Interior & Justice Minister Ramon Rodriguez Chacin has announced the arrival of police work consultants from Cuba and Nicaragua. At a press conference in Caracas, the Minister says the second police chief of Cuba, Ramon Rodriguez Curvello and Nicaragua's police commander are al ready in Venezuela to help transform the Metropolitan Police (PM) into a communal police. A timetable has been set up to implement the change, starting with an assessment of current staff, reviewing their aptitudes and abilities. There is also an inventory taking place of anti-disturbance equipment and assets belonging to the Metropolitan Police. The Minister has attempted to clear up charges that the Ministry is doctoring crime statistics. The head of the Police Detective Branch (CICPC), Marcos Chavez has been instructed to order the director of the morgue in Caracas to announce statistics in the case of irregular events. TV presenter and former Executive Vice President, Jose Vicente Rangel claims that 50 paramilitaries managed to escape a camp in the Perija Sierra while they were under Zulia regional police protection. 4 of the paramilitaries were captured last week by the National Armed Force (FAN) operational strategic command.
Education Minister, Hector Navarro has called on civil sector representatives to offer ideas about the new school curriculum rather than opinions. The Minister made the statement after meeting the Catholic Schools Venezuelan Association (AVEC). The Minister says he has received contributions from AVEC and urges them to take part in the ample process, currently in construction. Although there were no conclusive results from the meeting, the Minister confirms that the organisation has drawn up documents with ideas on the new curriculum, which will form part of the national debate. AVEC president, Sister Nuvia Marin has urged the Minister to open up the debate to include all sectors in Venezuela and insists that her organization's intention is to stand by Gospel values but not ignoring the human part.
In the lead up to the European Union-Latin American summit, the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Durao Barroso and Mexican President, Felipe Calderon have attacked President Chavez for remarks against German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. The latest diplomatic row started when the German Chancellor declared that President Chavez did not represent the voice of Latin America. President Chavez responded on his Sunday radio address that the Chancellor belonged to a conservative party and the same right wing that supported Hitler and fascism. In an offensive mood, Barroso comments that any declaration against European leaders and somebody like Chancellor Merkel are negative and do not help efforts of cooperation with the European Union. With Chavez in mind, Barroso states that it is in Latin America's interests to have good relations with Europe, starting from sharing the same values and from not inflammatory, populist and aggressive discourses.
Meanwhile, Spain's President, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has called on President Chavez to respect Spanish institutions. Rodriguez Zapatero made the statement during a press conference with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, who was visiting Spain. The response comes after comments made by the Venezuelan President during his Sunday radio address, recalling and criticizing the behavior of Spanish King, Juan Carlos during the last summit when he uttered the now famous "Will you shut up?" outburst. The European Union-Latin American summit will take place in Lima on Friday.
Communications & Information (MIJ) Minister, Andres Izarra says conscience is the only tool needed to fight media terrorism. The Minister made the statement during the launch of the book "Latin American Encounter vs. Media Terrorism". The book is a product of a work session held in Caracas on March 27-30. The Minister states that the Venezuelan people have come a long way in consciousness regarding the Bolivarian process and insists on the need of strengthening consciousness even more to pre-empt the use of the media as a tactic of war against the progressive governments of Latin America. Izarra argues that the media onslaught using supposedly incriminating documents from a laptop belonging to the slain Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leader, Raul Reyes is a prime example of media being used a terrorist tactic.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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