Venezuela: Chavez wants to rule till 2021

Things are heating up on the re-election front in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan constitution currently limits a candidate’s presidency to two 6-year terms. President Hugo Chavez, whose second term is up in 4 years, is calling for an end to presidential term limits.

According to this article, President Hugo Chavez is again “giving his people the authorization” to move toward amending the constitution, though, he says, the people ultimately have the right to decide if they want the amendment.

This isn’t the first time Chavez has called for term amendments. Shortly after the beginning of his final term in January, 2007, he began talks of removing the limits. The referendum was ultimately defeated after 51% of voters rejected the proposed amendment.

But Chavez, now with his popular support standing at 55% one year later, is proposing the constitutional amendment again. And according to the Economist, “Chavez says the legislation will be the start of a new era of ‘maximum revolution’ during which he will consolidate Venezuela's transformation into a socialist society. His critics, however, are calling it a radical lurch toward authoritarianism by a leader with unchecked power.”

-- by Hannah Morris

Chavez Calls Out Journalist-Venezuela Group

Hugo Chavez called out two journalists leading up to a local election in Venezuelan on November 27th claiming that his statements were decontextualized and that Chavez does not censor the media, according to this article.

Chavez said that Patricia Janiot, a CNN correspondent, misconstrued a statement that Chavez would "bring tanks into the street" if he were to lose a recent election.  Chavez requested that Janiot explain what he really meant, and then proceeded to blame her superiors at CNN for the story.

Chavez also said CNN reporter Glenn Oman was wrong when she said that Chavez ordered an "information probation" during the elections, and that no such order was ever provided.

This is yet another example of how Chavez likes to control his political image, and his control by controlling the media, especially whenever anything negative is said about him, his regime, or both.  Calling out CNN and credible journalists is second nature for Chavez.  It is actually surprising that such was reporting was even printed for the public to read.

By Mike Ramsing

Midterm Election Update

Most of the headlines I found this week covering the results of the Venezuelan midterm elections last Sunday had similar messages: "Mixed results in Venezuela election"

I found one interesting article, however, by The Washington Post that explained very distinctly how the elections last Sunday could seriously hurt Chavez's future power in Venezuela...

Some politicians who are known to publicly criticize Chavez were voted in by people living in poverty (who once voted for the current dictating president).

Although the article focuses on the limits the new governing body may put on Chavez's economic and oil policies, I think this could be a positive and exciting time for the media system struggling to survive in the nation. If these politicians are realizing the problems Chavez is causing for his country economically, hopefully they will see the blockades he builds around journalists and their ability to cover the news.

This quote stood out to me the most while reading the article:
"The setbacks add to a list of growing problems for Mr. Chávez that are likely to slow his swagger."

Here's another link to the story: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122748432718751705.html?mod=googlenews_wsj


Posted by: Bridget Monaghan

Chavez Televised Speech

President Chavez, in a televised speech Sunday, addressed the upcoming U.S. election, the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba, and the recent U.S. attacks on Syria.

It may seem a bit strange that the Venezuelan president would spend time and energy talking about America instead of his own country, but I guess it's easier to talk about somebody else's shortcomings than your own. :) On the other hand, I found it difficult to find any press on this speech that was not about America, so he probably talked about other issues besides the ones that the American media would decide to cover.

Chavez, who has a strong anti-American stance, recently pulled his ambassador out of the U.S. and is refusing to send a new one until President Bush is out of office. Chavez also said that he would look forward to meeting and talking with Obama if he wins the election. He did not address his feelings on the possibility of meeting with McCain.

The big test, according to Chavez, of the next American president is whether or not the U.S. ends their current embargo with Cuba. (Chavez is a friend and supporter of Fidel Castro.)

Chavez also commented on the U.S.'s attack on Syria this weekend, calling it "illegal aggression" and violating international rights.

Anyway, I thought it was an interesting display of the dynamics of our relationship with Venezuela. There's a lot of finger-pointing on both sides, but hopefully our next president will be able to take the steps to get along with Chavez so that he can stop focusing on the U.S.'s actions and focus on running his own country!

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/uspolls2008/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080070968&

and

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/uspolls2008/Election_Story.aspx?ID=NEWEN20080070968&

--Hannah

Opinion Letter About Press Violence By Mike Ramsingh

This post is about a letter to the editor that explains the recent increase in violence that is being dealt to media employees in light of heavy coverage of the upcoming election in Venezuela.  The letter mentions an attack on two media employees for a local news channel.  This letter provides another example of journalists being threatened to cease their negative coverage of Chavez's regime.

The letter is here

Venezuela wants to work with Russia on nuclear energy: Chavez

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/venezuelarussiaenergynucleardiplomacy

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced on Sunday, after a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev, that he was interested in working with Russia to develop a civilian nuclear power program.

Chavez made the announcement in an almost child-like fashion, feeling the need to immediately clarify that the nuclear energy would be used for "peaceful ends of course -- for medical purposes and to generate electricity."
The fact that he assumes that WE assume he might be using this power for anything BUT peaceful ends is a little bit suspicious... especially since he has given the U.S. very few reasons to trust him.

He then went on to note that Brazil and Argentina have such programs as well.
He doesn't have to explain himself, yet he does anyway. Developing nuclear power simply because other South American countries have it is not a strong reason to get your own nuclear power source. Just because they have it, doesn't mean you need it too, Chavez.

Chavez appears to be getting defensive without anyone actually attacking his reasoning behind this decision yet.

Russia also announced Sunday that they made plans to invest tens of millions of dollars in the Venezuelan oil industry. Of course, this is only days after Russia dispatched a helpful naval fleet of warships to the Venezuelan coast, to, as Chavez put it, "increase our defense capability."

Who does Venezuela need to protect itself from? And why are they enlisting help from Russia? These questions pose deeper issues now that the Venezuela-Russia alliance is strengthening over touchy issues - oil deals, military support, nuclear support. Venezuela has not been on good terms with the U.S. for years, and of course, as of late, neither has Russia. It will be interesting to see where this relationship between the two countries goes and how the U.S. reacts to it.

--Hannah Morris

Venezuela ousts rights workers after they issue critical report

Article

President Hugo Chavez and the Venezuelan government is still controlling all media outlets in the country. On Thursday night, under the order of President Hugo Chavez, two men were kicked out of the country only hours after they issued a report that said that the democratic institutions in the country have been weakened during the President's reign, which mentioned how the news media specifically cannot exercise their rights. The two men, both Human Rights Watch staffers were taken from their hotel room, to the airport where they were put on a flight to Brazil. The Venezuelan government reasoned that the men had entered the country using tourist visas, which Vivanco, one of the Human Rights Watch staffers denied.

Here is a video of the two men being taken from their hotel.

The fact that Hugo Chavez is still in power in Venezuela despite the fact that he has obviously taken away press freedom and has limited the rights of unions and judicial power is crazy. The Venezuelan government continues to come up with excuses for limiting press freedom in each and every case, but it is clear what they are doing.

by: Krystal Mason

Venezuela Group

Last week Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez decided to kick American ambassador Patrick Duddy out of Venezuela, and recalled his own ambassador back from America as well. Chavez claims the U.S is responsible for backing reform movements within his country and Bolivia. Chavez also said that he will cut off Venezuelan crude oil supplies to the United States if America decides to fight Venezuela. This story is relevant because Venezuela happens to be America's fourth largest oil supplier in the world.

Chavez at it again

By: Mike Ramsingh