Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's news and views from Venezuela -- December 2, 2008

VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:
During the swearing-in ceremony of the new Aragua State Governor, Rafael Isea, President Chavez has told members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) to get cracking on the constitutional amendment on re-election. The President urges that no time should be lost to activate the petition via a referendum. The President argues that the reason behind the sudden push for a constitutional amendment is to strike while the iron is hot straight after the regional elections. Chavez admits that when he presented the amendment last year in a referendum, he made mistakes because he did not present the proposal properly and included a series of errors ... for that reason they lost. Chavez says he would not like to see 2009 being a year of constant attacks that "Chavez is a tyrant or half a tyrant," which he adds, is another reason for pushing the amendment immediately.

The president of the Press Owners Association of Venezuela, David Natera has called on the Venezuelan people to defend opposition 24-hour TV news station Globovision and support the road to peace and democratic values as contained in the Constitution. Natera says there is a danger that the government will revoke Globovision's concession after President Chavez publicly launched accusations against the channel for alleged instigation to violence. The state telecommunications body (Conatel) has opened an investigation into Globovision's electoral broadcasts.

During his visit to Maracay, President Chavez has ordered an investigation into the assassination of three trade union leaders belonging to the National Union of Workers (UNT), Richard Gallardo, Luis Hernandez and Carlos Requena. Chavez says he does not want to see hired assassins in Venezuela and insists that he will open investigations into transnational companies to see if they are trying to introduce the use of hired assassins into Venezuela.

The President has made it clear that companies that have experienced serious labor conflicts and violation of worker's rights, such as Sanitarios Maracay should be nationalised and turned into Socialist production companies. Another question mark raised during the President's speech was the Aragua State Police , which have been used and allegedly enjoyed repressive measures against workers involved in conflicts.

In the industrial area of Maracay, Sanitarios Maracay company had been abandoned by the owners and occupied and administered under worker control for several months until former State Governor, Didalco Bolivar, who turned against the government, decided to support the owners using the police and other state security agencies to repress the trade union movement. The former Labor Minister, Jose Ramon Rivero also put his foot in it by supporting the owners.

In order to activate the constitutional amendment that will allow Chavez to seek re-election, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) must collect 2,550,000 signatures, which represent the necessary 15% of citizens demanded by the law. The number required is inferior to the total number of votes that the PSUV obtained in the regional elections, which is the principal reason why President Chavez is pushing the amendment. Details of requirements needed for a constitutional amendment can be found in the Constitution Article 341.

The new Mayor of Valencia (Carabobo), Edgardo Parra has promised to attend organized communities and social movements to solve the most urgent problems facing citizens such as security, garbage collection, health, education and public services by implementing what he calls "real decentralization" of power to the communes, which he hopes to set up. Parra told supporters at his swearing-in ceremony that he has received a "privatized" mayor's office because all public services depend on private companies and his task is to transform municipal administration and build a new socialist model in Valencia. The new Mayor promises that he will not govern with his family or his friends and will ensure that all public officials act with a political conviction, competence and honesty.

President Chavez attended the swearing-in of Edgardo Parra in Valencia and made the observation that the official shield of Valencia still maintains the symbol of the Spanish Crown, even after 200 years of Venezuela's Independence. The President says it is a symbol of colonialism ... "Down with Colonialism! Long Live Independence!" Amid acclamations from the crowd, the new Mayor had to take off the offending sash and hand it to National Assembly (AN) president, Cilia Flores.

During his speech in Valencia, President Chavez has issued a call for pro-government mayors to set up what he calls a confederation of Bolivarian mayors. Chavez has ordered National Assembly (AN) president and appointed United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) inspector, Cilia Flores to get the organisation, which is aimed at coordinating joint work in projects, up and running. The President calls the central region a strategic axis to impose the revolution in its new phase and he promises to bring a "real" revolution to Carabobo State.

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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