In stalino-castrist parlance that means that Ismael Garcia et al are now good for the dustbin of history. They should be happy, in Cuba they would already be in jail, if actually alive.
With this declaration Chavez once again demonstrates where his regime is headed, and what an ungrateful SOB he is. For those late into this game, PODEMOS is the political party to whom Chavez is the most indebted to. PODEMOS provided the frame work that helped the Chavez campaign of 1998 (when it was still the MAS). PODEMOS defended Chavez in 2002 perhaps even more than many an MVR, more than any of Chavez devotee today clapping as hard as they can the demise of PODEMOS. PODEMOS parliamentarian maneuvering helped chavismo pass all sorts of unconstitutional laws such as the packing of the high court. PODEMOS was one of the leading organizers of the Recall Election campaign and supported all sorts of threats against the opposition, those who signed against Chavez. PODEMOS did so many moral compromises that it is considered today as one of the most immoral groups of Venezuela.
And yet Chavez throws them away as if nothing, discredits, humiliates in public the leaders of PODEMOS and ask their followers to forget about them and join the PUSV and forget the whole thing.
Why?
thing and People like Chavez can NEVER appear indebted to anyone as it might detract from their aura. All the people that helped Castro, that Castro was indebted to, have slowly but surely all disappeared, and many years before Castro became old. By the late 70ies most of them had disappeared or gone to revolutionary retirement or to Miami. Chavez will do exactly the same, not because he is advised to do so by the Cubans that circle him, but because it is in the nature of the beast.
This week PODEMOS dies alone. None of the people that PODEMOS helped bury is there to defend them, to throw them a helping hand, as they become yet a new poster case for pastor Niemoller. I, for one, do not feel sad for them. They had it coming. They should have known better. As early as the first half of 1999 Chavez was already throwing supporters away. As early as March 1999 this blogger was telling that such things will be done by Chavez. Too bad I did not have a blog then to report how Chavez treated the constitutional reform committee he created just before he took office. I suppose that we are a people with short memory, with too much "that will not happen to me" attitude toward life. Even after 9 years of chavismo some people manage to be surprised at the ejection of PODEMOS.
Now Ismael Garcia goes to "Buenas Noches" in Globovision. He is out of microphones in state TV as of now, and he must go to the media that the so often insulted. Maybe RCTV will hand him an interview some morning?
But my message tonight is not for PODEMOS, they can rot in hell, they have benefited too much from Chavez, and I mean more than politically, economically. If they straighten up we will have to collaborate with them to remove from office at some point the greater evil that threatens all of us. At least their governors are showing the way on how to oppose Chavez and how to defend the people they represent from the dangers of centralization. We'll see.
No, my message tonight is for all of these people that applaud Chavez when he curses PODEMOS, all of these PSF that will defend Chavez actions, all of this people that will try to ingratiate themselves with Chavez to get the jobs left open by the departure of PODEMOS. To all of you suckers, a regime like the one of Chavez NEEDS regular purges, with or without reason. Worry not, your turn will come one day, just because you did not jump fast enough or high enough when Chavez asked you to do so. You'll see, trust me on that one.
PS: I was forgetting! The crime of PODEMOS? To want to actually discuss Chavez proposal, of not being willing to accept it just "as is". For El Supremo, for the embodiment of the bolibanana revolution, this is unforgivable!!!!
Written from the Venezuelan provinces, this blog started as private letters to my friends overseas, letters narrating the difficult days of the 2002/2003 strike in Venezuela. These letters became this mix of news, comments, pictures of the Venezuelan situation. Unknowingly, I have written the diary of Venezuela slow descent into authoritarianism, the slow erosion of our liberties, the takeover of the country by a military caste, the surrendering of our soul to our inner demons.
Click logo above to go directly to the English language blog. Click here to go to the Spanish language mirror.
Estamos en Venezuela, nunca se sabe. In spite of its Spanish title, an irregular blog about a French student observing Venezuela. Interesting pictures.
General info and discontinued blogs but with good archives
Venezuela Crisis has a visual and textual record "hors pair" of the recent electoral campaign in Venezuela, the first blogger to have covered live a Venezuelan campaign. Seems to be on a resting phase for a few weeks.
Digital papers with Venezuela and LatAm in mind (in Spanish)
There are two major digital papers with forums and all, for a permanent clash between factions. Noticiero Digital is the oldest one and Noticias 24 is giving it a run for tis money.
And a new comer:Venezuela es noticia.
Ciudadania Activa has a large selection of articles on Venezuelan politics and civil rights issues.
Relevant info to expose some of the regime's propaganda and human rights violations
The lies of April
The famous "infamous" video "The revolution will not be televised" has been duly analyzed and shown to be in large measure a crass manipulation. Counter-video in Spanish here, and summary of main points here.
There is a documentary that follows the April 2002 events from the perspective on what Chavez did that April 11, "La Cadena". It is about the forced broadcast made by Chavez to hide the massacre of the pacific march on Miraflores.
The infamous apartheid like system of the Tascon and Maisanta lists
The compilation of various documents from Miguel.
The video "La Lista" and my reviews in English and Spanish by invitation at Hispalibertas.
The El Nacional review of Perez Oramas.
The original video itself can be seen here.
Diverse Human Rights pages
Of course, from Amnesty International to the Human Rights Watch page, without forgetting local organizations such as prestigious COFAVIC, the Venezuelan government comes only too often lacking in its Human Rights record.
OTHER FOLKS WITH VENEZUELA MORE OR LESS IN THEIR MIND (Please send links that should be added here)
And of course to be fair there must be links to pro-Chavez sites. I do pride myself of having been the first opposition blog to have listed pro Chavez links; a situation that has now changed. However extremely rare is the pro Chavez page or blog that links to any of the sites listed above. The readers might draw their own conclusion
Aporrea (Beat up, bruise! as in the imperative mode of the verb; the only interesting one if you can read Spanish. Predicts the future)
And of course the full time propaganda agencies, ALL at tax payer expenses, the National Radio coverage, RNV, and the rather deficient official news agency, ABN (both in Spanish).
Without forgetting the "official" newsletter in English.
Some blogs, more or less sycophantic.
Yosmary, campaigning for Mario Silva, quite something.
Less sycophantic, even critical on occasion Terreno baldio.
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Map of Venezuela to help you locate the different locales mentioned through the blog (click here for a more detailed map)
For the memories. The picture below dates from the epic days of the December 2002/January 2003 "El Paro", when the opposition was strong and decided, and when Chavez was low in polls.
Then came the "misiones" and the worst populist episode of our history. Through pacific protests and strikes we tried to preserve democracy.
History proved us right even if we lost that battle.
Marching toward Hotel Melia, 01/31/03, 5 PM.
Small yellow square under the Pepsi ball is the big stage.
A special thanks to JoAnne Schmitz for the suggestions and help in setting this blog up.
