Carlos Lanz has raised an indirect critique of the government's current media policy in an article called, "The weekly Combat against Psychological Operations." Basing his continuing analysis on policies promoted by the US-based Rendon Group, the noted ideologist and educationalist states that the organization is encouraging the following tactics in Venezuela: accusing President Chavez of being authoritarian, recurring to international organs such as international courts and the European Union, highlighting administrative inefficiency o failures and to a lesser degree, stigmatizing Chavez as criminal, corrupt, crazy, and guilty of improvisation. The propaganda manipulations of the local press, he adds, include: highlighting threats of negative impact on the economy from the world financial crisis, making a fool of austerity policies, singling out Inter American Press Association charges of harassment against the media, alleged EU condemnation of political disqualifications, omitting conspiracy and assassination accusations and repeated jibes about a "crazy" President in a plethora of caricatures. Lanz goes into details and ends up with several recommendations: deepen investigation and debate on the real causes of the financial and economic crisis through widespread debates and feedback, continue and deepen discussion on journalist ethics and press freedoms to offset opposition spin equaling freedom of opinion with freedom of business and finally, combat the attempt to criminalize Chavez by opening up spaces for popular innovators and cartoonists. Whether the mandarins at Information & Communication (Minci) will take up the suggestions remains to be seen but at least Lanz has set an agenda for alternative and community media to follow. According to Civil Protection (PC) national director, Luis Diaz Curbelo, four persons have died and 291 families made homeless after torrential rains lashed eight states in Venezuela. Three people died on Monday in Guarico State when they were caught in a flash flood crossing a river bed. The other person died in a southeastern Caracas barrio when a dwelling collapsed after a landslide. Rains are expected to continue today for 12 hours as Hurricane Omar makes it way through the Caribbean.
10 Police Detective Branch (CICPC) Officers have been arrested on drug-related charges. The officers were arrested carrying and keeping for themselves 30 slaps of cocaine seized in Southern Venezuela between Guarico and Apure. Interior & Justice (MIJ) Minister Tarik El Aissami says he laments the fact that police officials are involved in this kind of the crime and warns that the government will be implacable with officials and police officers committing crime. The arrests, El Aissami reveals, is the result of intelligence work and a government crackdown on impunity.
Two citizens have been arrested carrying 500 drilling pipes used by Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). The truck carrying the stolen goods were stopped at a control point in Trujillo State. The two men will be charged with illegal trafficking of metallic and strategic material.
National Assembly (AN) deputy, Mario Isea has told colleagues that Zulia State Governor, Manuel Rosales owes the tax office $8.8 million. Isea argues that the tax evasion was done through fiddles on the Zulia State lottery.
Patrick J. O'Donoghuepatrick.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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