CULTURE IN CHAVEZ YEARS
Sunday 5, January 2003
[From a note from an Australian Friend I took the opportunity to write about what happened to the cultural scene in Venezuela in these past 3 years]
>Daniel,
>
>Last night I listened to a live radio FM stereo broadcast of a wonderful
>Venezeulan Orchestra and Chorus from Caracas. Apparently because of the fuel
>strike the 60 performers all had be ferried from their homes in Caracas to
>the airport in a special LPG gas-fueled bus.
I think this was some dramatization. Public transportation still works to some extent since more than a third of taxis are gas (not gasoline) powered, as well as many buses and trucks. Though the a third of these ones are diesel which is still in reasonable supply. It is easier to go to the airport by bus than to drive there yourself...
>It is a recent composition
>which was very impressive and received a standing ovation at the Sydney
>Opera House, which unlike in the US is extremely rare in Australia (as
>Kathleen Battle recently found to her chagrin - she didn't get one).
I am happy to hear that, so to speak.
>
>The details were:
>
>Direct broadcast from the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
[snip]
>
>Do you know of this music or the performers at all, Daniel?
>
>- Tim
I have to confess that I do not know them in such detail though I have heard, and heard of them as a very good group. For some reason I have not attended their concerts. But remember that I do not live in Caracas and unless I do a special trip I have to coincide with any performance.
This being said, the nasty corrupt governments that preceded Chavez and may they rot in hell, did achieve a few things. About 25 years ago the administration at the time decided to exploit the musical bent of the Venezuelan people. The way was to create musical instruction wherever possible, without being embarrassed to use native instruments as seriously as the classical ones, if anything as a way to introduce people to music. This resulted in a spectacular blooming of conservatories and local orchestras. Before Chavez Caracas managed to have several symphonic orchestras and choral companies. Chavez managed to break this, for example by trying to promote pro-chavez people and breaking up the main symphony orchestra. And by promoting only folklore in the false belief that violin had prospered too much and other such nonsense. There is right now a scandal as to THE Matisse of the Caracas modern art museum. It is a fake! The question is did the museum buy the fake in the first place or did somebody substituted it, and who? It seems that the new curators of the museum, chavistas, were trying to sell the painting in Miami..... Anyway it is still quite a murky affair and the true Matisse might still appear, or might not.
Caracas cultural scene has litterally collapsed. Opera has become a once a year event. The traditional Sunday morning concert at the Central University, in one of the best auditoriums I have ever been too, and my favorite with the NY MET one, are things of the past. There are very few international visitors now, and attending a performance is a ruinous event. Etc....
But the Schola has managed to resist because it was a flagship before Chavez and enough international reputation that it has not only remained untouched, but because it has a lot of private support [I was told]. So chavistas could not make do with it.
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
CUBANS POINT OF VIEW?
Sunday 5, January 2003
> I wonder if Cubans in the US have a more realistic view of the situation.
>
-j
[from JoAnne reply]
This is an interesting comment. As it turns out I was having one of my long sessions with a friend trying to explain stuff about the US. The point is that my friend did not understand why within the US there was no more support for anti Chavez folks. I had to explain things about the sacred holidays there, the Iraq obsession, the change in Senate majority, the different caucus systems in congress, in particular the Black caucus that has supported Chavez a lot since April 11. Of course he asked me if there were a caucus willing to pick up Venezuelan cause. I had to think about that. There are a few groups but there is no umbrella organization with the noise power of the Black caucus. Actually I even came to say that if the Cubans US were too strong against Chavez it could backfire.
Indeed Cubans are quite in the know. There are many Cubans in Venezuela that fled from Castro so I am sure that they have warned Miami Cubans of that deja vu all over again. And this has been seen on some Miami papers. But I think that Cuban clout does not reach far enough to help Venezuela. Perhaps they have enough problems with Black Caucus because of racial problems in Miami? Perhaps they got the word that all what Bush wants is oil? Perhaps they are pissed off at Venezuela who has been too lenient with Castro since the 70ies? As for Mexican Americans, well, they have enough problems of their own.....
I am sure that Cuban Americans are helping a lot. There is a sizable Venezuelan colony in Miami and for example Carmona has taken refuge there for a while. As well as the ex president that Chavez tried to kick out in 1992. But lately the Cuban extremism (see Elian story) has perhaps dampened their enthusiasm for other adventures.
Side note: apparently in the very diminished oil exports (no more than 10% of what normally leaves) the Chavez people have managed to send a tanker to Cuba today. Perhaps Americans should be made aware that Cuba (who owes loads of arrears to Venezuela, of course) gets more priority than the very own Venezuela Citgo in the US....... And the US consumer.
Perhaps it is time to inform your congressperson and senator that Chavez does not care if prices go up in the US.
Sunday 5, January 2003
> I wonder if Cubans in the US have a more realistic view of the situation.
>
-j
[from JoAnne reply]
This is an interesting comment. As it turns out I was having one of my long sessions with a friend trying to explain stuff about the US. The point is that my friend did not understand why within the US there was no more support for anti Chavez folks. I had to explain things about the sacred holidays there, the Iraq obsession, the change in Senate majority, the different caucus systems in congress, in particular the Black caucus that has supported Chavez a lot since April 11. Of course he asked me if there were a caucus willing to pick up Venezuelan cause. I had to think about that. There are a few groups but there is no umbrella organization with the noise power of the Black caucus. Actually I even came to say that if the Cubans US were too strong against Chavez it could backfire.
Indeed Cubans are quite in the know. There are many Cubans in Venezuela that fled from Castro so I am sure that they have warned Miami Cubans of that deja vu all over again. And this has been seen on some Miami papers. But I think that Cuban clout does not reach far enough to help Venezuela. Perhaps they have enough problems with Black Caucus because of racial problems in Miami? Perhaps they got the word that all what Bush wants is oil? Perhaps they are pissed off at Venezuela who has been too lenient with Castro since the 70ies? As for Mexican Americans, well, they have enough problems of their own.....
I am sure that Cuban Americans are helping a lot. There is a sizable Venezuelan colony in Miami and for example Carmona has taken refuge there for a while. As well as the ex president that Chavez tried to kick out in 1992. But lately the Cuban extremism (see Elian story) has perhaps dampened their enthusiasm for other adventures.
Side note: apparently in the very diminished oil exports (no more than 10% of what normally leaves) the Chavez people have managed to send a tanker to Cuba today. Perhaps Americans should be made aware that Cuba (who owes loads of arrears to Venezuela, of course) gets more priority than the very own Venezuela Citgo in the US....... And the US consumer.
Perhaps it is time to inform your congressperson and senator that Chavez does not care if prices go up in the US.
PRO STATE NEWS AGENCIES III
Saturday 4, January 2003
[and this was another interesting reply from JoAnne to my latest post]
>It is unexplainable for me why CNN is trying to maintain an "objectivity" which
>is now putting in question its objectivity. I still think that CNN Spanish is
>more aware than CNN English and I wonder why.... The only thing I can come up
>with is that the "legalist" attitude of "Anglo" journalists make them see
>Chavez as duly elected and why can't people wait for next election.
That seems to be the way people are looking at it. "If he's so bad then just suck it up and vote him out in the next election."
No one seems to realize that in the meantime he's changing the entire government to a point where it might not be possible to vote him out.
And it's also apparently impossible to think of more than two groups at a time. If the poor are for Chavez, then it must be the rich are against him, and since the rich are bad and the poor are good, Chavez must be good. The entire middle class just isn't counted.
I wonder if Cubans in the US have a more realistic view of the situation.
Saturday 4, January 2003
[and this was another interesting reply from JoAnne to my latest post]
>It is unexplainable for me why CNN is trying to maintain an "objectivity" which
>is now putting in question its objectivity. I still think that CNN Spanish is
>more aware than CNN English and I wonder why.... The only thing I can come up
>with is that the "legalist" attitude of "Anglo" journalists make them see
>Chavez as duly elected and why can't people wait for next election.
That seems to be the way people are looking at it. "If he's so bad then just suck it up and vote him out in the next election."
No one seems to realize that in the meantime he's changing the entire government to a point where it might not be possible to vote him out.
And it's also apparently impossible to think of more than two groups at a time. If the poor are for Chavez, then it must be the rich are against him, and since the rich are bad and the poor are good, Chavez must be good. The entire middle class just isn't counted.
I wonder if Cubans in the US have a more realistic view of the situation.
PRO STATE NEWS AGENCIES II
Saturday 4, January 2003
[and this was my reply with added comments on the news vision from here]
The AP is rather strange. In another list somebody sent me an AP article [the one from Mother Jones, see recent posts] that was clearly tendentious and that I had no trouble pointing out major flaws able to invalidate the article essence. Then again it was a free lance journalist so what is the point to try? They are usually a mix of reporting and opinion so I suppose that everybody is entitled to their interpretations of the facts. Assuming that all the facts are honestly reported.
Yesterday night a journalist from a major paper in Spain [El Mundo] was on private network [Globovision]. He said a few interesting things:
1) he had never seen something as Venezuela.
2) he had changed his view on the troubles here since for him it is clearly a revolt of the middle class against a socialist attempt to control society. There was no other way to interpret a situation that is lasting already 1 month.
3) he could not believe that journalists in Venezuela had to wear bullet proof jackets and other paraphernalia in a situation which is clearly not a war zone, yet. That is, he has realized that chavistas target Venezuelan journalists. On purpose. Putting them in more danger than in a war zone. Even with his Spaniard credentials he had to run for cover and was gassed.
4) More damming, he said that "Anglo journalists" (sic) refused to see the situation otherwise than a black/white, poor/rich conflict and that European journalists were having more problems as to how these journalists were reporting the news (as a matter of fact the reporting tone is changing, even in France!)
It is unexplainable for me why CNN is trying to maintain an "objectivity" which is now putting in question its objectivity. I still think that CNN Spanish is more aware than CNN English and I wonder why.... The only thing I can come up with is that the "legalist" attitude of "Anglo" journalists make them see Chavez as duly elected and why can't people wait for next election.
Thus to the first point of Craig. Chavez does not want to go to elections, ever, unless he is sure of the outcome. He is pretty much forced to go to martial law to stop February referendum as he is running out of legal options.
Daniel
particularly worried tonight.
[I kept the signature of that reply, reflecting the obvious]
Saturday 4, January 2003
[and this was my reply with added comments on the news vision from here]
The AP is rather strange. In another list somebody sent me an AP article [the one from Mother Jones, see recent posts] that was clearly tendentious and that I had no trouble pointing out major flaws able to invalidate the article essence. Then again it was a free lance journalist so what is the point to try? They are usually a mix of reporting and opinion so I suppose that everybody is entitled to their interpretations of the facts. Assuming that all the facts are honestly reported.
Yesterday night a journalist from a major paper in Spain [El Mundo] was on private network [Globovision]. He said a few interesting things:
1) he had never seen something as Venezuela.
2) he had changed his view on the troubles here since for him it is clearly a revolt of the middle class against a socialist attempt to control society. There was no other way to interpret a situation that is lasting already 1 month.
3) he could not believe that journalists in Venezuela had to wear bullet proof jackets and other paraphernalia in a situation which is clearly not a war zone, yet. That is, he has realized that chavistas target Venezuelan journalists. On purpose. Putting them in more danger than in a war zone. Even with his Spaniard credentials he had to run for cover and was gassed.
4) More damming, he said that "Anglo journalists" (sic) refused to see the situation otherwise than a black/white, poor/rich conflict and that European journalists were having more problems as to how these journalists were reporting the news (as a matter of fact the reporting tone is changing, even in France!)
It is unexplainable for me why CNN is trying to maintain an "objectivity" which is now putting in question its objectivity. I still think that CNN Spanish is more aware than CNN English and I wonder why.... The only thing I can come up with is that the "legalist" attitude of "Anglo" journalists make them see Chavez as duly elected and why can't people wait for next election.
Thus to the first point of Craig. Chavez does not want to go to elections, ever, unless he is sure of the outcome. He is pretty much forced to go to martial law to stop February referendum as he is running out of legal options.
Daniel
particularly worried tonight.
[I kept the signature of that reply, reflecting the obvious]
PRO STATE NEWS AGENCIES
Saturday 4, January 2003
[this a note I received in reply to my “scaling up” post]
AP is carrying an article today. Apparently yesterday Chavez made reference to imposing martial law to keep the public safe. Not that I believe it, but the AP article tends to paint the opposition forces as largely responsible.
So, in a nutshell, the chavista's violence during marches will escalate allowing Chavez to declare martial law. The opposition needs to get it's propaganda machine running. Possibly change tactics to numerous small sit-ins instead of massive marches. I don’t know about Europe or Australia, but the US media is decidedly 'pro-state'.
Craig
Saturday 4, January 2003
[this a note I received in reply to my “scaling up” post]
AP is carrying an article today. Apparently yesterday Chavez made reference to imposing martial law to keep the public safe. Not that I believe it, but the AP article tends to paint the opposition forces as largely responsible.
So, in a nutshell, the chavista's violence during marches will escalate allowing Chavez to declare martial law. The opposition needs to get it's propaganda machine running. Possibly change tactics to numerous small sit-ins instead of massive marches. I don’t know about Europe or Australia, but the US media is decidedly 'pro-state'.
Craig
SCALING UP THE CONFLICT
Saturday 4, January 2003
After a "truce" for New Year, things are heating up. But first I need to explain something.
According to the 1999 constitution, there is a "recall" election figure that comes AFTER the mid term of any elected official. To activate this feature, one needs to sign up 20% of the district electorate AND the total votes to oust the official MUST be greater than the votes obtained to put the said official in office. It is easy to see that this is a very cumbersome procedure and that it is designed to kick out only notoriously incompetent officials.
In the concrete application to Chavez, who is on record as saying that this is the only formula he would accept, there need to be gathered almost 2 million signatures nationwide after mid August (signatures gathered before could be invalidated!). If all goes well, the process to gather, verify, approve, and organize the election would allow for this election to take place in December 2003 at the earliest. That is, at least another full year to figure out a way to avoid defeat, and when I mean a way I am not talking about good government to convince people to give him another chance... More likely another for year misrule and deepening crisis, and sleazy maneuvers by pro Chavez politicos.
What the opposition has been fighting for is a non-binding referendum. This feature, also introduced in 1999, requires of 10% of the electorate signing up for it. The opposition has garnered almost 20% to ask Chavez to resign. Granted, it would be like a real life poll since Chavez would not be obliged to resign. But it is clear that if Chavez did not manage to obtain more than 30% of the NO, he would be in big trouble and would have to negotiate some way out. All serious polls give him at most 20% NO. And Chavez people have stopped emitting polls, a clear sign that they acknowledge that they are below 50% and unlikely to get back to any level of strength to negotiate (say a 40%). This beauty contest has been called for February 2. Through December we were worried about the "paro" and its consequences but waking up January first we realize that there is only one month for that poll. Chavez went to Brazil and apparently sensed renewed international support. This is his opinion since he got to meet there his mentor Castro for a few hours and Lula da Silva, the new Brazilian president who in an ill advised decision has sent Venezuela a tanker of gasoline to help Chavez out during the strike. It would seem that Lula is having second thoughts as his own trade unions have announced that they will not load any further shipments to Venezuela as long as Chavez keeps threatening to undo legal unions. It remains that South American leaders, who direct governments not as democratic as one would like them to be, seem to be slightly on Chavez side since they are afraid that if Venezuelan opposition wins, that would become a lead to make elected leaders accountable. Imagine that! But this is the story of support that Chavez came back with from Lula's inauguration and there is little evidence to corroborate what he claims.
The fact is that Chavez has realized that he must go to the offensive and now I can start describing yesterday events.
The opposition had called for a march to what is Caracas version of the ceremonial avenue, a large avenue that ends with a huge monument to the heros of Independence Wars, Los Proceres, and which has behind it the main military base of Caracas, Fuerte Tiuna. The reason was that a dissident military has been arrested by military police who refuses to obey the order of a judge to release him. To press on this conflict of powers, a bad omen by itself when Chavez has said publicly that the military needed not to obey all judicial orders, the opposition wanted to demonstrate in front of the Army main quarters. In spite of all the legal permits the army blocked access to that avenue, and let a group of chavistas, at most a thousand, play havoc with the head of the march. The opposition march as it has become usual run into the hundred of thousand and is only armed with whistles and flags. The chavistas had weapons and did not hesitate to use them. Initially the army tried to push them away but eventually let them start some shooting. The Metropolitan police tried to stop that, but a subset of the police under a chavista controlled borough interfered. Eventually the national guard came in and in a brutal show of repression pushed back the opposition march instead of pushing back the chavistas who to the eye of the world had the guns and the agressivity, and the cooperation of police sectors. So far 2 confirmed deaths, several bullet wounds among the official 36 injured folks.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch Chavez has declared that there is no money for the February 2 referendum, and further more the army had too many other priorities than to guarantee protection during the referendum. The Army has traditionally provided security in Venezuelan elections. So if there is no army you can bet that a few polling stations will be at risk these days. He also has announced that he will hire a whole bunch of Algerian and other Middle East oil experts to run the oil industry on strike. This for a nationalist president....
The opposition has countered announcing that they will raise the money to pay for the election and that they will plan a tax boycott. To demonstrate further its resolve, the striking oil industry has made a point by point rebuttal of the government allegations that it was recovering control of the oil industry. Not that it was really necessary as it can be seen in 90% of gas stations closed, and the intermittently open 10% who have miles long car lines. And the even worse lines of folks trying to get cooking gas.
So this is where we stand, entering our second month of national strike, a president menacing now with a state of exception, letting the army and his paid followers hit defenseless civilians and an opposition that only garners more resolve in front of what has become a dictatorship de facto. I say this because it is clear now that Chavez has no intention to go to a free election, nor in February, nor in August or December nor ever. And he has no intention of modifying his team or to loosen his stronghold over the organisms that guarantees the basic freedom and rights of minorities and opposition.
Saturday 4, January 2003
After a "truce" for New Year, things are heating up. But first I need to explain something.
According to the 1999 constitution, there is a "recall" election figure that comes AFTER the mid term of any elected official. To activate this feature, one needs to sign up 20% of the district electorate AND the total votes to oust the official MUST be greater than the votes obtained to put the said official in office. It is easy to see that this is a very cumbersome procedure and that it is designed to kick out only notoriously incompetent officials.
In the concrete application to Chavez, who is on record as saying that this is the only formula he would accept, there need to be gathered almost 2 million signatures nationwide after mid August (signatures gathered before could be invalidated!). If all goes well, the process to gather, verify, approve, and organize the election would allow for this election to take place in December 2003 at the earliest. That is, at least another full year to figure out a way to avoid defeat, and when I mean a way I am not talking about good government to convince people to give him another chance... More likely another for year misrule and deepening crisis, and sleazy maneuvers by pro Chavez politicos.
What the opposition has been fighting for is a non-binding referendum. This feature, also introduced in 1999, requires of 10% of the electorate signing up for it. The opposition has garnered almost 20% to ask Chavez to resign. Granted, it would be like a real life poll since Chavez would not be obliged to resign. But it is clear that if Chavez did not manage to obtain more than 30% of the NO, he would be in big trouble and would have to negotiate some way out. All serious polls give him at most 20% NO. And Chavez people have stopped emitting polls, a clear sign that they acknowledge that they are below 50% and unlikely to get back to any level of strength to negotiate (say a 40%). This beauty contest has been called for February 2. Through December we were worried about the "paro" and its consequences but waking up January first we realize that there is only one month for that poll. Chavez went to Brazil and apparently sensed renewed international support. This is his opinion since he got to meet there his mentor Castro for a few hours and Lula da Silva, the new Brazilian president who in an ill advised decision has sent Venezuela a tanker of gasoline to help Chavez out during the strike. It would seem that Lula is having second thoughts as his own trade unions have announced that they will not load any further shipments to Venezuela as long as Chavez keeps threatening to undo legal unions. It remains that South American leaders, who direct governments not as democratic as one would like them to be, seem to be slightly on Chavez side since they are afraid that if Venezuelan opposition wins, that would become a lead to make elected leaders accountable. Imagine that! But this is the story of support that Chavez came back with from Lula's inauguration and there is little evidence to corroborate what he claims.
The fact is that Chavez has realized that he must go to the offensive and now I can start describing yesterday events.
The opposition had called for a march to what is Caracas version of the ceremonial avenue, a large avenue that ends with a huge monument to the heros of Independence Wars, Los Proceres, and which has behind it the main military base of Caracas, Fuerte Tiuna. The reason was that a dissident military has been arrested by military police who refuses to obey the order of a judge to release him. To press on this conflict of powers, a bad omen by itself when Chavez has said publicly that the military needed not to obey all judicial orders, the opposition wanted to demonstrate in front of the Army main quarters. In spite of all the legal permits the army blocked access to that avenue, and let a group of chavistas, at most a thousand, play havoc with the head of the march. The opposition march as it has become usual run into the hundred of thousand and is only armed with whistles and flags. The chavistas had weapons and did not hesitate to use them. Initially the army tried to push them away but eventually let them start some shooting. The Metropolitan police tried to stop that, but a subset of the police under a chavista controlled borough interfered. Eventually the national guard came in and in a brutal show of repression pushed back the opposition march instead of pushing back the chavistas who to the eye of the world had the guns and the agressivity, and the cooperation of police sectors. So far 2 confirmed deaths, several bullet wounds among the official 36 injured folks.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch Chavez has declared that there is no money for the February 2 referendum, and further more the army had too many other priorities than to guarantee protection during the referendum. The Army has traditionally provided security in Venezuelan elections. So if there is no army you can bet that a few polling stations will be at risk these days. He also has announced that he will hire a whole bunch of Algerian and other Middle East oil experts to run the oil industry on strike. This for a nationalist president....
The opposition has countered announcing that they will raise the money to pay for the election and that they will plan a tax boycott. To demonstrate further its resolve, the striking oil industry has made a point by point rebuttal of the government allegations that it was recovering control of the oil industry. Not that it was really necessary as it can be seen in 90% of gas stations closed, and the intermittently open 10% who have miles long car lines. And the even worse lines of folks trying to get cooking gas.
So this is where we stand, entering our second month of national strike, a president menacing now with a state of exception, letting the army and his paid followers hit defenseless civilians and an opposition that only garners more resolve in front of what has become a dictatorship de facto. I say this because it is clear now that Chavez has no intention to go to a free election, nor in February, nor in August or December nor ever. And he has no intention of modifying his team or to loosen his stronghold over the organisms that guarantees the basic freedom and rights of minorities and opposition.
FIRST MARCH OF THE YEAR
Friday 3, January 2003
Today we had the first big march of the year. It ended up badly, with at least 8 bullet wounds and around 30 other injuries. I do not have all details yet but I did bring my digital camera this time. I was in the second half of the march so I was warned to able out and did not see "action". I have put four shots in the photos section of the group. They should show you how colorful and peaceful our demonstrations are. At least from the opposition side.
Friday 3, January 2003
Today we had the first big march of the year. It ended up badly, with at least 8 bullet wounds and around 30 other injuries. I do not have all details yet but I did bring my digital camera this time. I was in the second half of the march so I was warned to able out and did not see "action". I have put four shots in the photos section of the group. They should show you how colorful and peaceful our demonstrations are. At least from the opposition side.
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