persecution by the Venezuelan government. The situation for Cedeno, who is just one of dozens of high profile political prisoners in the country, is currently in legal limbo, as an appeals court of the Supreme Court of Justice has ordered his immediate release while the 38th control court has so far refused to fulfill its legal obligation to execute the order."Brazil is a prestigious and respected regional leader, and part of theresponsibility of this role is the defense of basic, universal rights," said Robert Amsterdam, international lawyer for Cedeno. "Right now we are witnessing the Venezuelan government's open interference in the judicial process, which poses enormous risks to Brazil as Venezuela's ascension to Mercosur is under consideration."... more »
Rory Carroll, “Venezuela: Chavez accused of turning tyrant as even former allies languish in jail: President using courts and intimidation to neutralise opponents, critics say”
By Ana Julia Jatar on 14 Oct, 2009
The Guardian (London) - Final Edition, October 13, 2009 He was the man who saved Hugo Chavez when all seemed lost. A coup had ousted Venezuela's president and buried, it seemed, his leftist experiment.General Raul Baduel, however, stayed loyal and tilted the army Chavez's way during tumultuous days in April 2002, paving the way for his return to power and restoring democracy. A grateful Chavez hailed the general a hero and appointed him defence minister. They became close allies and confidants.Times change. Baduel is now stripped of power and facing corruption charges that could keep him in jail for decades. Prosecutors say he pilfered state funds. Baduel says his crime was to realise - and declare - that the president was a tyrant... more »
The Iran connection in Venezuela
By Other Sources on 24 Sep, 2009
The Bradenton Herald (Florida)By Andres OppenheimerHere's an issue that is drawing growing attention in Washington, but is going almost unnoticed in Latin America — allegations that Venezuela is helping Iran develop nuclear weapons, and that Iran's fundamentalist regime is setting up a foothold in Latin America from where to threaten the United States.While there has been speculation about Venezuela's ties to Iran's nuclear program in the past, it has risen to a new level since a Sept. 8 speech by New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau at the Brookings Institution in Washington... more »
Las elecciones primarias fueron sin duda un gran éxito para la oposición. Felicitaciones a todos los candidatos y a todos los votantes que expresaron su opinión con su voto en las urnas. A través de un complejo proceso de negociación política estamos en capacidad de presentar una lista única de
Luego de haber escuchado las declaraciones por las cuales fueron arrestados Oswaldo Alvarez Paz, ex gobernador del Zulia y Guillermo Zuloaga, Presidente de Globovisión, esta clarísimo que bien podríamos ser usted o yo los próximos tras las rejas. En sus declaraciones en la SIP, Zuloaga criticó el ventajismo estatal y
