This week: “Mystery, rumor and conspiracy theories,” continue to surround President Hugo Chávez’s health; as Chávez, sick with cancer, recedes from the public stage, speculation grows about who within the PSUV will take his place should the president die or become incapacitated. Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department human rights reports confirms widespread abuses in Venezuela, particularly regarding the Chávez government’s control over Venezuela’s media and judiciary; drug-related violence continues to mar Venezuela, as two FARC fronts attack at the Venezuela-Colombia border; Venezuela’s economy continues to slump despite Chávez’s increased government spending. Finally, Venezuela maintains or expands trade with China and, despite international sanctions, with oppressive President Bashar al-Assad’s Syria as well.
Venezuelans in the dark over Chavez’s health, Chicago Tribune
Mystery, rumor and conspiracy theories surround Hugo Chavez’s health almost a year after his cancer diagnosis, with many Venezuelans contemplating a future without their larger-than-life president.
Venezuela’s Chavez reappears, leads cabinet meeting, Reuters
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reappeared on Tuesday in a live television broadcast, the first time he has been seen in public view since returning from cancer treatment in Cuba almost two weeks ago.
Hugo Chavez’s Absence Spawns Power Grabs in Venezuela, Newsweek
Venezuela these days feels like The Wizard of Oz on acid. The country’s main newspapers recently carried the news of a tornado-shaped cloud on the front page.
When it comes to Hugo Chávez’s health, a Naples doctor ‘knows’, The Miami Herald
Doctor José Marquina has a thriving private practice in southeast Florida with a specialty in sleep disorders. But in Latin American media circles, Marquina plays the role of de-facto doctor to Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s president and cancer patient.
Human rights report details violence and abuse in Latin America, The Miami Herald
Drug fueled violence in Mexico and Honduras, mass detentions in Cuba and an executive power grab in Venezuela were highlighted in the U.S. State Department’s 2011 human rights report released Thursday.
Two FARC fronts attack Venezuela-Colombia border, El Universal
In less than two weeks, 19 members of the Colombian security forces have been killed and other 16 have been wounded at the Colombia-Venezuela border. The killings were perpetrated by two fronts of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) that assault Colombians and Venezuelans in the area.
Capriles: “Chávez, get ready because I am going to win the election”, El Universal
Henrique Capriles Radonski, the presidential candidate of opposition umbrella group Unified Democratic Panel (MUD), made a reference to President Hugo Chávez and asked him to be prepared for a defeat “because I am going to defeat you on October 7,” he said.
Consumption soars 5.7% and shortage of US dollars intensifies, El Universal
After a huge dose of public spending, including wage raises and increased subventions, the Venezuelan government has bolstered private consumption once again. The problem is that, in parallel, higher demand is forcing authorities to increase and speed up the authorizations of US dollars. These are two needs that economic officials have failed to meet so far.
Syria ships naphtha to Venezuela, which sent diesel, Reuters
A Venezuelan oil tanker is returning to Venezuela from Syria with a cargo of naphtha, shipping records showed on Thursday, after delivering badly needed diesel early this week as Western sanctions, causing severe shortages, hurt Syria’s economy.
Venezuela expands China oil-for-loan deal to $8 bln, Chicago Tribune
Venezuela’s Congress voted on Tuesday to double the amount the government can borrow from China under a deal that lets the OPEC nation repay loans with oil, potentially adding to the debt burden taken on under President Hugo Chavez.