Friday13, AM update
I am waiting for Freddie or Jason to pop out at any time

Friday 13, February 2004

I will pass on further jokes as to the date, besides in Venezuela it is Tuesday 13 that people fear. I really do not want to know the reason, but I love 13 as you can always find hard to get appointments on these dates...

First, my bad. Jorge Rodriguez, one of the chavismo members of the CNE declared yesterday that even though the decision for the recall Election is delayed, the clock will run as of today. I do not know if I should be reassured or further worried. Maybe Mr. Rodriguez declared that because he knows that somehow he will make sure that the decision will be favorable to Chavez's interest. Besides, it is his opinion and I can already see chavismo putting down some legal artifact as to make sure the clock runs only after the official announcements. Chavismo is much better at creating legal artifacts than respecting actual laws and rules. But I digress.

Meanwhile this morning the Carter Center is back to the CNE for yet another probably very tense meeting. It looks like the Carter Center is not amused. We'll see.

Interestingly, since yesterday chavismo is rather silent while the opposition is foaming with indignation. Except for the irrepressible Juan Barreto showing yet another "video" to prove that the opposition is arming itself for a coup. The old video was of a shopping trip that the Metropolitana Comander took to Europe 2 or 3 years ago. The video shows people playing with guns rather than plotting anything sinister. Regardless, Barreto in his own unimitable, presented this as irrefutable proof deserving immediate destitution of the usual suspects. And went on fearlessly to state that "4 or 5 containers full or weapons and ammunitions" had just entered the country. The least we can say is that the suppliers are rather long with their delivery. Not to mention the incompetent National Guard that is supposed to watch the harbours and should have stopped "4 or 5" containers.

The rioting in Valencia yesterday was much worse than I thought. Senseless violence by a bunch of wayward "students". Some TV footage on Televen treated us to a couple of people trying to smash a phone booth with student desks. Why, oh why? Besides the "traditional" bus burning of course. The most important event was actually a non event. When the National Guard was called to re-enforce the Carabobo state police, well, it did not show up. This is the same National Guard battalion of the burping general, the one that made its reputation by raiding food storage and beating up civilians during the strike last year. But now their comander is the divinely appointed candidate for the Carabobo statehood and the National Guard there will be all but impartial as was clearly shown yesterday by its absence.

In other words, the demonstrations yesterday were not spontaneous at all, but designed specifically to demonstrate that the actual governor cannot keep order in the state but that the burper will be. And if you have any doubt you could also watch Carabobo chavistas that have taken over the Bolivar Square of Valencia and forbidding access to it to anyone that cannot prove his or her fealty to the great leader.

Jason and Freddie watch out! The Burper is coming!