Tag Archives: U.S

Oct
12
2012
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In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 10/12/12

colgate 300x196 In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 10/12/12

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Sunday’s reelection of Chávez disappointed many Venezuelans, but, with gubernatorial elections in December, Henrique Capriles and the opposition still may pose a threat to Chávez’s political aims in the future. Meanwhile, Chávez hails his reelection as evidence of Venezuela’s “perfect” democracy, despite the unfair playing field. Chávez also criticizes U.S.-Syria policy in his first press conference after the election, while vowing to deepen his socialist revolution in Venezuela. Yet his victory spurs further emigration as Venezuelans predict more economic woes. On Wednesday, Chávez named Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro as his new Vice President to replace Elias Jaua. And with the end of 2012 only three months away, the Venezuelan inflation rate is expected to rise to 21 percent by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Chávez’s reelection raises worries among manufacturers from Coca-Cola to Colgate, with the threat of currency devaluation looming.

Chavismo Wins, Venezuela Loses, The Wall Street Journal

It was around 9 p.m. in Caracas on Sunday when opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski tweeted his followers: “Calm, prudence, patience. Today was a great historic day. The people spoke.” Chávez also used his first press conference following his reelection to criticize U.S. Syria policy.

Venezuelan opposition candidate Capriles may still pose future threat to Chavez, The Washington Post

CARACAS, Venezuela — His loss in Sunday’s presidential election was resounding, but in conceding defeat before tearful followers, Henrique Capriles hinted at an active political future that may yet pose a challenge to President Hugo Chavez’s self-proclaimed socialist revolution.

Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez wins 3rd term, vows to deepen socialist revolution, NBC News

CARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez scored a comfortable election victory that could extend his rule to 20 years and vowed to deepen his self-styled socialist revolution after a bitterly fought race against a youthful rival who has galvanized Venezuela’s opposition.

Venezuela’s Chavez hails “perfect” democracy, mocks tyrant image, Reuters

(Reuters) – An ebullient President Hugo Chavez on Tuesday hailed his comfortable re-election as evidence of Venezuela’s “perfect” democracy and mocked his foes’ depiction of him as a dictator.

Venezuela’s Chavez criticizes US over Syria policy, Kansas City Star

In his first press conference since winning reelection Sunday, President Hugo Chávez said he was willing to work with the opposition even as he doubles down on his socialist reforms.

Chavez Victory Spurs Exodus as Venezuelans Foresee Economic Woes, Bloomberg Businessweek

Juan Ibarra, a 35-year-old surgeon from Caracas, is preparing to emigrate after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won another six-year term on Oct. 7.

Venezuela’s Chavez names Maduro vice-president, Reuters

(Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez named Foreign Minister and former bus driver Nicolas Maduro as his new vice president on Wednesday in a Cabinet shake-up following his comfortable re-election.

Inflation rate estimated at 21% ending 2012, El Universal

On Tuesday, the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) published the results of the performance of the National Consumer Price Index (NCPI) in September, resulting in a monthly variation of 1.6% for an accrued amount of 11.5% and annualized inflation at 18%.

Colgate: not toasting Chavez’s return, Financial Times

How do you toast the victory of Hugo Chávez, Venezuela’s socialist president, who last Sunday won another six-year term, reconfirming him as one of Latin America’s most commanding political figures?

 
May
2
2012
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Chávez looks to withdraw Venezuela from respected human rights panel

chavez lot Chávez looks to withdraw Venezuela from respected human rights panel

In his first live appearance in Venezuela since mid April, Hugo Chávez said Monday that his government should withdraw from the Organization of American States’ (OAS) human rights body, which he claimed was conspiring with the U.S. to undermine his power.

Chávez spent four days in Venezuela after two weeks of cancer treatments in Cuba, ostensibly to sign an overhaul to the nation’s labor law. But the president also took the opportunity to condemn the OAS Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

The highly-respected IACHR has been an active critic of Chávez’s government throughout his 13 years in office. In 2010, the organization produced a lengthy report outlining Venezuela’s failings in “political rights and participation in public life,” “independence and separation of public powers,” and “freedom of thought and expression,” among other things.

“It’s been some time since we should have retired from that commission,” Chávez said during Monday’s speech. He also called the IACHR “a tool the United States uses against us” and a “permanent conspiracy” to remove him from power.

Henrique Capriles, Chávez’s opponent in the upcoming elections, said withdrawing from the council would be irresponsible.

Activists also expressed criticism.

“With this decision, no one wins. The government loses a lot obviously. A decision like this reaffirms that there is a situation of indifference and complete inattention to human rights,” said Liliana Ortega, director of Venezuelan human rights organization Cofavic.

Christopher Sabatini, senior director of policy at the Americas Society and Council of the Americas, noted that Venezuela is not the first OAS member state to have had quarrels with the IACHR.

“[But] the idea that a government would want to pull out of the commission should be condemned,” he said. “[The IACHR has] been at the forefront of all we assume to be advances in human rights in the hemisphere.”

Chávez’s call for withdrawal has sparked speculation in Venezuela that Chávez, his military and the Cuban regime are preparing for military intervention around the elections, or in the event the president’s health further deteriorates. If the military takes drastic action – either by enforcing military control following Chávez’s death or postponing the election date – Venezuela will avoid having to address the condemnation that will come with its membership in the IACHR.

Yesterday, Venezuelan Vice President Jaua echoed the president’s comments, noting that the IACHR is “useless” for Venezuela.

 
Apr
19
2012
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Former Venezuelan Judge Suggests Drug Trafficking By Government Officials

Typically, when international experts, foreign governments and Venezuelan citizens talk about the rising crime in Venezuela, it’s in regard to the rampant violence that has made the country as dangerous as some conflict zones. Even the U.S. State Department has warned citizens traveling to Venezuela of the purported dangers. However, more and more, the governments in both the U.S. and Venezuela are turning their attention to the “worrying trends” emerging in Venezuela’s illegal narcotics trade.

Now, a former Venezuelan judge has suggested to U.S. investigators that prominent figures in Venezuela’s government are involved in drug trafficking operations.

In testimony given before the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Tuesday, Eladio Aponte Aponte, a former judge of the Supreme Court of Venezuela, has implied that senior officers of the armed forces and even leaders of the Chávez government are complicit in drug trafficking operations.

According to one source, Aponte said the drug trafficking operations are run directly by Henry Rangel Silva, the Venezuelan Minister of Defense; General Cliver Alcalá, commander of the Fourth Armored Division of the Army; and Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly and one of President Hugo Chávez’s closest allies.

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of Treasury Department was already aware of Alcalá’s and Silva’s alleged links to drug trafficking and terrorist organizations.

aponte Former Venezuelan Judge Suggests Drug Trafficking By Government Officials

Aponte arrived in the U.S. from Costa Rica, where he had been since Apr. 2. He was himself implicated in the drug conspiracy, and was dismissed as a judge on March 20 for alleged ties to accused trafficker Walid Makled. His whereabouts between his dismissal from the Supreme Court and his appearance in Costa Rica remain unknown.

The National Assembly removed Aponte from office after documents found in Makled’s apartment showed ties to the judge. Aponte gave Makled credentials that gave him access to court offices and the freedom to move around the country without restriction.

Makled is currently on trial in Caracas. He was extradited to Venezuela from Columbia after a series of diplomatic negotiations.

According to reports released by WikiLeaks, the Venezuelan military exerted pressure on Chávez to prevent Makled from being tried in the U.S. Senior army officers reportedly fear that Makled — who has already told media that senior army officers were directly involved in drug transport — might testify that the Venezuelan military aided his drug trafficking operation.

Economic issues often garner the most attention during an election season. But in this election year in Venezuela, crime is an equally important issue for most Venezuelans. If proven true, these alleged connections between the government’s top officials and narcotics trafficking could adversely impact the PSUV, who very well could lose the high ground in the debate about crime.