A day after Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president, Jose Manuel Gonzalez offered an olive branch to the government, second deputy president, Noel Alvarez has stated that the organization will ask the Inter American Human Rights Court for protection measures in favor of the board of directors and employees after an explosive device went off in front of its Caracas HQ last weekend. Alvarez made the statement after presenting a document to the Attorney General asking for a full investigation into the explosion. Fedecamaras, Alvarez complains, has not received any sign of solidarity from government sources, except from a Labor Ministry director. The deputy president adds that the business sector is ready to dialogue with the government on any level.
First news reports indicate that the person killed in the explosion in front of the Fedecamaras HQ was one Hector Amado Serrano, said to be a former State Political & Security (DISIP) police officer. Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin's first reaction has been to say that Amado Serrano was a member of a group of anarchists which the government is currently investing. According to National Assembly deputy Reinaldo Garcia, Serrano belonged to one of the Bolivarian networks of social intelligence. Noticierodigital.com reports claims from Metro Mayor Juan Barreto that the deceased worked for National Assembly deputy, Pedro Infante, connected to the Tupamaro Party that has its base in the Caracas 23 de Enero district. Conclusion: the incident has become a chance for a bit of mud-slinging and point-chasing.
The Tupamaro Movement has issued a statement denying any involvement in the incident at Fedecamaras and accuses the tabloid 2001 of linking the organization with the attack without providing any proof. The fact that Hector Serrano lived in 23 de Enero, the statement runs, does not mean that Tupamaro Movement was involved.
During a march and rally organized by Aporrea org, Bolivarian leader Lina Ron has spoken out against raids taking place in 23 de Enero by State Political & Security (DISIP) agents. Ron cautions MIJ Minister Rodriguez Chacin to act prudently and to apply the same measures to paramilitaries living in Caracas East. Ron also read a statement outside the residence of the Archbishop of Caracas rejecting the position taken by the bishops during the April 11, 2002 coup and the Papal Nunciature for granting asylum to student leader, Nixon Moreno. Several pro-government supporters entered the residence evicting staff members before the metropolitan police restored order.
Coffee growers from the hills surrounding the town of Sanare, Lara State are forecasting the production of 400,000 measures (measure=100 lbs) of coffee. Gran Casa coffee company president, Federico Camacho made the statement during a meeting with Communal Economy Minister, Pedro Morejon and State Governor Luis Reyes. At the meeting coffee producers presented a list of their needs and problems that requiring an effective solution, while the visitors laid the foundation for a plan of action to help solve land problems and review government credits. Minister Morejon says that his Ministry has started a series of inspections to see how credits have been and are being used and to monitor projects.
US Ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield has apologized to the Colombian government for provoking a stand-off with Venezuela after a statement he made on a Colombian radio show about an increase in drug-trafficking in the neighboring country. Brownfield says he does not apologize for what he said because it represents a position of his government but he does lament having complicated things for the Colombian government. On February 16, Venezuela sent a note of protest through the Colombian Ambassador in Caracas, Fernando Marin regarding Brownfield's statements. The US Ambassador went OTT regarding the volume of drugs being transshipped through Venezuela over the last five years. Brownfield described the transshipment hike as an explosion. "We do not say that a government is at fault and we are not saying that is it is specifically owing to a concrete decision of a government ... what we are saying is that it has multiplied between 10 to 15 times."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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