Cracks in Venezuela Strike as Banks Halt Protest
abcnews.go.com
Jan. 29
— By Patrick Markey
CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan private banks decided on Wednesday to restore normal working hours, opening another crack in a faltering 8-week-old opposition strike against leftist President Hugo Chavez.
But striking oil workers at the heart of the opposition campaign stayed firm in their shutdown, which has battered Venezuela's fragile economy and rattled energy markets by slashing oil output in the world's No. 5 petroleum exporter.
Private banks, which make up nearly 90 percent of the Venezuelan financial sector, had been operating for limited daily hours and restricting transactions since December in support of the strike to pressure leftist Chavez from office.
"The National Banking Council and the Venezuelan Banking Association decided at a meeting by a two-thirds vote to restart normal operating hours from Monday," association president Ignacio Salvatierra told reporters. The two associations represent most financial institutions.
Chavez, a populist former paratrooper whose fiery rhetoric is peppered with class warfare slogans, had threatened to seize striking banks, schools and factories to break the strike.
As the strike nears the two-month mark, backing for the protest in non-oil sectors has begun to fray as private businesses and stores reopen to fend off bankruptcy. Traffic in Caracas, famous for its brutal gridlock, has begun to choke the streets of the capital again.
Opposition leaders, who brand former paratrooper Chavez's rule as dictatorial, inept and corrupt, offered on Tuesday to ease their strike by exempting food production and education. But they have vowed to keep up the shutdown until Chavez accepts elections. The president's term ends in 2007.
The shutdown stoked tensions as it forced Venezuelans to line up for cash, dwindling supplies of gasoline and some basic foodstuffs. At least seven people have been killed in rival street protests and shootings since the strike began.
Bankers cited pressure from the public and account holders for lifting the stoppage.
"This is the result of demands from the public and deposit holders ... banks don't belong to their presidents but to their deposit holders," said Nelson Mezerhane, president of the Federal banking group.
LOOMING ECONOMIC WOES
With the strike cutting off oil exports that account for half of the government's revenues, the government plans to slash its budget and suspended foreign currency trading while it prepares a fixed exchange rate to protect its reserves.
Battered by economic uncertainty, the local bolivar currency has plummeted more than 28 percent since the strike began. Venezuela's international reserves fell 7.3 percent to 11.05 billion dollars as the Central Bank burned through as much as $60 million a day to shore up the currency.
Economists say exchange rate controls will help the government stem capital flight in the short term. But restrictions could later squeeze the private sector and force the government to defend its fixed rate from black market exchange rates.
Chavez, who was elected in 1998 and survived a coup last year, has dismissed opposition calls for him to resign. Though his popularity has fallen sharply this year, he maintains a solid base of support among poorer voters who believe his left-wing reforms are the key to a better life.
The Venezuelan leader, who led a botched coup himself six years before his ballot box victory, has fought back against the strikers by deploying troops and replacement crews to oil installations. But oil production still remains only at around a third of the usual 3.1 million barrels per day.
The international community will intensify its efforts to break Venezuela's political deadlock this week when representatives from six nations arrive in Caracas to lend their weight to peace talks. The negotiations chaired by the Organization of American States have so far failed to break their impasse.
Representatives from the six nations, led by the United States and Brazil, are scheduled to arrive on Thursday in Caracas for talks that start Friday.
José Manuel, a "must" for www.adam.antville
Saludos cordiales,
Clara
-------- Mensaje Original --------
Asunto: RV: Informe - El Sr. hochman es conocido por su trabajo en el marco del Instituto Latinoamericano del Ombudsmen
De: "helene zaragoza" hyjp@telcel.net.ve
Fecha: Mar, 28 de Enero de 2003, 7:09 pm
Para: "clara gonzalez" clgonzalez@unimet.edu.ve
-----Mensaje original-----
De: Yves.ZARAGOZA@cec.eu.int [mailto:Yves.ZARAGOZA@cec.eu.int]
Enviado el: Martes, 28 de Enero de 2003 05:54 p.m.
Para: hyjp@telcel.net.ve
Asunto: RV: Informe - El Sr. hochman es conocido por su trabajo en el marco del Instituto Latinoamericano del Ombudsmen
-----Mensaje original-----
De: AIZPURUA Jacqueline (RELEX)
Enviado el: Martes 28 de Enero de 2003 08:15 AM
Para: FOSTER Nicholas (RELEX); GORANSSON Emilie (RELEX); FIEHRER Jean-Charles (RELEX); LOPEZ Anne Marie (RELEX); ZARAGOZA Yves (RELEX)
Asunto: RV: Informe - El Sr. hochman es conocido por su trabajo en el marco del Instituto Latinoamericano del Ombudsmen
-----Mensaje original-----
De: Isaac Hochman [mailto:isaachochman1@cantv.net]
Enviado el: Lunes 27 de Enero de 2003 06:30 PM
Para: Isaac Bimblich; Bnai Brith - Venezuela; Angel Calderon; Silvia Valle; Daniel Belozercovsky
CC: Emilio Srougo Allami; Ricardo Holzer; Pablo Grinstein; Lic. Moises Fachler G.; Kelo Zviklich; AIZPURUA Jacqueline (RELEX)
Asunto: Informe
Q.Hs.
Adjunto para su información el informe presentado en el Dapartamento de Estado en Washington.
Con ligeras modificaciones, es el mismo presentado en el Board Of Governors de BBI. En este útimo se hace mención que Chavez no ha tocado a la comunidad judía ni con un pétalo de rosas, ni en sus numerosas charlas jamás mencionó a la comuniadd, ni a Israel ni la palabra judío.
Esto nos intriga. Por otro lado, Castro jamás toco a la Comunidad Judía de Cuba, solo la dejó extinguir.Nosotros nos contamos aproximadamente 14000 almas casi un 30 % menos que hace un año.
En pocos días , les informaré de mis contactos , conversaciones en Washington, y las acciones que estamos contribuyendo activamente a nivel local.
Un comentario final, el movimiento Indigenista de Bolivia está muy activo, y su lider Evo Morales , casi llega a la presidencia.Todo contemplado en el Foro de Sao Paulo.
Saludos
Isaac Hochman
Venezuela Trapped by Democracy.
By: Isaac M. Hochman
Venezuela, the democratic oil country by excellence in Latin America is trapped by democracy.
Silence is tending to give right to your opponent, so let me express a word of concern, after seeing the dark side of democracy in Latin America.
There is an underlying fact. Democratic governments that appeared in Latin America in the 70´s, after the fall of the obscure years of military dictatorships, have not solved the problems and needs of the people. More so, the present structure of constitutional controls, which are the basis of a stable democracy, do not offer solutions to satisfy these needs; marginality and poverty, drug traffic, human rights of indigenous native people, and frontier problems that affect economic integration are the common denominators. Corruption and impunity, the main destabilizing factors
Where do we begin to explain the Venezuelan tragedy to North Americans, or the rest of the world, who do not have Latin America as a priority? How do you explain to the US government, apparently ready to launch a war against Iraq, and perhaps cannot afford at this time to have the fifth oil supplier of the world on strike, now for more than 50 days, or to lose this reliable supplier in the hands of a revolutionary idealist anchored in the 60´s?
How do you explain to the American people, and the people of the world, that they have to pay more for gasoline, and risk a slowdown of the world economy, because, among other issues to take in consideration, the hemisphere has to deal with a lunatic prospect of third world dictator? A leader who, after failing a military coup in 1992, was legitimated in power by a landslide election in 1998, changed the Constitution with the approval of a popular referendum in 1999, but who, through a very well planned blueprint, has since taken control, in the name of democracy, of all the constitutional powers, which, under normal circumstances, should provide the classical checks and balances basis of democratic societies.
But, in the early stages of his government, the Venezuelan people began to analyze his actions and realized his true intentions. A very strong opposition began to develop, and now, in his frank decline of popularity, he has exerted all mechanisms proper to a dictatorship, to stay in power, causing chaos, unrest, and more important, the death of many citizens who risk their life every day on the streets of the entire country. Not to mention the dramatic economical situation affecting everybody.
But, let’s review briefly how all this nightmare emerged in Venezuela also threatening most of Latin America .
Indeed, where should we start? Perhaps 1990 will be a good starting point. The date is July 1990. The place, Sao Paolo, Brazil. The event: later known as the “Foro de Sao Paulo” or “ Sao Paulo Forum”. The actors : 52 leftist groups from 22 Latin American countries officially promoted by the now president of Brazil, Inacio Lula da Silva, under the umbrella of Fidel Castro -yes, the same Fidel who has exported the Communist Revolution to every country in South America, causing reactions by the military establishment, that resulted in long painful dictatorships, or the war in Central America, that caused several thousand deaths, and years of lack of development… Yes, the same Castro, that just celebrated 44 years in power and that some Americans are still adamant to finish this sad chapter of history
What was Castro’s real intention by organizing this event? Something that is rooted in his heart: to show that with the end of the Soviet Union and the fall of the Berlin Wall, socialism, in its pure form, is still alive, and very much alive.
Since then the forum has been meeting almost every year in different countries and cities. Limited to the original 52 organizations, whose common goals are anti-globalization, neo-liberalism, support of Castro’s regime, to seek power to establish new socialist alternatives, and basically, against imperialism, as represented by the USA.
Since then they have added some very bad company, the Islamic world and professional terrorist organizations.
The 1995 meeting in Montevideo had a new member, Hugo Chavez and his Bolivarian Revolutionary Movement , and most important ,the possibility of unlimited oil supply and resources .
His movement has been conspiring against Venezuelan democratic governments since Hugo Chavez started his military career as a lieutenant.
Basically Chavez more than a revolutionary statesman, is simply a power-thirsty political animal, a phenomenon that will some day be studied by historians, philosophers, sociologists and psychologists.
For now, let’s try to get a glimpse at who is Chavez and whose influence started him on his revolutionary path at the end of the XXth Century. Unbelievable as it seems, while most of the world progresses to new ideals and new developments, Chavez is trying to pull us back to the 60´s.
Very briefly, among equals, Chavez was introduced by two different revolutionary theories: one was a rightist Argentine philosopher, Norberto Ceresole, Hizbollah-trained, neo-nazi whose ambition in life is to see Israel destroyed.
His book, “Pueblo – Caudillo - Ejercito” (People – Leader - Army) was Chavez’s textbook that started him on his first formal revolutionary path.
Ceresole was replaced by Castro’s close adviser, Hans Dietrich Steffan, a professor at the University of Mexico who proposes the Fourth Way: To take power by democratic elections, without losing the scope of their objective. Lt. Coronel Hugo Chavez was their dream.
Although he failed in his attempt to gain power by a military coup, a leader was born, thanks to a 15-second TV presentation, where he assumed responsibility of the failed coup, and requested his army buddies to give up the fight “for now”. He was jailed for two years, then pardoned.
A natural leader, excellent communicator whose message to the people of hope, a better life, fight against corruption, to defend liberty and democracy, care for the children and the elderly, sounded like music in the ears to about 80 % of the population, who otherwise didn’t have a chance.
Although Lula comes from a different background than Chavez and Gutierrez, and it is too early to pass judgement, the puzzle is very well planned and on its way. All the strings moved by Castro with the blueprint made in the Sao Paulo Forum are in place. They all constitute a very strange and dangerous alliance.
Chavez’s first order of business was to strengthen his ties with the Colombian guerrilla, and now as president and participant in all Latin American presidential forums, he has indirectly defended the guerrilla movement in Colombia, for instance, by opposing American military aid to Colombia in the fight against drug traffic, which is very closely related to the guerrilla movement. To protect the Colombian guerrilla movement, Venezuela and Ecuador are important, as they offer refuge to the fighting revolutionary forces
Perhaps at this stage we are very sensitive, but listening to Lula’s inaugural speech, and his first actions to use the military for social work, the fact that news reports indicated his first official breakfast was with Chavez and his first official dinner with Fidel, and that his personal international adviser is Marco Aurelio Garcia Lete, president or secretary general of the Sao Paulo Forum, a hard-line communist, whose first mission was to come to Venezuela to help Chavez try to break up the oil industry strike, by sending a shipment of gasoline, honestly, I could not help feeling chills all over.
Again, we realize that, Lula is not Chavez , and for everybody’s sake, we certainly hope so.
Chavez continued to consolidate his support by traveling extensively to be introduced to the terrorist world. Much publicized visits to Saddam Hussein, Kadaffi, Manuel Marulanda, and to the Arab world and Islamic leaders members of OPEC.
Why is Venezuela important? Oil reserves. Venezuela is providing Cuba with oil, in quantities way above their needs, under an overwhelmingly favorable contract, partially financed with long-term loans at very low interest rates and the balance paid in services, supplying political advisers, sport advisers, some medical services and, of course, all the intelligence structure that protects Chavez’s life.
As indicated before, Venezuelan people suspected Chavez’s intentions from the beginning. He never hid his feelings, but must important, his actions were indicative of the path he was following.
In my personal opinion, the most important fact, why I claim that we are trapped by democracy, is the new 1999 Constitution. In theory, it is the must advanced in the world, probably no country can afford all the rights this Constitution provides, enacted in a very short time, thus incomplete, and subject to interpretation by a Supreme Court that was initially totally loyal to Chavez, but is now showing some weak signs of independence.
One small statement about another important fact: terrorist circles
Do you remember Hitler´s “Brown Shirts”, wild attacking youth groups? Are you familiar with Noriega´s “Dignity Battalions” in Panama? With Castro´s “Circles of Revolutionary Control”? Well Chavez has his own terrorist circles, the so-called “Bolivarian Circles”. Trained by the Cubans, either in Cuba or by Cuban agents in Venezuela, their job is to disrupt and attack, with stones, bottles, and sometimes with weapons, molotov cocktails, tear gas grenades, and usually protected by the National Guard, the democratic, pacific and unarmed concentrations of the Opposition and media around the country, causing death, many wounded, fear and destruction in their path.
In general, they attack everybody Chavez denounces publicly in his weekly address, TV stations, newspapers, the Catholic church, workers unions, businessmen associations, prominent leadership, and in general, Chavez’s opposition.
Present Venezuelan crisis: Constitutional roads to end this nightmare:
There are about 60 corruption cases against Chavez waiting at the Supreme Court for action, but neither the Attorney General, who by Constitution, is the one who should present formal accusations, but is an unconditional Chavez supporter, nor the Supreme Court are willing to act.
The National Assembly or Congress has a majority of 8 votes favorable to Chavez, and they too, are unwilling to act, in the many ways that the Constitution provides.
A military coup is out of the question. But the use of the army and National Guard against civilians and the protection of violent terrorist circles is totally unacceptable under any circumstance.
Since April 2002, more than 200 generals and admirals, the best of the navy and the army, all democrats, institutionalists, were dismissed, most of them illegally, without a due process of law , and trapped by the Constitution on ways to appeal their dismissal.
In summary:
- Chavez is a corrupt dictator.
- He has abused the good will of the people and abused the trust of the poor people for a better life,
- He has been accused of crimes against humanity and countless human rights violations.
- He is a terrorist conspiring to retain power and extend his revolution to the rest of Latin America.
- He has divided Venezuelans, one against the other.
- He has build a propaganda machine that spreads distorted facts .
- Venezuela has been on strike for more than 50 days. The economical consequences are indescribable.
- Banks are working 3 hours per day.
- 80% of the children are not going to school.
- About 95% of the industry sector is shut down.
- 95% of the national oil industry is shut down and in the process of restructuring. Production is down from 3.4million bbls a day to 450.000 bbls per day.
- The armed forces are completely transformed into a militia army, loyal to Chavez
- More than 200 generals and admirals, all high-ranking democratic officers, have been dismissed without due process of law.
- The Merchant Marine is on strike, completely shut down including all port activities.
- Hundred of thousands citizens are marching almost every day across the country.
- The National Guard and the army are protecting the terrorist circles.
- The Metropolitan Police has been taken over by the army, and are unable to protect civilians, as a consequence crime has increased 240%. All the equipment and armament of the police has allegedly disappeared.
- Chavez has contracted oil workers and technicians from OPEC countries to replace the PDVSA work force.
- There have been countless accidents and incidents in the operation of oil facilities causing great and, in some cases, irreversible environmental damage.
- The suffering and sacrifice is great among all structures of the Venezuelan society
- The Consultive Referendum scheduled for February the 2nd has been cancelled by a questionable decision of the Supreme Court , on the basis of “legal technicalities”.
- His personal pilot is seeking political asylum in the USA, allegedly accusing Chavez of delivering to Al Qaeda close to US$ 1.000.000.00 through the Venezuelan ambassador in India.
- More than 300 Colombians just arrived in Caracas to support street actions of Chavez supporters. Many cases of illegal issue of Venezuelan identity cards have been denounced.
PROPOSAL:
There are several proposals being considered, but are all subject, most of all , to the good will of both parties, mainly the Government since they have demonstrated, time again and again, that they are not trustworthy.
It is expected that the OAS Secretary General, Cesar Gaviria, with the backing of the Group of Friends of Venezuela, will propose workable solutions, among the alternatives, a Revocatory Referendum, and /or calling for a National Constitutional Assembly and/or Constitutional Reforms.
Full support for Cesar Gaviria will have to be implemented by both parties, but in any case , any solution will have to re-instate all Oil Workers, and Merchant Marine personnel without exception, the process up to the elections and the elections itself, will have to be monitored by the International Community, and held in the shortest possible time, as the socio-political-economical chaos is unbearable