December 14th., 2009

A nation sick of corruption

Trips to Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and now to Cuba have been activities shared by Chavez through transmissions of Alo Presidente to refer to the crisis in several financial institutions. He announced that Minister Jesse Chacon resigned to his office. "It hurts a lot but I think the decision he has made is the best one, I extend my sympathy and solicitude, my feeling is painful”. A brother of the minister, Arne, was the owner of one of the intervened banks and owner of a large fortune, according to the data provided. Six months ago - Chavez said – I ordered the occupation of a stud farm where he raised race and step horses. "I do not understand how Arne, who was a barefoot, now, appears as the president of a bank. What's happening here?”  The media reported that eight banks that constituted a financial system for State Authority had crumbled; they were fed by funds from the public sector and were not subject to legal regulations. In one of them, the Bolivar Bank, 95% of its deposits comes from state institutions. Overall, to the intervened banks, whose capitalization rate averaged 6%, the government had provided $ 18,000 million, 25% of international reserves, which are accounted by the Central Bank.

The president assures that he does not know any of the bankers involved in fraudulent dealings. One commentator said that several times he has said that a leaf does not move in the country without his approval and that it is impossible to believe his story, being that Arne Chacon is one of the soldiers who participated in the 1992 coup together with his brother. The media have been reporting fraudulent purchase of banks, illegal use of the funds of depositors, capital increase without specifying the origin of money, billionaire credits to the so called “boliburgueses," without any warranty, and a whole string of illegal acts, which are due evidenced, and were submitted by the dissenting member Ismael García before the NA. Garcia and the AD leader, Henry Ramos have added to the list of suspects, José Vicente Rangel, former Vice President of the Republic, several ministers, state governors, the president of PDVSA and top government officials. Another dissident member sought investigation of the Chavez's family, including his brother Adam, who has purchased invaluable assets. Chavez does not acknowledge these facts. Ramos says the president of PDVSA has not been dismissed, despite being one of the leaders of big fraudulent businesses because "he knows too much”. The brother of minister Chacon and four managers of intervened banks have been detained, but most left the country, some in luxury yachts, without the authorities’ action to prevent the illegal departure.

Chavez wants to take advantage of the bank’s interventions and arrests ordered by him, to promote an intense propaganda campaign that presents him as the champion in the fight against corruption. The official press states that the President did not know what was happening and that the responsibility lies on the accomplices of the “mafia”, who played roles of control. A local newspaper said: "The nation is sick of corruption and the head of it is called Hugo Chavez"

THE REGIME ATTACKS VIOLENTLY

The American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), in a press release, condemned the murder of Oscar Barrios, recipient of provisional measures ordered by the Court. He is the fifth member of this family killed by police officers. Under the term of the protection measures of the Court, Rigoberto Barrios, of 15 years old, was also killed, allegedly by the police. The IACHR considers of utmost gravity that Venezuela had not taken measures to protect the life of Oscar Barrios, taking into account the previous murders of other family members, threats and harassment he suffered, and the protective measures ordered by the Court. This also requested to determine the whereabouts and fate of Eduardo Natera, who was arrested and national guards dragged him from the detention center and took him to a car violently. He disappeared. In the case of Francisco Uson, the Court, pleaded guilty to Venezuela for serious violations of the rule of law. It is the tenth time that the Court makes a similar pronouncement. Eligio Cedeño, a Chavez's personal prisoner, as it is mentioned in court, has been detained for three years, without trial or preliminary hearing, an act in which it is decided the crime for which he would be prosecuted. He requested review of preventive detention that was imposed in February 2007, which the judge agreed to consider appropriate. The judge was immediately dismissed and imprisoned.

In the pages of national newspapers it is frequent the news of killings of students by police officers or militias (paramilitary). The latter has shaken the country since it was filmed by TV cameramen and appeared in the news, showing the gunmen firing at Jesus Eduardo Ramirez. The rector of the UNET reported that the murder of the student had occurred during a peaceful demonstration. It is a sad result - he said - of having divided the country into two pieces, the ones that are with the government, poisoned by hatred, and those who dissent from the regime, ready to defend at any price, the right to demonstrate, and demanding respect for human rights. Student groups remained on hunger strike outside the offices of the OAS for nine days, demanding that the government allows the visit of the IACHR. The regime said it was a "media show" and that the visit would not take place while there were enemies of the revolution in the Commission. The courage with which students assumed the strike was demonstrated by the decision of doctors to hospitalize several of them in intensive care, because they presented delicate health complications. Insulza asked them to lift the strike, to which they refused. The OAS had to send a commission to talk with students and offer them an official visit of the Secretary General earlier next year. Only then they ended the means of protest, claiming that they had achieved their objective. The student body has become the forefront of the civic struggle against the Chavez regime. Its flag is the defense of human rights. The hunger strike as an instrument of protest and claims to rights, has led to follow the example of workers who were denied payment of wages and benefits, farmers dispossessed of their farms and other groups claiming to be victims of violations. A case that has greatly impressed the public is of the farmer Franklin Brito, who was declared in hunger strike for having been stripped of his small farm. After several days, doctors found his health so deteriorated that involved risk of death. He was kidnapped by policemen who took him violently to the Military Hospital for the purpose of feeding. Brito refused to receive treatment, saying that he would only end the strike if the property of which he was illegally stripped of, was returned to him.

  THE HEGEMONY OF CHAVEZ IS AT RISK

Chavez decided that the election of the new National Assembly (AN) is carried out in September 2010. He states that they are crucial elections for the revolution and his intention to continue governing until 2019. Elections are indeed vital, as an NA in which he has no majority could rescue the separation of powers and put under strict control his management. They are equally vital because his defeat in 2010 would be a clear indication that it would also be in the presidential elections of next year. In Aló Presidente, he warned his supporters that the enemy is dangerous because it has the support of the oligarchy and the U.S. empire. "There should not be a rest day in the campaign - he says – they began inventing polls as a psychological weapon against the revolution”. It is clear that polls upset him. The one of IVAD, the closest to the government, raised in November, stated that 60% perceives that there is made little or no effort to solve the problems of the people; the percentage increases to 65%, with similar response in relation to lack of safety and unemployment. On the question of political self-definition, 34% declare being with Chavez, and as for options on the completion of the mandate, 14% were inclined to remain in power until 2021, while 66% shows the opposite. The Economist, comments on the latest survey of Latinobarometro, and concludes that the majority of Venezuelans have serious questions in relation to the president. "The survey sends a warning message about Chavez”. According to analysts, apart from the position for or against, the government's abandonment of its core function is criticized: to resolve the problems of citizens. "There is no doubt that the support without restrictions has disappeared”.

In view of this dangerous future, Chavez decided to strengthen controls at the National Electoral Council (CNE). According to the Constitution, this body "shall consist of five people (heads) who are not linked to any political organization: three nominated by civil society, one by the faculties of law and political science from the national universities, and one by the civic power”. The Constitution also provides that the electoral authority shall ensure the reliability, fairness and transparency of electoral processes, and it should be ruled by the principles of non-partisanship and citizen participation. Once the period of two of its members expired, they were replaced by a rector who served until last week the Ministry Of Information, therefore, she was in charge of the revolutionary propaganda, and is an assiduous companion of Chavez in Alo Presidente.  The other appointment went to a Member of the PSUV, a member for several years of Chavez's campaign headquarters, and taken as one of the most fanatical member of parliament from the governing party. Opposition spokesmen and NGOs reported that no nominations were allowed by the civil society and representation of national universities. Thus, the CNE is composed of four Chavez sectarian and a "light" independent. One analyst believes that the integration of the CNE aims to encourage abstinence, and then the discouragement will spread to the obvious bias of the organism called to ensure the neatness and transparency of the process. Abstention or audacious fraud are the options for Chavez to cross the perilous bridge of 2010. Will the observation missions of the OAS and the European Union be present? They could verify that it has not been fulfilled none of their recommendations to ensure fair elections.