Judicial coup for dummies

So I am late into the fray, just learning about an hour ago what the High Court has done today. See, I live in reality. I had a delicate situation with my S.O. and, besides appointments, part of the day was to look all around for rather simple antibiotics, and pain killers and anti inflammatory pills. We found two of them, not the ones recommended by the physician albeit acceptably less suitable alternatives.

In a waiting room I got wind of the declarations of the new minister for urban agriculture. I found the video tonight (at end of this entry). Indeed, she wants everyone to grab a tin can, and empty bottle, put some dirt and recycle the roots of any vegetable we can, starting with green onions.

Today we also learned that Venezuela oil barrel has reached its lowest price since 2002.

Recycling the root system of green onions? Can I plant pot instead so as to escape reality?

All of this to give you a little context for what comes next.

The TSJ spoke: Maduro 2 -- Cabello 0; the coup leads

Even the high court of Venezuela had trouble putting its act together to violate the constitution: it left journalists waiting for 3 hours before finally TSJ head honcho Luisa Estela Morales Lamuño decided to tell the country that for all practical purposes Hugo Chavez was elected Hugo 1st, king of Venezuela, and that Maduro will rule until either Chavez decides to come back, or dies, or whatever it is that happens in monarchical succession.

The TSJ ruling is simple: there is no absence of Chavez  temporal or absolute. Chavez is out on a medical trip, he just has a job leave as any Venezuelan worker would, which will last as long as he needs it to last. As such the government he left in place continues as if nothing, the swearing in of Chavez is a mere formality,  but necessary, and as such it can take place at anytime. There is no need to replace Chavez, he is president of Venezuela even if he is on life support. Heck! Brain dead for that matter as long as the Cuban artificial lung keeps pumping oxygen in his lungs.

The fairness and receptivity of the Venezuelan Judicial system

Yesterday we got yet another proof that the Venezuelan judicial system has become simply another repressive arm of the regime. In fact, as we have often discussed in this page the closest branch of the Venezuelan government to a dictatorial situation is the judicial system. The evidence we discussed on and off is as follows, in no particular order:

- justices chanting "Uh! Ah! Chavez no se va!" during the installation of the judicial year.
- extraordinary delays when judging opposition figures, the longer the delays of course, the weaker the evidence. Look for example at the Caracas Police directors sitting in jail for three years already while their trial goes at a snail pace, the judges inventing all sorts of delays.
- the speed in judgment of chavista figures, in case these ones actually find themselves investigated.
- the failure to reach conclusion which in some cases is equal to a negative sentence against an opposition figure. The Danilo Anderson case for which management the general prosecutor should have been fired long ago resulted in his quiet departure at the end of the term while some of the folks he has indicted on account of a false witness remain investigated or in exile.
- and of course all the astounding fast political decisions taken by he high court when the government needs them in his favor. Take for illustration one of the most famous ones, the illegal seizure without compensation of all the transmission equipment of RCTV, a robbery in facts, whereas all the filed suits as to the closing of RCTV remain gathering dust in some TSJ shelf.

That is why Chavez can get away with a de facto dictatorship while still tolerating unfair elections and an increasingly less free press. After all it does not matter what you uncover, what abuse you expose, when you hit a tribunal your complaint sometimes is not even registered. That is the root of the power of Chavez, the most extraordinarily submitted judicial system in our history, morally corrupt to the extreme, and possibly financially corrupt too. After all, what judge in Venezuela would dare rule against a chavista judge?

Today we can add something new to this repetition, a necessary one though since foreign readers might be inclined to think that there is justice in Venezuela since we are technically in a democracy. Yesterday a few students tried to protest in the Zulia tribunals of Maracaibo. Their justified protest was against the unjustified and unjustifiable delays in some political trials going on. They also tried to chain themselves to some door which might have been justifiable but probably not at that given time. Still, nothing can justify the reaction of the security guards of the Zulia tribunals. In the video below you can watch the vicious way into which these guards beat up some of the students, a violence out of all proportion with the moment, when simply closing the doors and accuse the students of obstructing access to justice would have been enough, and probably even reflect favorably on the court.



I do not know about you, but when the tribunal security seems even more vicious than the Nazional Guard of Venezuela, you know that there is no justice possible. You can see for yourself, no need for translation, for example how unconscious folks on the floor are still being beaten up and how of course the security guards know they are doing the wrong thing and trying to also shut down the cameras filming. Cowardly chavista storm troopers in all their splendor! Because of course, all of these "security workers" are chavista political appointees, I will bet anything on that.

By the way, for the record, there is nothing to expect from the president of the TSJ, Luisa Estela Morales. She has been fired twice from courts for "malpractice", a mediocre lawyer at best, who became the absolutely unfit president of the TSJ because Chavez wanted an unconditional there is not going to even offer an apology or an investigation on these excesses. Let's not forget that she is also an agricultural expert in that she thinks like Chavez that the "conuco" is the best possible form of agricultural production, never minding that it has denuded most mountains of their natural vegetation leaving behind a waste land of poor grass and rocks where once stood a deciduous forest. In other words, she is just a bitchy hack, the Elena Ceausescu of the Venezuelan judicial system. Expect more scenes like that video in the future.


-The end-

Chavifauna

Chavismo has a way to attract the strangest fauna around for its service. Tonight I am in the mood to report on such people as one would report on bird sightseeing.

More on Chavez work study programs

Definitely the students that defended the revolution on that famously infamous National Assembly show are having a good life. In fact, some are already making salaries with figures that they could only expect after years of professional career from their graduation. But the bolivarian revolution offers some surprising riches to the ones willing to swallow hard and laud El Supremo.

Tal Cual reports this delightful gossip that I doubt very much will silenced. The guy on the picture on the right is Hector Rodriguez, one of the pro Chavez "students" that came to fame last June. Well, since then not only it was reveled that these students were almost all already in some Chavez payroll, but apparently some of them have increased their income significantly. Apparently he has become a consulting agent for the National Assembly and he might be receiving a general monthly remuneration package in the 8 numbers. That means 10.000.001 VEB at least which at the official exchange rate is 4650 USD per month. In Venezuela this is A BIG monthly pay check, executive level pay.

Tal Cual note also points out that such jobs do not require to check the clock, are not too heavy, allow for other miscellaneous activities and are frequent among people "in transition". Tal Cual even cites Elias Jaua as one of the past beneficiaries from these "grants" until he became a minister again.

Chavez small time harlot (yes, I am biblical tonight)

I did mention Eva Golinger the other day. Well, apparently she made up the robbery she claims she was a victim from. Her neighbors have simply stated that there was no evidence of the larceny. But that should not surprise us as Ms. Golinger has made up a lot of things about her past life as Alek Boyd has had so much fun unearthing. so, since her idea of creating a "Golinger list" to hang journalists that do not support chavismo is frowned upon even by some high ranking chavistas, she probably decided to victimize herself, again..... Anything for a laugh.

Chavez big time harlot (and she happens to be, or was, a Bilble thumper at that!)

This one is Luisa Estela Morales Lamuño, the chief justice of Venezuela. Well, in a hurry she has already announced that:

1) the National Assembly will not be allowed to modify substantially the Chavez constitutional proposals. They are his and the N.A. has no business meddling in such things. Huh? Is she not interfering in the separation of powers herself by sating that? Is she not submitting herself to Chavez will by stating that? Has she lost all sense of "keeping up the appearances"? Not that the N.A. would modify anything anyway, so why such statement?

2) the High Court can only rule on the constitutionality of Chavez proposals ONLY after they are passed. Yeah, right, after the referendum she will start interpreting what Chavez really meant...

3) if the referendum passes (what, there is a possibility that Chavez will not get his way?) the new rules will apply on the spot and Chavez current term will be extended by one year.

I do not about you, but this woman mutterings should be enough to have her disbarred on the spot. Oh, wait! she was removed once!! but she was put back and now she is the top justice!!! Seriously now, who will dare to tell me that the judicial power in Venezuela is independent?

I have a idea for Hugo: add another proposal to allow you to name the justices directly. It will not change a thing in the way the country is managed and it will save us time and money on the judge "search" procedures.

PS: Luisa also said another major stupidity, strictly designed to ingratiate herself to her boss (at least I hope so because if she agrees with what she said then she is stupid AND ignorant, a deadly combination). She simply said that the "conuco" is the perfect form of agricultural production. I could write a whole long post to trash the woman but Miguel already caught on her so I need just to refer him. Let's just say that I think Miguel was too soft on Luisa.


-The end-

Chavismo goes bonkers over Spain, and judge Garzon

This week we got delicious moments of chavismo ridicule, and of all reasons, a fight against Spain and Spaniards. It seems that the days of love and ideological lust of the early days of the Zapatero government are a thing of the past.

It all started with some concern expressed over the RCTV closing by Moratinos, the Spanish Foreign Minister who has presided over a recent warming up of Spain's icy cold relations with the US (most links in English, for a change). Chavez totally miffed said that he was taking distance from Spain even if "it hurt". Ah! The pain!

The link in Spanish has juiciest words. Chavez is either delusional or has lost all sense of ridicule: he complains that Moratinos expresses undue opinions on Venezuela. But Chavez himself does much worse than Moratinos all the time. The last 4 paragraphs of that link are a must read. But Chavez is not about to get a rest as Moratinos also said today that Spain was watching over the agrarian interests of their citizens in Venezuela. To be continued....

But this was just foreplay for today main insulting ecstasy.

It turns out that famous judge Baltasar Garzon was visiting Caracas for an event he was hired for a speech. Now, for those who ignore who judge Garzon is, he is the guy that blocked Pinochet in London for months and months, the guy that almost got Pinochet to put him on trial, and all sorts of other notable civil rights cases. Garzon is also a Spanish Socialist. His left of center credentials are impeccable. This did not stop a few chavistas today to hurl insult after insult on him.

What was Garzon's fault? Point out the obvious, that too much power in a single hand always lead to trouble, to corrupt systems, and to all sorts of vices. That independent judicial is essential for democracy. Geeeee, I wonder why so many chavista high placed officials felt alluded!!!!!

The vice president, Jorge Rodriguez, called Garzon a clown. El Universal note does not reflect the passion in which Rodriguez expressed himself. But then again Rodriguez is a real professional clown, ready to utter the most ridiculous things to support his boss.

The foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, said that Garzon was a coward. He stated that Garzon came paid by the "oligarchy" and that he did not have the courage to name the names he was paid for to name. I wonder how Maduro gets this kind of "intention" information. Maybe from taps on the CANTV lines? Link in Spanish here, but if the video of his declaration comes up, do not miss it, rarely has Maduro been so pathetic. I suppose that now he thinks he has Condi Rice on the run he probably does not control himself anymore, not that he did much control before.... One thing is certain, Maduro confirmed to us today that he has no f****ing idea what diplomacy is.

But the best were the words of Luisa Morales, the TSJ head. So we have Luisa Morales, a third rate judge of questionable abilities and even more questionable resume, a judge who has never shone from any intellectual achievement of any sort, a judge that made it to the TSJ top because of her devotion to Chavez and her willingness to emit any ruling he needs, such as plain robbery against RCTV to mention the latest one, is saying that Garzon is a mercenary, that he lacks "ethics and morals". She also added that 500 years of colonization were enough, echoing the delusion of her boss that Venezuela independence has finally be brought by him. I am not making this up, you can read the Spanish link if you please.

Of course, Luisa Morales just demonstrates that she lacks ethics and morals herself. She also demonstrates that she has no culture, no education and that she is a mercenary herself. But that is the effect that brilliant people like Garzon have on utter mediocrities like Luisa Morales. Because make no mistake, a judge like Morales, who dictate decisions to improve her income, who sponsors robbery by the executive branch, who has no qualm watching her country being plundered by Cuba, is perhaps not even a mercenary, she is a paralegal who stole the official seals and who is printing illegal sentences. Luisa Morales has come down today lower than any judge has ever gone in Venezuela, and that is already saying a lot.

But the curious reader might wonder how come three very high officials have had to come out today to swing against Garzon, who after all holds no political position, who was in as a private visit. Well, it hurt because Garzon is an icon of the left in the world and when such an icon goes against you then you know that you have lost it. See, when the French socialist party condemned the RCTV thing it was still OK. After all, it was in France so who cared, really. But when Garzon comes at home and says it in Spanish, well, you get the message, the message that you are unclean, that you are not respectable, that the people that you would expect support and even admiration from think instead that you are only a bunch of thugs, and vulgar ones at that.

What Garzon told chavismo is that they would never be respectable, that true democrats would never support their rule, their actions, that they had crossed the line between civilization and barbary. And that Chavez and a few chavistas were deserving of some international trial someday.

How else could you even explain the hate in the words, the three of them sticking to the line that Garzon is a paid mercenary "tarifado". But what else is Ramonet of the Monde Diplomatique, if I may dare ask? And most of those "intellectuals" that come regularly to "advise" or "study" the bolivarian revolution? Does anyone think that these people do it for free, out of goodness of their hearts, on their free time? Gimme a break!!! At least Garzon did not hide from who he was invited by!

But what is even more galling is that Chavez can invite Nicaragua Ortega to dish the dissident students. ON NATIONAL CADENA Chavez asked a foreigner to insult some Venezuelans on Venezuelan TV during a forced simultaneous broadcast on all air wave media. And Luisa Morales, the head of the Venezuelan highest court had no words for that? But she was very prompt in condemning Garzon?

Garzon words did hit bull's eye, no doubt about it.


-The end-

Those exquisite revolutionary moments: expedient revolutionary justice or highway robbery?

Oh dear! Those moments succeed each other faster than what I can type.

As I am watching Marcel Granier extraordinary poise on Alo Ciudadano, the talk show host receives a communique just published on the web page of the high court of Venezuela, TSJ. This decision, signed by the head of the judicial power of Venezuela, Luisa Estela Morales, announces that CONATEL has the right to use as needed all the transmission equipments of RCTV. Not an outright expropriation, but basically one since CONATEL can give these equipment to the new TeVes, while eventually some sale negotiation takes place between the government and RCTV. Exactly as if your neighbor were suddenly allowed to use your car in some lawsuit matter before that lawsuit is completely settled in court.

In a way there is nothing that surprising in it: we were expecting some argument to that effect, a forced sale as we saw recently for the Electricidad de Caracas or CANTV or the oil fields of the Orinoco belt.

No, what is astounding is that the TSJ has replied to an unknown judicial petition deposed YESTERDAY in front of the TSJ. YESTERDAY.... meanwhile on the dockets of the TSJ of Venezuela there are dozens and dozens of HUMAN RIGHTS CASES that are not decided, that are not examined, and that since months if not years. But when the government interests are concerned, in 24 hours, Luisa obliges. Luisa, the new harlot of Chavez? Now, is anyone going to come here to try to demonstrate to me, to the readers of this blog that there is a separation of powers in Venezuela? No, this is totalitarianism already in action.

What we have just witnessed almost live on TV is highway robbery by the government with the judge and the police helping.

Added later: the link to the info in Globovision. El Universal also takes it up already.

-The end-

On the lam in Venezuela: Lapi's escape reveals a lot about the type of country we have become

Watching TV and reading the press today tells us a lot about how important the Lapi escape of Saturday to Sunday night is. (summary note in English courtesy of the International Herald Tribune, which shows you the repercussions of the case)

The first observation is that after 8 years of glorious bolivarian revolution such high profiles political prisoners such as Ortega and Lapi can escape with internal complicity. The implications as to corruption and loyalties to the revolution are self evident and I do not need to insult, again, the intelligence of the reader.

But it goes further. The government sensing how ridiculous it is looking in front of public opinion is taking certain steps, or rather missteps, that betray its inner workings in a way that it would be funny if it were not so grave and sad.

Item 1: the lawyer house is searched. A search warrant was issued fast enough to search the home of Lapi main lawyer, former National Assemblyman Alejandro Arzola. Nothing we are not used to in Venezuela. In fact what is worrisome is that everyone finds it normal. I do not know about searching lawyers homes when the client does something that is not kosher, but at least on US TV movies I have not seen much of that. But what is more offensive in this incident is to consider that the prosecutor expected s/he would actually find evidence as to the whereabouts of Lapi. I mean, Arzola must have been waiting for moths to be searched!!!!!

For good measure the home of Lapi was searched for the 5th time since the whole sordid affair began. 5th time, that is right.

Item 2: jail breaks now the big opposition sport? After the spectacular escape of Ortega et al. from the military jail of Ramo Verde, the press has sensed an Achilles heel for the government there. To the point that in an unusual step El Universal publishes an escape route for Lapi. When you look at the diagram it is really not very helpful, what is meaningful here is that now newspapers are getting ready to treat jail breaks as entertainment...

Item 3: is a jail break a real jail break? The other worrisome thing is that if Lapi has indeed escaped, no one knew (at least they swear) he was planning such escape. And thus, since Lapi has not contacted anyone from his lawyer to his relatives, Lapi's wife is worried that there might not have been any escape at all but instead foul play. After all there was a grenade tossed INSIDE San Felipe jail a few days ago. If such a thing could happen, you can imagine what people can speculate about! It is amazing that in a country such discussion are considered normal and to be expected from the people who rule us.

Item 4: the judge? she judges! As far as I am concerned this is the very worst item in this short list: this morning, ON STATE TV VTV, the TSJ president stated that Lapi had committed another crime by escaping. Hummm... Let's go over that a little bit.

To begin with, Lapi, as an ex governor, still harboring political ambitions, still in the country sleeping peacefully at night at home the day break he was arrested, is entitled to some respect by the judicial system. It is implied in the constitution where certain magistrates are required certain proceeding before they can be sent to trial (article 266). Even if Lapi is not anymore a sitting governor he deserves speedy justice from whatever crime he might have committed while he was a governor. This has been violated repeatedly since the prosecution on Lapi has started. Not to mention his arrest before trial cannot be justified because, well, the man could have left the country long ago. In fact he did take a very long vacation after losing office and he came back to renew his political activities. Hardly the stuff of avowed criminals.

But what did Luisa Morales said this morning, barely 24 hours after Lapi escaped, when in the past months any consultation to the TSJ by the Lapi team had to wait for weeks before the TSJ even acknowledged discussing it? Because the first obscenity of this woman is to go on TV so fast to discuss a matter she should not be discussing in public. Well, she said that whomever was criticizing the detention conditions of Lapi and his trial procedures was doing so for political motives. That is right, she said that, not realizing, the poor soul, that she was herself making a totally unacceptable political statement from her position as the head of the judicial power. Because with her interview this morning, as a judge she already stated that Lapi was guilty and as the Supreme Court of the Land she can never make such a statement on case that could eventually end up on her deck.

How could she? Well, if the reader forgives me from repeating this last word over and over, Luisa Morales is from Yaracuy and she probably has a personal thing against Lapi (who admittedly was not the nicest and polite and diplomatic of governors). So we see that a judge is taking probably her personal affairs to the high court of the country. As a judge from Yaracuy she is very far from having had a stellar career, but then in all fairness almost none of the current 30 top judges is: they all got there because someone thought that they would never rule against Chavez, not because they got famous from some scholar work or a solid judicial reputation. Luisa Morales is a mediocre woman and she showed it today. In a normal country Lapi lawyer now can inhibit her from any case involving Lapi, but this being Venezuela where thugs appoint thuggy judges, do not expect this to happen.

As for the speed of her declaration? Could it be that she feels kind of trapped now that she is discounting her taxes on specious rulings? That the N.A. is on her case? Naaahhh... this blogger is just bad mouthing her.

And with these four items I will leave the reader to wonder about the judicial system of Venezuela.

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