Interpol general secretary, Ronald Noble has announced that he would like to visit Ecuador and Venezuela to explain the work done on computers sent by Colombia for analysis. Noble says he wants to explain what Interpol did and how it worked on the investigation. Last week, Interpol released a report on their analysis of laptops supposedly belonging to slain Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) commander, Raul Reyes, stating that it saw no signs of alteration on the three computers. The Interpol chief admits that the study was purely technical, stressing the fact that Interpol did not delve into the content of the computers. Both Ecuador and Venezuela have rejected the Interpol verdict, saying it has no juridical validity and was a show mounted by Colombia to discredit both governments. A local state attorney has been shot dead in Coro (Falcon). Carlos Enrique Lugo was shot dead while the driving out of Coro near the 5 de Julio sector. According to eyewitnesses, the assassins were travelling on a motorbike. Lugo, it is believed, was investigating several important cases regarding narco-trafficking which involve the alleged complicity of high-up people working in the judicial power.
The hearing against Yaracuy State Governor, Carlos Gimenez for alleged corruption has been suspended until further notice. Attorney General, Luisa Ortega Diaz says the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) plenary chamber took the right decision in suspending the audience to guarantee due process and respect the Governor's right to defense. According to the Attorney General, Jimenez was in the process of consulting with lawyers to organize his defense and was not ready for the hearing.
Commenting on the FARC laptop affair, Attorney General Ortega Diaz refers to Interpol as "clowns," saying the international organization has no investigative faculties and is seeking to support a "fact that is illicit from the very start" because the computers were obtained through an invasion of Ecuadorian territory.
As for the Anderson assassination case, the Attorney General has announced that all state prosecutors in the investigation have been removed and Liseth Rodriguez is currently in charge but has only been on the job for one week. The Attorney General refused to give reasons for the move but states that her office will shortly present a conclusive report on the investigation.
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro has met US Ambassador Patrick Duddy to talk about the US military plane that violated Venezuelan airspace. Maduro maintains that the Venezuelan government is not satisfied with the US government's explanation about the incident and has called on the government not to repeat such incidents. The Minister also told reporters that he had informed the Ambassador about the government's position on what he calls the "tremendous manipulation" of the findings of Interpol in the case of the FARC computers. Ambassador Duddy, Maduro advises, should read carefully Interpol's report, especially regarding breaking the chain of custody and the modification of computer files.
President Chavez has met a high-level delegation from India headed by its Foreign Minister, Anand Sharma. At the meeting and representing Venezuela were: Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Energy & Petroleos Minister Rafael Ramirez, Light Industry and Trade Minister Willian Contreras and Science & Technology Minister Nuris Orihuela.
The President has also received Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEP) general secretary, Abdalla Salem El-Badri to analyze the current situation in the oil industry and discuss oil prices. The Libyan visitor has stated that there is no shortage of petroleum in the market and inventories are very high. During his visit to Venezuela, El-Badri paid a visit to the Institute of Venezuelan Technology for Petroleum (Intevep) and has met Energy & Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez for several hours. Before leaving Venezuela for Ecuador, the visitor will review work at the Orinoco oil belt.
Adan Chavez, Diosdado Cabello, Aristobulo Isturiz and Jorge Rodriguez are four of the nine United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) leaders who are pre-candidates. Cabello will run against 17 pre-candidates, who are mostly unknown nationally, and he has the advantage of occupying a high opposition in the party, namely, regional vice president. His nearest rivals, Reinaldo Quijada of the Revolutionary Middle-Class and National Assembly deputy, Julio Jimenez are regarded as definite outsiders. Adan Chavez in Barinas will fight against Marcos Fernandez and Maximo Betancourt, two unknowns outside of Barinas. It would appear that Aristobulo Isturiz will also sail through as party candidate for the Metro Mayor's Office in Caracas. He already obtained the highest number of votes when the party elected regional leaders. Jorge Rodriguez has a harder struggle and must face 130 challengers for the candidacy of Libertador (Caracas) municipality. Pre-candidates with a struggle on their hands are the following: Willian Lara, who is running against daughter of current Guarico State Governor, Eduardo Manuitt and she is ahead in the polls, TV presenter, Mario Silva takes on former party hierarchy, Francisco Ameliach in Carabobo, Carlos Escarra will fight Minister Rafael Isea for Aragua. In Zulia, Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas will run against Maracaibo Mayor Di Martino, who would appear to have the advantage and outgoing Libertador Mayor Freddy Bernal will contest Vargas state governorship with former Defense Minister, General Jorge Garcia Carneiro. Names of the pre-candidates were expected to be announced on Tuesday evening but have not yet appeared on official government websites.
Energy & Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez has announced that a $3.5 billion loan from the Japanese companies, Sumitomo and Itochu, will be used to purchase better equipment for downstream projects. The plan is to extend the El Palito (Carabobo) and Puerto La Cruz refineries and improve projects on the Orinoco oil belt. While the agreement will allow payment through shipments of oil, it also includes a clause, stating that any equipment purchased must be Japanese. The government wants to increase production in the oil belt from 620,000 barrels per day to 1.2 million.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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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