Refining political apartheid: the Albornoz list

Readers of this page do remember the many times I have discussed the infamous Tascon list and its direct application in the Maisanta program (all necessary links on the right side column of this blog, and a main link here). As it always happens in such type of regimes, once the initial break of ethics is accomplished, then there is no more restraint in adding insult to injury. The latest addition is now the "Albornoz List” which will refine the Maisanta program by indicating who is actively supporting the opposition by giving money to Sumate (and in the future to any NGO that even dares to raise its voice against governmental abuses).

As a brief reminder: the Maisanta program lists almost all Venezuelans according to their ID card number and their electoral participation. The list also includes recipients of state sponsored social “misiones”, whether the elector signed one of the divers recall election instruments (pro of contra Chavez) and some other parameters that the state sees fit to include. People that appear in the Maisanta list are rated from patriot (pro Chavez) to opposition with certain gradations in between. Now, through the courtesy of the national banking system the Maisanta list will include those who gave money to Sumate, allowing the creation, one can imagine, of a new category: active complot makers against the fatherland, which will mean that they will be the opposition members that have to be punished first and foremost.

How did that happen?

It all started when infamous sleazy assemblyman Albornoz decided to investigate the accounts of Sumate. Nothing really wrong here, if the National Assembly thinks that Sumate is a terrorist organization it is fair to check out whether its funding come from legit sources, or from drug cartels, George Bush or Osama himself. In a rather surprising show of efficiency Trino Alcides Diaz, the bank superintendent, brought in a very few hours all the bank movements made in favor of any of the Sumate accounts over the last few years. I say “surprising” because, as far as I know, Trino Alcides Diaz does not show such an effectiveness in getting banking records when the case under investigation are for corruption within the government or request from the DEA as to money laundering. Se for example the slow start in the investigation of the 45 million USD "missing" from FOGADE...

But so far I can deal with it: the amounts investigated are for movements of more than 4.5 million bolivares which is roughly 2000 US dollars. I find this number already low because if I were to launder illicit gains I doubt I would use such small amounts, but what do I know? At any rate, I suspect that this number comes from some international standard and if it is used for drug money cover up, why not for use it for Sumate cover up. With this parameter according to Sudeban, the Diaz directed organization, Sumate received over 4 years 2300 million bolivares, roughly 1.2 million USD depending on how you account for the exchange rate through the years.

Unfortunately as it is always the case chavismo does not know the meaning of the words “enough is enough”. Now Trino Alcides Diaz has accepted the request to search for ANY financial deposit made in favor of Sumate for the last few years. And a copy of these banking movements with the names of the involved parties will be delivered to the Albornoz commission.

The implications are very easy for anyone with half a brain to get. The name of the little grandmother who cave 50 USD to Sumate during the gathering of the signatures required to call for the recall election in 2004, a constitutional right it must be strongly stressed, will now be in the hands of Albornoz. After the Maisanta list, what do you think will happen? The entry under the name of the little grand mother in the Maisanta list will be amended and she will become an even greater enemy of the state, to be taken action upon whenever it is convenient.

In other words, any person that makes any financial contribution to any NGO in Venezuela that has even a remote risk to become an adversary of Chavez risks to have his or her name added to the apartheid list of people who are politically segregated in Venezuela.

No further comments are needed; the reader is smart enough to grasp the gravity of the situation when the public cannot even give money to noteworthy causes such as COFAVIC since at any time the government might crack down on them as they keep reporting violations of Human Rights in Venezuela. Trino Alcides Diaz, a modern day tropical Quisling, will be only too happy to provide the names.

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notes:
1) a day by day partial account in English can be found here.

2) the term "la lista Albornoz" has been coined by Sumate director Alejandro Plaz.