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Editorial Commentary
VenEconomy : A lamb in wolf’s clothing
In 2007, Chávez started the year on an aggressive foot by proclaiming the imposition of his 21st century socialism, the taking over of CANTV and La Electricidad de Caracas by the State, and the closure of RCTV, among other measures.
This year, in spite of the defeat on December 2, he also started off on an aggressive note, albeit less explicitly. Despite the moderate tone of his language, events give his game away.
The first is an amnesty law designed to clean up his image and draw attention away from his failure to successfully execute the so-called humanitarian exchange.
This “amnesty” has turned into yet another tool for dispensing discrimination and humiliations. It was supposed to favor all those involved in the events of April 2002 and anyone accused of civil rebellion for acts committed up until December 2, 2007.
But, thanks to some legal juggling and ill will, several prisoners were excluded from the benefits of this amnesty: three police commissioners who have been on trial for nearly two years and three more who have been put in jail with no proof of the charges against them to date, eight officers of the Metropolitan Police who have been suffering a similar ordeal for more than five years, and Captain Otto Gebauer, who, following orders, was responsible for Chávez’ custody and protection during his brief detention in April 2002.
This law, supposedly designed to give the impression of tolerance and respect for those who dissent from the government, has had side effects that have become yet another act of aggression against those who most embarrass the government.
The second is the appointment of 13 new ministers in a cabinet that looks more radical and relentless than any of its predecessors. For example, to head up Planning and Development, Chávez appointed Haiman El Troudi, a communist who is totally committed to the government’s most radical policies, while for the Ministry of the Interior and Justice he called on Captain (Navy) Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, who held the same post in April 2002 when violations of human resources were committed and who also has the reputation of being merciless and of having been, for years, the government’s liaison with the FARC.
And the third incident is the attack last weekend on the lawyer Mónica Fernández, a member of the Venezuelan Criminal Law Forum renowned for the lawsuits the government has brought against her on account of her denouncements of the deterioration in the country’s system of justice and for her direct defense of the rights of all those who are being persecuted or held in prison for political reasons.
What is striking about this incident is the haste with which the Director of the CICPC attributed the assault to common criminals without even having taken statements from the victims of the attack.
While connecting these events with the appointment of Rodríguez Chacín would be to indulge in speculation, it is true that recently “La Hojilla,” a program broadcast by the state-owned television channel VTV, was instigating hatred and aggression against the members of the Venezuelan Criminal Law Forum in general and against Mónica Fernández in particular.
Unfortunately, President Chávez does not seem to have learned anything from December 2. Let there be no mistake, the path he has chosen merely demonstrates a change in tactics, certainly not a change in direction. He hopes to impose his 21st century socialism come hell or high water.
VenEconomy is a Venezuela's leading specialized publisher in the economic and financial area. VenEconomy's Points of View on the issues of the day, as seen by VenEconomy during the last week. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
Editor's note: This commentary was originally published by VenEconomy, on 01/08/2007. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
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Petroleumworld News 01/08/08
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