Small and Earnest Alternative Social Forum in Venezuela

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 January 2006—An Alternative Social Forum, or ASF, set up in protest against the World Social Forum is quietly taking place in Caracas now. One of its organisers, Esteban Mejiaz said, “We have created a space outside the forum where a more critical debate about Venezuela can take place.”

The ASF cannot compare for size or attendance to the World Social Forum, or WSF. The ASF is hosting 20 events. These are being held in a few rooms at the Venezuelan Central University and a small house in the Caracas neighbourhood of Los Simbolos. 

In contrast, the World Social Forum has 2,200 events. Many huge public buildings in Caracas are being used to host these. At least 60,000 people are attending. As many as 100,000 are expected by the end.

Mejiaz could not say how many people are attending the ASF, “Unlike the WSF there is no registration for our event.” It is clear, though, not many are taking part in the ASF. Less than 30 people were present in its main site yesterday. 

Venezuelans from the anarchist group CRA (Commission for Anarchist Relations) organized the rival forum. They said it was not possible to have a truly free debate with the Venezuelan government spending so much money on the event.

The CRA said the Social Forums in Brazil had suffered from the same problem. They feel no government should sponsor an event like the WSF. The CRA think there is corruption in the Venezuelan government but made clear that they are not against all of its policies.  

Mejiaz said, “there are a lot of opportunities for the people in Venezuela now because of the free healthcare and education.” The anarchist also said, “the greatest threat to the left in Venezuela is the US and its allies in this country, not Chavez.” 

Most of the non-Venezuelans attending the ASF also attended the WSF. Nick Cooper from Texas in the USA said, “I think its good to have variety, spaces where everyone can be comfortable.”

Cooper did have some criticisms of the WSF too. The North American said, “I do think that some governments host the WSF to show off their left wing credentials. In Brazil especially I think this was compensating for a lack of something at home.” 

The CRA said they did not feel it was worth having events at the WSF at the same time as the ASF. Mejiaz said, “a lot of the people at the WSF are revolutionary tourists. They want to buy a T-shirt, say they’ve done something and then go home.”

WSF Talks Latin American Integration

Caracas, Venezuela, 26 January 2006—On Wednesday night one of the first Co-organised activities of the WSF took place with “New Paths of Latin American Integration” as its theme.

Speakers from across the Latin America met in a lecture theatre in the basement of the huge Parque Central building. They talked about the future of continental unification. From Honduras, Rafael Alegria of Via Campesina, an international land reform movement spoke first. 

Alegria said integration must not only be between governments. The peasant activist said they struggle, “for a fundamental change to the internal structure of these countries. National governments must be integrated with the people.” The economic structure of these countries would have to change for this to happen, said Alegria.  

The peasant activist said, “we need economic structures against neo-liberalism and transnational corporations.” Alegria also argued that cultural integration was also needed for Latin American unification to succeed. 

Network in Defense of Humanity activist and Mexican academic, Alejandro de Morano talked about the historical context of Latin American integration. De Morano argued the 20th century saw a series of nationalist struggles for independence. 

According to de Morano, countries tried to create self-reliance and true sovereignty economically as well as politically. The Mexican academic said that in the current period of powerful transnational economic forces the only way to achieve this true sovereignty is to unite the continent on a transnational basis. 

A common theme at the event was how the defeat of the US-led the FTAA, or Free Trade of the Americas Agreement, at the recent summit of the Americas in Argentina was positive for Latin American integration.  

The President of the Economics Commission for the Cuban National Assembly, Oswaldo Martinez, said if it had passed it would have meant, “The economic annexation of the continent by the US.” 

Martinez argued ALBA, or the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America, promoted by Venezuela was the solution for integration. The Cuban said, “integration is not an end in itself but the means to the end of eliminating poverty. ALBA can make this happen.” 

Around 200 people attended the talk. Some comments from the audience were critical. A Chilean man said that the current plans to integrate energy, communications and transport were not that different from Capitalist development. The Chilean also said that through bilateral trade agreements the spirit of the FTAA lived on. 

Others were more supportive with a young Argentinian saying the optimism he saw about integration made this, “a wonderful time to be alive.” A Colombian peasant artist also said the Forum is, “a refuge in a cultural desert.”

Diverse Venezuelan Groups March To Open Sixth Worth Social Forum

Caracas, Venezuela, January 25, 2006—The main speaker of the rally after the opening march of the World Social Forum may have been Cindy Sheehan, a North American Anti-War Activist; progressive foreign groups may have flooded to the forum in droves; Gringos on stilts may have towered over the crowds; but the Venezuelan presence was unmistakable in the walk across Southwest Caracas.

People in red shirts, advertising different Missions, or Venezuelan government sponsored social programs, speckled the march. One of these, Huberto Casterdia, a social worker who worked at the mayor’s office, was sitting on a bench, waiting for the rest of his group from Mission Sucre to arrive after being separated from them in the crowded metro. He was sporting the T-shirt of the mission, which provides free post-secondary education, with which he is a student.

“We’re here for the changes that are taking place across Latin America, against imperialism, against war, and saying that another world is possible…As [Venezuelan] President [Hugo] Chávez says, we’re working toward Latin American integration, solidarity,” he said, emphasizing, as Chávez did when Venezuela was put on track to become a full member of South American Trade Block MERCOSUR, that commercial integration is only one step toward regional integration. 

Many Venezuelans at the march quoted Chávez, or spoke praisingly of him. “[I’m here] to support my commander Hugo Chavéz Frías, who we love and adore…he’s a person who cares so much about the poor, he’s a humanist, he’s someone who wants to help people who have a problem or a crisis in whatever other country,” said Reina Lopez, who studied at the Mission Ribas, which provides high school education to adults. “I’m going to graduate from Mission Ribas and study at the Bolivarian University. For a person who’s over 50 years old, that’s something wonderful,” she added, standing on the side of the road watching the march.

Some groups, however, had criticisms of the government. “We support the revolutionary process…but [we don’t support] the corruption of the government, because that’s happening, it’s a reality, and as revolutionaries we have to be critical of it. It’s are job to clean up the corruption of the government,” said David Guell, a Member of Corriente Marxista Bolivariana, a Venezuelan-Leninist Marxist organization. About 20 other members of his group, some with drums, alternated between chanting and chiming into the interview. 

The notably calmer contingent of Amnesty International Venezuela, talked about their campaign within the country to lower violent crime. “This is one of the ten most violent countries…And sadly, when we look at Venezuela, what we see is that the majority of people murdered are young and poor, more than 90 percent of the victims,” Marco Gómez, Director of Amnesty International Venezuela. “We’re working for arms control, in Venezuela as in the rest of the world so that wars and street violence stops,” he added.

The Bolivarian Circles were also represented at the march. A few years ago the Chavista circles—which according to proponents were community groups, according to the opposition were thugs for enforcing the revolution—had a notable presence in Venezuela. Over the years they have lost much of their visibility, but, they say, they are still actively supporting the missions.  Only spokespeople were allowed to speak to the press, because, members said, of their disciplined and militaristic structure. “We’re marching in solidarity with the people of the world and the unity of the people of Latin America and the Carribean,” said José Perada, who, as a National Coordinator of the Bolivarian Circles, was authorized to speak to the press. The approximately thirty members wore red t-shirts promoting the circles, and carried a banner that nearly spanned the width of the street.

A group of about 20 high school students stood holding hands in a large circle, waiting at an intersection to cross a major road. “We’re here representing all the Bolivarian youth, because a better world is possible,” said a young woman in the ring, who studied in a nearby school. 

Several blocks behind, another group of young politics and government students from the Bolivarian University of Venezuela. “Before universities were in the hands of aristocrats and oligarchs was limited only to people who had a lot of money or connections, and the Bolivarian Universities have given us a chance to study,” said Alejandro Paldron, one of the students.

Venezuelan representatives of union groups marched as well. “We’re unionizers, but more than unionizers; we’re a movement of workers which integrate workers’ organizations and social organizations of peasants [and] of retired people without pensions,” said Eduardo García Moure, Secretary General of the Central Latinoamericana de Trabajadores. “We work throughout Latin America. In Venezuela we work with Venezuelan unions, that are affiliated with us,” he added, listing unions across the political spectrum.  

The rights of people weren’t the only ones being talked about in the march. Christina Camilloni, president of the Association in Defense of Animals (APROA), a Venezuelan association for animal rights protection explained her groups position as she outpaced many of the walkers in her mechanical wheelchair. “We’re in favor of the fight of the people, and there’s another cause that’s also important, and that’s animal liberation…[The animal liberation movement] is happening here, and we hope this year they pass the animal protection law in Venezuela, which is in the National Assembly,” she said. 

Caracas residents, unaccustomed to large numbers of North American tourists, generally went out of their way to be helpful. Residents happily lent cell phones to a California resident who had lost his friends. A gringo on stilts slipped on a puddle, and tumbled to the ground. Two police officers rushed to help him, though they couldn’t help cracking a smile when they found out he was from the United States. Other Venezuelans helped direct people to public transportation as they were leaving. 

At the rally at the end of the march, Venezuelans and others periodically chanted for Chávez, who did not appear. It was just as well. The social changes sweeping Venezuela that many people see him as embodying were well represented by the masses in his absence.

Judge Issues Injunction Against Venezuelan Media

Caracas, Venezuela, January 25, 2006—Among criticisms of violation of press freedom, a Venezuelan court has prohibited the publication of the case files in the ongoing investigation of the masterminds of the 2004 murder of Venezuelan State Prosecutor Danilo Anderson and the printing of any personal information about the key witness in the case.

Danilo Anderson was murdered in 2004 while investigating the involvement of members of Venezuela’s business and political elite in the failed April 2002 coup that removed the Venezuelan president from power for two days and dissolved the National Assembly and the constitution. On November 18, a fatal car bomb went off in Mr. Anderson’s SUV about five minutes after he left a university graduate course in Los Chaguaramos, Caracas, according to Venezuela’s forensic police (CICPC). 

Last month, three men were convicted of carrying out the murder, while three others, accused of being the masterminds behind the crime, were released from jail for health reasons pending trial. A fourth suspect, opposition journalist Patricia Poleo, is currently in hiding, and was recently seen in Peru.

Tuesday, Sixth Circuit Judge Florencio Silano, the same judge who released the alleged planners of the attack, ruled to limit the press in their coverage of the investigation and of the key prosecution witness. The move was in response to a request by the Attorney General Isaías Rodríguez late last week, “to prohibit all the media [television, radio, written, etc.] from publishing or broadcasting the case file records, because they have been used, irregularly, to advance a campaign aimed at demeaning the finding of the murderers of public prosecutor Danilo Baltazar Anderson, as well as to undermine the inquiry into alleged masterminds.” 

The ruling, which  Rodríguez said on the state TV station VTV was justified under Article 304 of the Penal Procedure law (Código Orgánico Procesal Penal),  immediately prohibits, “any type of publication, disclosure, or broadcasting of the case files, related to the terrorist attack on the State Prosecutor Danilo Baltasar Anderson, as well as making reference to the private life of witness [Giovanny Vásquez de Armas].”

Venezuelan private media, often vitriolically opposed to the government, has long questioned the credibility of Vásquez de Armas, the prosecution’s key witness. In addition to reporting a history of convictions for fraud, opposition television station Globovision published documents allegedly proving that he had been in jail at the time of the meetings in which he claims the four alleged masterminds of the attack were present. A source from the Attorney General’s office, who asked not to be named since he did not have authorization to speak to the media, said that they were still investigating the document, and could neither confirm nor deny its authenticity.

In relation to the injunction on reporting on the private life of Vásquez de Armas, the ruling said, “it is the duty of the state to protect his dignity as a human being, his honor, decorum, private life and judicial integrity.”

According to Steve Rendall, a Senior Analyst at the New York-based media watchdog group Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), “Information that may weigh on a defendant's guilt or innocence is not private information, it's public information and ought to be reported on.” Reacting to the injunction, he said, “When you have a system where the government is able to stop the media from publishing public information, you have something less than a free press."

Rodríguez, in a statement about his request to the court, had called into question the quality of the media’s reporting on the issue. He said that the media had taken bits of the case files out of context, and tried to discredit witnesses in order to “cast doubt on the performance of the judicial agents that are involved in the investigation and the trial.”

In his ruling, Silano said, “freedom of expression does not allow for the uncontrolled disclosure of humiliating statements against a person, or an illegitimate intrusion into the private lives of others, even less so the spreading of ideas, prejudices, and facts which are not verified, documents which appear to be legal, unauthorized recordings and films…which, combined, constitute an apology for terrorism.”

Before the ruling, according to government-owned news source Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, Rodríguez said that television stations had tried to discredit witnesses, especially Vásquez de Armas, and that has served as an act of intimidation, harassment, and psychological pressure which has caused the witness to have no choice but to not testify, change his testimony, and even leave the country.

Other government bodies are also supporting the decision. The president of the National Assembly, Nicolas Maduro, told El Nacional that during a private meeting yesterday of the Parliament’s coordinating committee, they decided to grant Rodriguez a vote of confidence in light of the court’s ruling.

One of the new members of the National Assembly, who was elected on the pro-Chavez slate, journalism professor Earle Herrera, criticized the injunction, saying, “

Many in the Venezuelan opposition have held that the murder of Anderson was not carried out by those convicted for the crime, but rather, was related to an extortion ring in which Anderson was involved. In January of 2005, newspapers reported that at a press conference, Interior and Justice Minister Jesse Chácon, admitted to the possibility of such a ring, saying “I don’t think that Anderson knew what was being done in his name.” Recently, however, Rodríguez has denied that such a ring existed. When presented with Chacón’s statement from last year, a source at the Attorney General’s office said that in the course of the investigation it was determined that no such extortion network existed.

In addition to the gag orders, the government is investigating ten media outlets, a large part of the country’s press, for “obstruction of justice” because of their coverage of the Anderson case. The six television stations being investigated include Globovision, partially owned by Nelson Mezerhane, one of the alleged masterminds in the Anderson murder, and VTV, the state owned station. According to ABN, the National Commission of Telecommunications (Conatel) will investigate the stations under the Social Responsibility Law in Radio and Television. It is not immediately clear who will investigate the four newspapers targeted by the inquiry.

The Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, enacted in 2003, placed restrictions on broadcast content, mostly against graphic violence and sexuality with the stated purpose was to protect children. Proponents of the law saw it as setting up FCC style regulations in Venezuela. Critics of the law say it is too vague, and potentially censors news reports.

Venezuela's Chavez and Bolivia's Morales Sign 8 Agreements

Bolivia's President Evo Morales presents Venezuela's President Chavez with a picture of Simon Bolivar made of coca leaves.

Caracas, Venezuela, 24 January 2006 – New Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have confirmed eight agreements to create greater co-operation between the two countries. Chavez said the two governments are united in a, "battle against neoliberalism, against capitalism."

The areas that Venezuela and Bolivia have agreed to act on include health and education as well as energy and agriculture. The agreements were finalised yesterday in the Government Palace in La Paz, Bolivia.

The general framework for these agreements were first made when Morales went to Caracas last month after winning the Bolivian presidential election. In return, Chavez went to Bolivia on Sunday for Morales' confirmation as Bolivian President.

The most important of the deals is for an exchange of Bolivian foodstuffs for Venezuelan oil. Chavez has agreed to send as much as 200,000 barrels of diesel a month to Bolivia.

The Venezuelan Energy Minister, Rafael Ramirez, said this oil can be paid for by agricultural products. On top of this, Venezuela said it will use money to buy 200,000 tons of soy and 20,000 tons of chicken more a year than it currently does.

Bolivia has also accepted Venezuelan assistance with energy development. Chavez said that PDVSA, the Venezuelan state oil company will be available to advise Bolivia on energy policy.

Broadly anti-capitalist, Morales has said before that, Bolivia, "needs partners, not bosses." The Bolivian President is expected to follow Venezuela's lead by making the state the dominant actor in the Bolivian energy sector.

Morales said that his victory in Bolivia was also, "a triumph for the Venezuelan people." Morales thanked Chavez for his help saying, "with your political decision to support us, we will strengthen democracy and we are going to liberate the countries of the Americas."

Both Presidents said that the need to promote Latin American Integration was vital. Chavez said the agreements would begin, "a new time of integration and relations between our peoples" Chavez also said the continent is ready to throw off a history of, "poverty, domination, exploitation and colonialism."

An alliance was needed to maintain both nations' independence, "from any agression," the Presidents agreed. Once again, Chavez said that the US wanted to invade Venezuela for its oil and gas reserves.

Chavez warned that any such attack by the forces of , "capitalism and its ideologues," would only mean doom for them. The Venezuelan President said that socialism is a better system and, "Imperialism will end up being a paper tiger, and we, tigers of steel."

Venezuela, Brazil, and Argentina Plan 8,000 Kilometer Gas Pipeline

Presidents Chavez of Venezuela, Kirchner of Argentina, and Lula of Brazil.
Credit: AP

Caracas, Venezuela, January 21, 2006—A new gas pipeline, which would run nearly the entire length of the South American continent, will be one of the largest infrastructure projects in Latin American history, if plans of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez, Argentina’s President Nestor Kirchner, and Brazil’s President Lula da Silva work out. The three presidents met last week, during their third trilateral meeting in Brasilia, where they discussed the plan, along with other topics related to Latin American integration.

According to VenezuelaÂ’s Minister of Energy and Petroleum, Rafael Ramirez, the pipeline will cost between $17 and $20 billion and will take up to seven years to build. The pipeline is supposed to reach from Caracas, Venezuela, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, via Brazil and with links to Bolivia, Paraguay, and Uruguay, stretching for a total of 8,000 kilometers.

Numerous energy experts expressed serious doubts as to whether the pipeline could be built. “It is very difficult to believe this will take place, because of the distance, the financing and the supply,” said Sophie Aldebert, for example, from the Rio de Janeiro-based Cambridge Energy Research Associates to Bloomberg.com.

In Brasilia, Chavez said, “The pipeline is vital to us” and dismissed doubts that it could be built due to technical and financial difficulties. “The Russians built a 4,000-kilometer (2,500-mile) pipeline to supply gas to Europe,” said Chavez, according to AP.

Other critics pointed out that the pipeline would foment competition between Venezuelan and Bolivia, as Bolivia already is BrazilÂ’s largest gas supplier. Chavez, though, denied this would be case, saying that the pipeline will Bolivia and Venezuela to complement each other, rather than to compete against each other.

The cost of building the pipeline would be carried largely by outside investors, such as firms from Asia, according to Chavez. Venezuela’s state oil company, PDVSA would also provide “several billion” dollars.

Chavez also suggested that if Venezuela and other Latin American countries shifted their automobiles to gas power, this would make the pipeline even more affordable and would allow Venezuela to export far more gasoline. According to AP, Argentina already has the worldÂ’s largest fleet of gas-powered vehicles and Brazil the second largest.

The gas pipeline plan is part of the Chavez government’s proposal to build a Latin American energy “cone,” which would integrate Latin America in a network of pipelines, electricity grids, and trade.

The Venezuela-Argentina gas pipeline plan will be unveiled at the next trilateral meeting of the three presidents, to be held in Argentina, on March 9th.

Venezuela OKs Anti-Drug Pact With U.S.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Jan. 19 -- Venezuelan officials said Thursday that they have approved a new anti-drug agreement with the U.S., months after the South American nation suspended cooperation amid allegations of U.S. spying.

"We have resolved our basic differences and we hope that we will be able to sign soon," said Salome Hernandez, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Embassy in Caracas.

The new agreement will go into effect once it has been signed by Venezuelan Interior Minister Jesse Chacon and U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield, said Luis Correa, Venezuela's top anti-drug official.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez halted cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration in August. He accused U.S. agents of spying, a charge the U.S. has repeatedly denied. Venezuelan officials said they would only be willing to work with the U.S. under new terms, under which the DEA would not be permitted to lead drug busts.

Neither U.S. nor Venezuelan officials offered details of the new arrangement.

Chavez has had bitter relations with Washington and last year the U.S. said Venezuela had failed to effectively fight drug trafficking, and removed the nation from a list of cooperating countries.

Venezuela serves as a corridor for drugs, mostly Colombian cocaine, destined for the United States and Europe. Venezuelan authorities say large recent seizures show they are making major strides against smuggling.

Correa said late last year that Venezuelan authorities had seized at least 72 tons of drugs in 2005, up from 43 tons in 2004.

The White House said last year that despite an increase in seizures, Venezuela hasn't done enough to halt a growing flow of narcotics - mainly from Colombia to the United States and Europe. By U.S. estimates, 165 tons of cocaine passed through Venezuela in 2004.

Venezuelan Government Workers to Receive Raises

UNT leader Orlando Chirino
Credit: Archive

January 18, 2006, Caracas, Venezuela—Ongoing negotiations between the National Workers Union (UNT) and the government have resulted in the agreement on a multi-tiered raise system for government salary increases this year, announced Chavez this past Sunday, during his weekly television program, Aló Presidente.

While the details have not yet been finalized, Orlando Chirino, head of the UNT, told Venezuelanalysis.com that he is confident that the union and the government will come to an agreement in the next one to two weeks.

“The workers who earn the least will receive the biggest percentage raises,” said Chirino, describing the tiered system. The biggest bone of contention between the union and the government, according to Chirino, was that the union was asking for immediate across the board wage increases, but while the government did not initially support raising the salaries of employees earning more than Bs 1.2 million (approximately $600) a month.

Speaking about an across the board salary increase last Friday during his yearly address to the National Assembly Venezuelan Hugo Chávez said, “It was something that was pending because of the minimum wage increases in 2004 and 2005, in spite of the fact that I don’t fully believe in the old salary scale because it’s still the old scale and it doesn’t seem fair to me that when the minimum wage is increased, while one person who’s at the minimum wage level receives an increase of x, another effect of the adjustment is that someone who’s on the top of the pyramid receives a raise of five x.” In the same speech, Chávez said Bs 2.5 trillion (approximately $1.2 billion) would be earmarked for government salary increases. According to Bloomerg, this is about 3 times last year’s increase for government employees.

According to Chirino, the government has agreed to raise the salaries of all government employees, even those who earn the top salaries, albeit at a lower level than low-income workers. “We agree with the government, that those who earn the least should get the largest raises,” he said.

During the past two years, the government gave raises only to government workers earning the minimum, about $200 per month. Other workers, even those who earned near the bottom of the scale, havenÂ’t received a raise in three years. The combined inflation of 2004 and 2005 was over 30 percent according to Central Bank figures.

“[Raising only the minimum wage] has a negative psychological impact on workers,” said Miguel Laffe, a government employee. “My sister works for the government and she was making just above the minimum wage, and so she ended up receiving no raise at all,” he added.

Laffe works as the Caracas Coordinator for the Minister of Education and Sport’s National Institute of Youth (INJ), a branch of the Ministry whose employees are generally supportive of the Chávez administration. Now he earns about $400 per month, after a December promotion. Laffe hadn’t heard that the government was planning across the board salary increases, but he was supportive of it. “If you don’t raise salaries across the board, then people feel that their work isn’t being valued,” he said.

His secretary, Arlyth Robles, who earns the minimum wage, also supported across the board salary increases. “The only negative aspect is that it can increase inflation,” she said.

Unlike her boss, who said that it would be better if government workers (including himself) earned more but that at times it was necessary to work for less money when the cause was worthwhile, Robles said government salaries should be higher. “[Our salaries] are not fair. This is a petroleum country; we are rich in natural resources. There is money to pay us, but the elites have been taking it out of the country. It’s not right that people who work a lot earn very little,” she said.

The UNT, the group negotiating the raises with the government, is a relatively new union, started in May of 2003, after the oil industry shut-down during which many workers became discontent with the National Confederation of Workers (CTV), whose leadership was attempting to overthrow the government. The UNT is generally seen as sympathetic to the Chávez administration, but is fully separate from the government.

In the coming months, Chirino said the UNT will continue negotiating with the government. Among the changes the UNT is seeking are a complete revision of salary scales; the inclusion of now autonomous sectors, such as mayors offices under the salary scales; and a comprehensive negotiation of government workers’ contracts, looking at everything from pensions to job security. “We’re looking to bring government contracts in line with the new constitution, and eliminate the egoism, individuality and inequality [of the old system],” he explained.

Venezuelan Supreme Court Judge Accuses Justice Department of Corruption

Supreme Court Judge Luis Velazquez Alvaray
Credit: Archive

Caracas, Venezuela , 17 January 2006 – In a press conference yesterday morning, Venezuelan Supreme Court judge Luis Velázquez Alvaray said misuse of funds had been found in the institution that administers the country's court system, the Executive Directorate of the Magistrate (DEM). Despite this, Alvaray said, "We don't have doubts about the operations of justice."

Alvaray is asking the Attorney General to find those responsible and to bring legal charges against them. Alvaray said such corruption would not be allowed and, "we are finishing with a relaxed administration."

The inconsistencies were discovered by the Venezuelan Comptroller General during an audit. They showed cases of embezzlement and fraud in administration going back to 2003. These included fictional students in Judicial training courses and overpricing.

The most striking example of corruption was $18.6 Million that was supposed to pay for improving a building called Torre Metrolimpo. The work on the improvements never began.

Alvaray said the worst aspect of this corruption was that it could have meant, "hold ups and cancellations of social previsions." Alvaray said the government is creating 15 anti-corruption tribunals to stop this from happening.

The decision to create these was taken by the Venezuelan Supreme CourtÂ’s Plenary Council in August 2005. These courts are expected to begin working in the next few months.

Venezuela has long had a culture of corruption and nepotism. It has been rated one of the worst countries in Latin America for corruption in a Corruptions Perception index by London-based NGO Transparency International since the Index began.

Chavez Summarizes Accomplishments of 2005 and Accuses U.S. of Interference in Venezuela

Chavez addresses the Venezuelan legislature, for his annual rendering of acocunt.
Credit: VTV

Caracas, Venezuela, January 16, 2006—In his annual speech to the nation and to the National Assembly, last Friday, Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez summarized his government’s accomplishments of 2005, outlined plans for the near future, and lambasted the U.S. government for its imperial ambitions and its efforts to interfere in Venezuelan affairs.

Chavez said the U.S. government is attempting to Venezuela from buying arms. Chavez said, “the horrid US empire wants to impose itself on the world. They don’t respect anything, nothing.”

ChavezÂ’s speech lasted several hours, covering many topics, such as poverty, public sector pay increases, defense, and accusations of anti-Semitism.

Chavez said the Venezuelan state was no longer controlled by, “neither the transnationals, the IMF, North American imperialism, nor domestic elites.” Nonetheless, “we still have infiltrated enemies, infiltrated corruption, and many vices to defeat,” said Chavez.

Poverty, according to Chavez dropped from 47% to 37% between 2004 and 2005 and extreme poverty to 13.3%, down from 17.1% in 1997%. Referring to the end of a possible second six-year term in office, Chavez said, “By 2013 we should be much closer to the goal of the “Christ” mission, of zero poverty.” Recently the Chavez government declared that all of the country’s social missions combined would be considered the “Christ” mission, whose aim is eradicate poverty in Venezuela by the year 2021.

Chavez said public sector workers at the lower end of the pay scale would receive a pay raise of up to 80% this year. According to Chavez, the government has set aside $1.2 billion to pay for the salary increases.

Not all public sector employees have benefited equally in the past with doctors gaining a 500% pay increase last year and others workers getting none. The details of who exactly will benefit from the increases have not yet been provided.

Chavez claimed the US was putting more pressure on Venezuela. Chavez said, “a new international offensive against Venezuela is commencing.” U.S. attempts to stop Venezuela from buying military planes from Spain and Brazil were a sign of this said Chavez.

The AK47 rifle and helicopter purchases from Russia are, “a necessity for a country threatened as we are, a place under the sights of the most powerful empire in the world,” said Chavez. Considering Venezuela’s position, “we have a responsibility to maintain a minimum capacity for our armed forces.”

The Venezuelan President also robustly denied accusations of anti-Semitism. The U.S.-based organization Simon Wiesenthal Center said Chavez made an anti-Semitic statement a few weeks ago, when he made a speech he on Christmas Eve, in which he spoke about the minority that “killed Jesus” and Simon Bolivar. Supporters of the president pointed out, though, that Chavez was referring to the world’s rich elite, since Simon Bolivar was not killed by Jews.

Chavez said, "Anti-liberal I am, anti-imperialist even more so, but anti-Semitic, never, that's a lie." Chavez said he thought the attack was, “an offensive of the empire.” The Venezuelan President also said he hoped that Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, would recover after his stroke.

Chavez also made another attack against Peruvian President Toledo. Chavez temporarily started singing after he said, "My friend Toledo reminded me of the song that goes 'You are so like Bush, you can't trick me.'" Chavez continued by saying, "In any case, Toledo doesn't have much time left. I wish him luck. I would have liked to have worked with him."

Venezuela Launches Social Mission Aimed at Helping the Most Vulnerable

Caracas, Venezuela, January 16, 2006—Saturday, the Venezuelan government made good on its Christmas eve promise to launch a new social mission dedicated to empowering traditionally excluded groups, reports the Venezuelan government’s Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias.

Mission Negra Hipólita will aid at-risk groups including the homeless, extremely poor, or drug-addicted people, especially focusing on children and adolescents, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in a December broadcast of Aló Presidente.

This weekend, the government released the official declaration of the launch of the Mission at a ceremony in Caracas. “We create a permanent presidential commission for Mission Negra Hipólita, whose objective will be to coordinate, promote, and advise everything related to homeless children, adolescents, and adults, pregnant adolescents, people with disabilities, and the elderly living in extreme poverty,” the declaration says. 

The Mission is named La Negra Hipólita, after the independence hero Simon Bolivar’s wet-nurse.

The Ministry of Popular Participation and Social Development (Minpades) will be the government agency in charge of the mission. In preparation for it, Minpades Vice-Minister Wilfredo Pabón visited several Caracas barrios, or low-income neighborhoods to determine the needs of the areas, said ABN.  

According to ABN, last week, Pabón, announced that, contrary to prior estimates, there are less than 8,000 homeless children in Venezuela, but that the number of homeless children would be much higher if it included children who stayed outside of their homes and worked in the informal economy or begging.

The mission has been in the works since early November, when Minpades created the National Committee for Development, which was tasked with, among other responsibilities, the development of the mission, reported ABN.

According to Minpades Minister Jorge Luis García Carneiro, the new mission would be based primarily on direct community action against the problems of vulnerable groups, reports Radio Nacional de Venezuela.

“Negra Hipólita represents love and the generosity of Venezuelan mothers, equality, solidarity, and justice for a neglected Venezuelan group, who is filled with misery,” said García Carneiro.

Chávez, in the same speech in which he announced the mission, said that social protection groups “need to deploy themselves like soldiers in the battle of love.”

Spain Resists U.S. Attempts to Block Venezuelan Aircraft Sale

Defense Ministers of Spain and of Venezuela sign the arms sale agreement last November.
Credit: ABN

Caracas, Venezuela, 13 January 2006 – The Spanish government has said it will still sell 12 military planes to Venezuela despite a strong diplomatic effort by the U.S. to stop them. The Spanish Vice-President, María Teresa Fernández de la Vega, said Spain, “must comply,” with its Venezuelan contract.

Yesterday, the U.S. government tried to decisively stop the sale of Spanish military planes to Venezuela. The U.S. Ambassador to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre, told the Spanish government on Thursday night they could not sell the planes as they used some U.S. technology.  

According to reports, the U.S. Embassy in Madrid said, “In a region that needs political stability, the actions and frequent declarations of the Venezuelan government contribute to regional instability.” The US Embassy said the Spanish sale would, “complicate this situation.”

U.S. State Department spokesperson Sean McCormack said today, "I think that when you're talking about armed patrol boats, maritime control aircraft, as well as other kinds of aircraft, it raises a lot of questions about their potential use and what effect that may have on the stability in the region."

In response, De la Vega said the unarmed transport planes, “have no offensive character.” The Spanish Vice-President said that there were a series of reasons why the U.S. tried to stop the sale. “This is a series of reasons the Spanish Government naturally does not share,” said De la Vega.

Replacement technology from other European countries would be used and the sale would go ahead, added De la Vega. The Spanish subsidiary of the European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company EADS-CASA is building the planes. It could find the parts from German, French or Italian makers.

The deal was worth $1.7 billion for Spain when signed last November 28. It may cost more now that replacement parts need to be bought. The deal is the largest military sale Spain has ever made. De la Vega said that the contract will also create 1,000 new jobs in Spain over the next few years. 

For the past several months the U.S. government has been warning the Spanish government about the issue of U.S. technology being sold to Venezuela. It is only now they have tried to firmly block the deal. 

In a speech to the National Assembly today, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said the U.S. is determined to attack Venezuela and that the blocking of arms sales were an example of U.S. imperialism. Chavez said the country must build up its defenses to prepare for a possible U.S. attack and buy more weapons.