Following the announcement by President Chavez that he is starting an austerity and savings campaign, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) has organized another fund-raising collection day for Saturday, September 20, when it hopes to collect (Bs.F) one billion bolivares to finance party costs and run regional campaigns under the banner of austerity. PSUV leader, Rodrigo Cabezas says the campaign will continue on Monday and Thursday allowing people to deposit at the Banfoandes bank. It is understood that the director of the Human Rights Watch (HRW), based in Washington, Jose Miguel Vivanco has been expelled from Venezuela after holding a press conference accusing President Chavez of undermining democracy in Venezuela. Vivanco was in Venezuela to promote a 230-page HRW report titled, "A Decade under Chavez : Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela." Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro declares that Vivanco has been expelled because he showed disrespect to the Constitution and institutions of the Republic. According to Maduro, Vivanco slandered the institutions and abused the terms of his tourist visa. Maduro warns that any foreigner at the service of a foreign nation coming to Venezuela, taking advantage of Venezuelan democracy and freedom of expression to rudely attack institutions and the dignity of the Venezuelan people will have the same answer. The Venezuelan government accuses Vivanco of working for the US government.
Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) deputy president and Archbishop of Coro, Monsignor Robert Luckert has condemned the National Assembly for refusing political asylum to student leader, Nixon Moreno granted on humanitarian reasons by the Vatican. Luckert called on the National Assembly to get serious and start working on important matters such as the public security law that guarantees tranquility for all Venezuelans. The Archbishop reveals that the Apostolic Nuncio has tried to seek a solution to the stand-off by approaching the Foreign Relations Ministry (MRE) but the Minister will not receive him or reply to any phone calls.
The opposition plans a public rally and march on September 27 to support Nixon Moreno and protest the government's refusal to allow him leave the country.
Around 500 representatives belonging to the Workers Union of Venezuela (UNT) will attend a two-day meeting today to set down guidelines on the role and position of a worker's movement in the revolutionary process. UNT leader, Marcella Maspero reports that the 500 workers attending will include women, incapacitated workers, peasants and workers from nationalised companies. Maspero has praised the work of Labor Minister, Roberto Hernandez in the process of dialogue leading to unity among trade unions.
Former Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel has told the National Assembly (AN) that the opposition is planning demonstrations, marches and disturbances in the month leading up to the November regional elections. Speaking to a special AN committee set up to investigate alleged plans to assassinate President Chavez and organize a coup d'etat against him, Rangel claims that the Air Force (FAV) commander of the military police, Lt Col Rupert Sanchez, handed out 45 security credentials and passes to Colombian paramilitaries to enter the Libertador airbase. Rangel points out that a group called the Templarios de Mexico are connected to the conspirators, along with Colombian Defense Minister, Juan Manuel Santos. The journalist also states that paramilitaries have taken up positions in Zulia, protected by the opposition regional government, Apure, Maracay, Barquisimeto and Valencia, as well as Petare (Caracas).
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment