Friday, May 9, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- May 9, 2008

President Chavez has made it quite clear that any attempt on the part of the opposition in Venezuela to embark on a secessionist policy will be the cause of war in Venezuela. The plan to divide Bolivia, the President insists, has the stamp of the USA and in Venezuela there are people have gone OTT, thinking that what happened in Bolivia is a big victory. It is the big fraud, Chavez warns, and he accuses the State Governor of Zulia, some mayors and deputies from the Zulia State regional legislature of meeting to draw up a similar plan for the State, which is the source of much of Venezuela's oil. "I have told them that the only way they can take Zulia or any part of Venezuela from us is through a war of secession ... seek an army and tear us apart if you can, but you will have to pass over our dead bodies first." The President launched the challenge at the first ministerial meeting of the South American Union of Nations (Unasur) energy council in Caracas. The President warns the oligarchic forces of Bolivia that Venezuela will not stand by idly and watch them damage a country that bears the name of Simon Bolivar.

Replying to President Chavez, Zulia state governor, Manuel Rosales retorts that President Chavez has taken a "lunatic turn" to hide the problems of Venezuela. Speaking at a press conference, the State Governor accuses Chavez of violating the Constitution by attempting to pass through laws, which the people rejected at the December 2 referendum. Rosales rejects the results of the plenary session in the National Assembly debating on a possible secessionist movement in Zulia, which he called a "spectacle." The supposed division, Rosales states, is only inside the mind of Chavez ... "he is the only secessionist and illusionist in the country ... (President) Chavez has not come down to earth and lives in cuckoo land, unlike the rest of Venezuelans." Rosales declares that the Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) Party will continue to mobilize, not to divide Venezuela but to demand a just salary, distribution of wealth, and social justice. The State Governor adds that there is an alliance between common criminals, the guerrillas and paramilitaries to extort, kidnap and harass the population because the government has no borders policy.

In an update, the National Elections Council (CNE) has announced the enrolment of 30 national parties and 195 regional parties. Four months ago, the board cleansed the list of political organizations and called for a new enrolment process. The annulment was made because 179 regional parties and 8 national parties did not take part in the last two electoral processes or did not renew their enrolment. According to the law, for a political organisation to be enrolled it needs to present the following: a number of members making up no less than 0.5% of the population on the electoral register, a manifestation of will on the part of members to belong to the party, three copies of declaration of principles, statutes, constitutive act and program of political action, a description and drawing of party symbols and emblems and names of the leaders and their respective positions.

Sociologist and former president of the Venezuelan Guayana Corporation (CVG) aluminum plant, Alcasa, Carlos Lanz Rodriguez has returned to the company for a short visit and meeting with workers. During his term as president of the company, Lanz Rodriguez was responsible for introducing co-management structures and for setting up a political and technological training program inside the company to get workers involved in the running of the important aluminum plant. Current CVG president, Cesar Aguilar welcomed his predecessor, who called on workers to continue campaigns promoting savings and productivity contained in the strategic plan approved by the CVG.

The National Guard has seized 500 kg of cocaine in a raid on a container in the port of Puerto Cabello (Carabobo). The National Anti-Drugs Office (ONA) president, Colonel Nestor Reverol says the cocaine had been hidden in the double-lining of a cargo of aluminum bowls. A Colombian citizen has been arrested and other arrests are expected to follow in Puerto Ordaz where the container was packed. The supposed destination of the drug cargo was Antwerp (Belgium). The latest find, Reverol points out, brings the amount of drugs seized this year to around 20 tonnes.

Las Verdades de Miguel columnist, Gabino Barrera has published a long list of relatives of National Assembly (AN) president, Cilia Flores, who have been given jobs in the Assembly organization. According to the columnist, 31 of the names provided, complete with job descriptions, are related to Cilia Flores, while another 16 are related to one, Magaly Gutierrez Vina, Cilia's daughter-in-law and director general of the AN president's office. Helping out the family is one thing, some critics venture, but this is going a step too far. Barreto is calling for an investigation into the qualifications of the job- holders and the tender process, if there was one. Apparently, they all won the tender, even though Barreto claims that many did not meet the professional standards required.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com



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