VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:
Deputy Foreign Minister for Africa, Reinaldo Bolivar has rejected what he calls "excuses" used by Morocco to close its Embassy in Caracas on January 15. The day after closing the Embassy in Caracas and announcing its transfer to the Dominican Republic, Morocco accused Venezuela of supporting the war campaign of the Polisario Front and engaging in hostile acts against Morocco. Bolivar says the closure of the Embassy in Caracas comes one day after Venezuela broke relations with Israel over its invasion of Gaza. The Minister reveals that Venezuela's Ambassador to Algeria, Hector Michel Mujica presented his credentials to the President of the Democratic Saharaui Arab Republic, Mohamed Abelaziz on January 10 and recalls that Venezuela has recognized the Saharaui Republic (which Morroco rejects) since 1983 and has managed relations with that Republic through its Embassy in Algeria, which has not been recognized by Morocco either.
Bolivarian student organizations have taken to the streets to show support for the constitutional amendment, which will go to a referendum on February 15. The demonstrations come after President Chavez called on pro-government students to combat disorders and destabilization attempts on the part of opposition students. Chavez accuses the opposition of promoting acts of violence as the result of a meeting between US official and leading opposition party chiefs, which he has nicknamed as the "Puerto Rico Pact."
Meanwhile, opposition students have announced another march, this time to the headquarters of the National Elections Council (CNE) on Friday, January 23 (23E), which coincides with the fall of Dictator Perez Jimenez and the beginning of representative democracy in 1958, known as historically as the Punto Fijo Pact, which marked the political landscape for at least forty years. Government students are also expected to take to the streets on the same day to defend that the government's record on participative democracy, of which the referendum is another manifestation.
State VTV journalist Mail Liendo, who covered last Tuesday's opposition student march in Caracas, brushes aside opposition accusations that the Metropolitan Police (PM) planted gasoline canisters and Molotov cocktails in a truck hired by the students. The journalist claims that the images shown by the private media have been tampered with and that opposition student leader, Ricardo Sanchez had shown an edited video without sound, accusing the PM commissioner, Carlos Meza of planting the objects. Communication & Information (Minci) Minister, Jesse Chacon showed the full video of when the truck was seized, showing the PM commander opening the doors and reviewing what was inside the truck. Liendo insists that she was there with her camera crew when the truck was opened, along with other media sources including Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV).
The Social & Economic Development Bank of Venezuela (Bandes) has transferred financial resources to pay pensions for the month of February to the Venezuela Institute of Social Security (IVSS). The money will be paid to around 1.3 million pensioners. Bandes has apologized for a "genuine mistake" in a communique issued on Friday regarding payment of an additional bonus for 2008.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro has hit out against Organizations of American States (OAS) general secretary, Miguel Insulza for declarations regarding US President Obama's view on Venezuela. Insulza had stated that the new US President was not seeking a fight with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Maduro jibes Insulza as a failed presidential candidate in his homeland, Chile and says he should not try and present himself as a democratic leader that has helped and continues to help Venezuela and the region by raising the banners of sovereignty. Maduro contends that Venezuela will not allow insults or people who applaud Obama for claiming that Venezuela is exporting terrorism. Insulza, the Minister declares, has shown his ignorance of Venezuela's political, economic and social process and has been an accomplice of permanent aggressions on the part of the Bush Administration against President Chavez.
National Elections Council (CNE) president, Tibisay Lucena has criticized opposition parties for double standards. Lucena quips that on the one hand they are disqualifying and rejecting a call to hold a referendum, while at the same time taking part in preparations and talks about the referendum process itself. Christian Socialist (COPEI) electoral affairs coordinator, Enrique Naime rejects the charge, declaring that the opposition has denounced the fact that the electoral register has been closed, the decision to extend voting hours, as well as the date of the referendum itself.
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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