The Spanish language communique, the only one available from AFP as I type, states that Honduras is pissed at OAS secretary Insulza for not having met with all there and for coming already with his decision in mind. And for not considering the bellicose words emitted against Honduras by other countries.
In other words, Honduras says that Insulza is a fraud. Well, at least on that point I will not disagree with the Honduras regime.
Now we must see how a poor country will resist as the world gangs up against it. However one sure is certain, Insulza failed, badly, at his first real diplomatic crisis (the Colombia-Venezuela problems were in fact solved by other folks than Insulza, and in a way were less worrisome than the Honduras situation as at least inside Venezuela we knew that war would never start). In fact, one is almost tempted to think that Insulza went out of his way to make things worse in Honduras than what they were. Amazing!
Meanwhile back in Caracas the BBC Mundo is reporting on Ledezma hunger strike because the OAS has been ignoring the attacks on democracy made by Chavez. I love it! And then some wonder how come Insulza is so discredited....
Gives a new meaning to who was first, the egg or the chicken.
As the days pass we see an Insulza getting more and more desperate, stubborn, intolerant, and stupid. And all are self inflicted wounds. Wake up Jose Miguel! Honduras has stopped caring about whether you find it a legal government. Go to Caracas feed Ledezma and do something useful for a change.
Now, that is a noteworthy public servant. Let's see, 6,000 for two suits shirts and ties and underwear; 500 a day for hotel and food; maybe 2,000 for miscellaneous such as getting the newspapers and phone cards; OK, let's add 5,000 more for other stuff (not including airplane tickets which we are supposed are provided by Zelaya's friends). We are still 60,000 from the 80,000 billed. And even if I put a body guard and plane tickets I am not getting 80,000!!!! What? He got whores? went to the Casino?
There you have it, enough reasons to impeach the man! A man of the people! Gimme a break!
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.
