Euro deputies belonging to the Socialist and Unitary Left Parties have criticized their right wing colleagues for proposing a condemnation of Venezuela in the European Parliament today. In a statement, the deputies point out that after several failed attempts, the right wing has finally succeeded in including Venezuela in the agenda of urgent matters on human rights. The left-wing deputies also highlight insistent lobbying and visits to Europe on the part of representatives of Venezuelan opposition. The system of political disqualifications in Venezuela, the communique states, is similar to a system that operates in several European countries and Venezuelan's Comptroller General has applied legislation passed by former governments and approved by the National Assembly of the time including the opposition. The left-wingers accuse the right-wing of using the EU mechanism of human rights for party political purposes. Three European parliamentary groups consisting of around 301 deputies have decided not to take part in today's voting because they consider it will discredit the European Parliament's mechanism of human rights defense to attack without fundament a progressive Latin American government.Reflecting on his time in office, President Chavez suggests that mathematically it has only been five years because the first five years were spent fighting aggression and consolidating State administration. It is less than five years that the Road to Socialism was embarked upon, the President muses, and insists that Venezuela will become a Socialist country. "We are beginning to build Socialism ... one of our companions says we have had 10 years and I have said 10 years as well, but really, it's not 10 years." The fundamental task in the first five years, Chavez insists, was to arrive, settle in, and resist serious aggressions, including a coup d'etat, terrorism and sabotage. "The flag of Socialism started to be raised when the government went on the offensive in 2004."
In another government effort to solve the continuing crisis in the penitentiary system, Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Tarek El Aissami has announced the creation of a Penitentiary Higher Council. El Aissami made the announcement with Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Diaz and Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) president, Luisa Estela Morales. The Minister says the measure will quickly and effectively solve problems affecting prisons and prisoners. The council will have its constitution based on the principles of cooperation, corresponsibility and coordination between state powers, respecting the autonomy of each one. The move comes after continued unrest and chaos in prisons.
Executive Vice President Ramon Carrizalez has visited the Orinoco steel company (Sidor) for a meeting with a representation of workers to end and solve protests on the site. Canizales says around 8,000 workers protesting are hired by private contractors in different areas of Sidor and he demands that the companies fulfill socio-economic benefits and improvements similar to those enjoyed by 5,000 workers on the Sidor payroll. Bolivar State governor, Francisco Rangel Gomez has been acting as intermediary between the protesters and the national executive. The Executive Vice President has called on Sidor state company to guarantee that contractors pay workers for the hours of protest and stop any dismissals. One of the first moves is that contract workers will be able to enjoy company bosses and a decent canteen. Carrizalez has promised to return within a week to inspect progress of the measures agreed to, while Basic Industries & Mining Minister Rodolfo Sanz will meet workers today to hammer out details of their petitions and to get things moving.
The Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV) has been forced to postpone an event at the (Caracas) Poliedro to celebrate 43 years of the arrest, torture and assassination of PCV leader, Alberto Lovera. The meeting had been set for Saturday, October 25. PCV national organizer, Carlos Aquino reports that the Poliedro administration informed the party that it cannot go through with the event. According to Aquino, the meeting was within the framework of the people's struggle against impunity by State security forces. When asked about reasons for the last-minute cancellation and a possible relation to President Chavez' bombastic remark to have PCV remove from the political map, Aquino answers that it is possible that somebody at the Poliedro, the Bolivarian University of Venezuelan or the Ministry of Higher Education thought that such an action was one way of executing the President's words and gaining brownie points. However, the Communist leader vows that the party will continue to push for the event and its parliamentary group will ask for the right to propose a special agreement to honor Alberto Lovera. A visit to Lovera's tomb will take place on Tuesday, October 28. Lovera's body was found on a beach in Lecheria (Anzoategui) 43 years ago with signs of torture and enchained. The photos had an impact on the whole country at the time.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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