Monday, November 17, 2008

Zulia state Governor Manuel Rosales shuns summons from the assembly as "ambush" at the legislature

Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan):
Zulia state Governor Manuel Rosales, a leading figure in the opposition who's become a particular target of government allegations and accusations, didn't show up at the National Assembly (AN) after being abruptly summonsed to appear before the comptrollers' committee.

Afterwards, he said he had not turned up because he wasn't willing to be the object of an "ambush" at the legislature. The summons had not made it clear whether or not the hearing would be heard in public or "in a dark room."

Rosales claimed he'd been informed there was a plan to "surround" the meeting with members of the committee who would then attack him. There was no response to this either from the head of the committee, Deputy Julio Moreno. Instead, the committee issued a second summons for Rosales to appear before the committee, at some date after the state and municipal elections scheduled for Nov. 23.

Rosales, who's not allowed a third term as governor, is running for mayor of the Zulia state capital, Maracaibo. Deputy Liberth Gonzalez said the new date was Nov. 26. Rosales accused the committee of waiting until he was in the south of Maracaibo Lake before dispatching the summons, and he hadn't received it until late. The committee had not complied with a requirement of giving him 72 hours' notice to appear before them, he added.

He is the object of a growing list of allegations, some relating to private property supposedly purchased with public funds during his two terms as governor. President Hugo Chavez and his supporters have also described Rosales as a Mafioso, and accused him of drug trafficking and plotting against the head of state.

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