Communications & Information (Minci) Minister, Andres Izarra confirms that the government has proof that Colombian troops made an incursion into Venezuela. The proof consisting of photos and other materials, the Minister states, will be presented "in due time" to public opinion. According to the Minister, Colombia's Defense minister, Juan Manuel Santos has not been informed of what his troops are doing or he makes out that has not been briefed, for whatever reason. Izarra points out that some of coordinates sent by Colombia pinpointing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) camps in Venezuela have not come up to scratch after a Venezuelan Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) units checked them out. The Colombian government, Izarra accuses, has manipulated information about the laptops supposedly belonging to slain FARC leader, Raul Reyes. Izarra argues that Interpol has stated that the origin of the computer cannot be proved and that so-called links with the Venezuelan government were not verified in the investigation. Colombian Defense Minister, Juan Manuel Santos has denied any incursion on the part of Colombian troops into Venezuela. The incursion supposedly took place in the Venezuelan border State of Apure last Saturday. The Minister says he has made an investigation and Colombian troops were doing nothing. What troops did find, the Minister quips, was construction equipment and two Venezuelans who were there were in Colombia's Arauca Department without permission. President Uribe, commenting on the incident, has stated that if his troops had crossed the border, Colombia would offer apologies, and if not, it would demand explanations. Uribe made a statement during a press conference in the company of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel who is visiting Colombia.
At a press conference today, Venezuelan Foreign (MRE) Minister Nicolas Maduro has announced the opening of diplomatic contacts to deal with the latest spat between Colombia and Venezuela regarding an alleged incursion of Colombian troops on Venezuela soil. Maduro did express his government's conviction that sectors of the Colombian government in coordination with the US government are mounting a plan to create armed provocations against Venezuela and regional stability.
President Chavez did not hold his traditional Sunday radio address yesterday to allow his airspace to be occupied by coverage of the United Socialist Party of Venezuelan (PSUV) internal election process. Elections of pre-candidates went according to plan and the names of the pre-candidates are expected to be announced on Tuesday.
Irish Independent reporter, Jim Cusack writes that the Interpol investigation into the famous laptops backs up reports of a Venezuelan-IRA link. In the article the newspaper claims that Venezuela's military helped three IRA men to return to Ireland in 2004 after they jumped bail as they awaited trial in Colombia. Irish security forces, he maintains, also believe the Venezuela was instrumental in shipping semtex explosives to be used in training the FARC to manufacture mortars for urban guerrilla attacks in Colombia. Without taking into account current doubts about the laptops supposedly belonging to slain FARC leader, Raul Reyes, the article states that until Interpol's announcement that had been no independent verification of the link between that Chavez government and the FARC. Intelligence sources have told the reporter that IRA experts carried out 14 separate training modules for which they were paid 28 million. This report, however, has not been confirmed.
The Chilean government has presented a note of protest to Venezuela for accusations made by President Chavez against Chile's police director, Arturo Herrera for alleged human rights abuses. Herrera is currently the interim president of Interpol and Chavez alleges he took part in an operation in which victims of Pinochet were exhumed illegally and thrown into the sea to avoid the crimes being made public. The police report that the President referred to is dated 1975-1976 and deals with an operation to cover up violations of human rights during the dictatorship. Chilean government spokesperson, Francisco Vidal counters stating that the operation took place after 1978 and not during the time specified by Chavez. The spokesperson also says that Herrera would never have been given his position, if he had taken part in such a " brutal operation."
There has been little comment on the outcome of the Latin American-European Union summit in Lima. One of the highlights of the summit was a meeting between the Presidents of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo and Hugo Chavez. On meeting his colleague, the Venezuelan President talked about a new brotherhood in South America, quipping that Uribe of Colombia was the odd man out since Colombia is the only right wing government left. As for Alan Garcia of Peru, Chavez admits that both have their differences but at least they are on talking terms. On another occasion, Chavez is reported as saying that to talk to Uribe, he would have to " go to the swamp." However, the harmony at the meeting, Chavez insists, shows that he did not come to Lima to fight with anybody and there was no problem between himself and German Chancellor Merkel, despite a minor diplomatic storm several days before.
According to veteran political analyst and expert on Colombia, Domingo Alberto Rangel, a key factor in what is happening in that country revolves around re-election aspirations of President Uribe. In the US, Rangel points out, the process of transition of power from the current governing clique to the next one is forcing Uribe to show his unconditional support for the USA because he knows that without that backing he cannot aspire once more to the presidency of Colombia. Some Venezuelan government analysts are putting forward the idea that Bogota is seeking a pretext to bring the USA into the equation justifying a military intervention in the region. Some politicos go so far as to suggest that the current laptop scenario is following the same script that Washington used to justify its intervention in Iraq.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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