<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Andean Commission of Jurists has announced that it has sent a report to the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) warning that President Hugo Chavez Frias attempting to monopolize State organs and institutions. 

Speaking on behalf of the Jurists, Venezuelan Enrique ter Horst claims that President Hugo Chavez Frias' insistence on carrying through his political project is fast losing the legitimacy he gained in winning two presidential elections.  " The absence of advances in government-opposition negotiations has kept alive the temptation among the radicals on both sides to seek a quick fix to the political crisis" 

Ter Horst proposes that the UN open a human rights observation post in Venezuela to investigate and generate confidence in an electoral solution. 

The former UN diplomat accuses Chavez Frias of: 

• Violating the principle of separation of State powers
• Placing unconditional supporters to head public institutions 
• Firing up social hatred 
• Organizing armed bands to attack opponents. "Last year there were 50 deaths and more than 700 injuries during pacific marches, sabotaging investigations into deaths of opponents"
• Using judges and state prosecutors at his service to politically persecute opposition leaders
• Allowing security agents or supporters to attack 200 journalists 
• Diverting the Armed Force (FAN) from its constitutional mandate
• Allocating exchange control permits at whim.

Enrique Ter Horst has been in charge of UN special missions on Haiti and El Salvador, as well as UN Adjunct High Commissioner for Human Rights (1998).

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The Venezuelan media has unearthed a Venezuelan, currently fighting in the Anglo-American war on Iraq. Eugenio Jose Caceres (19) , son of Livia Caceres, was born in Maracaibo (Zulia) but has lived in the USA since 1987. He joined up for the US Marines two years ago after finishing high school in Stuart, Florida. 

The news report does not discover the reasons why Eugenio went to the USA in the first place nor does it delve into the realm of human interest regarding why his parents are in Zulia. 

What is certain is that on the phone Eugenio the Marine has a marked "maracucho" accent and that he is with the Marines in Nasariya (Iraq) where the first skirmishes broke out between Anglo-American forces and Iraqi troops. 

The Marine has two brothers Samuel (16) and Israel (14) and it seems the family belongs to an evangelical church. Mrs. Caceres says she's proud of her son, who phones home regularly ... "I  was surprised and apprehensive when he told that he was going to war." 

The family relates that it received a pleasant surprise when an unknown US citizen brought them  a basket of food on discovering that the son was fighting in Iraq. Mr. Caceres does not beat about the bush, saying he supports his son 100% and Sadaam Hussein is a criminal, who deserves to be overthrown.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Health safety groups have expressed concern about the outbreak of disease in Venezuelan prisons.  Miranda Penitentiary Services Foundation (Funsepem) president Jose La Rosa reports that hepatitis B, scabies and influenza are the biggest health problems that inmates at El Rodeo 1 and El Rodeo 2 face. 

La Rosa has  headed a team of doctors that visited the two prisons after a hunger strike was lifted.  "We have managed to get an agreement with Universidad Central de Venezuela Faculty of Medicine to attend the prisons."

Doctor Jose Leonardo Gonzalez says hepatitis B is hard to control, , given prison overcrowding and the fact that the disease is handed on through body fluids.  There is also an environmental problem in both prisons ... we have observed places where deadly fungi grows, abundance of green bottle flies,  and a lot of uncontrolled dogs and cats wandering around."

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, April 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Writing in El Nacional, Sandra Guerrero reports that a few days after Police Detective Branch (CICPC) investigators found a bullet from one of the guns fired from Llaguno Bridge on April 11 incrusted in a newspaper stand on Avenida Baralt between the corners of Munoz and Pinango. 

"It was one of the few pieces of evidence that they managed to collect because Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) supporters picked up spent cartridges."

Guerrero concludes that a "piece of lead fired from one of two guns taken off 2 of the Llaguno Bridge Shooters was collected at the corner of Munoz Pinango where Jesus Mohamed Espinoza Capote (18) was shot through the head."

Others protesters shot in the same point were: Jose Ramon Cova Espana at Munoz corner , Jacinto Antonio Medina Rodriguez wounded between Munoz y Pinango corners near Hotel Eden, Francisco Jose Abad Mora wounded on the corner of Pinango, Victor Manuel Davila Guerrero also wounded on Pinango and photographer, Jorge Luis Recio Paris hit in the spine with bullet and currently under treatment in Spain.

Apr. 4, 2003. 11:50 AM <a href=www.thestar.com>Toronto Star Olivia Ward in Israel  

We asked readers for their views on the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. Here's what you had to say:

This conflict makes me think of a swarming. Saddam reminds me of a mean kid who is cruel to his brothers and sisters, disliked by others, and is suspected of carrying a weapon. Finally, out of fear and loathing, a bunch of kids swarm this bully and kick the crap out of him. Justified? Well, swarmings are never justified. They are vigilante justice. They are wrong. -Wendy Bailey, Penetanguishene, April 4

How can anyone suggest we Canadians support this illegal war that the U.S. is waging on Iraq just because we may be punished with monetary sanctions? Are we not a moral people? -Anthony Watt, Toronto, April 4

If the House of Commons passes the resolution supporting a quick victory for the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, I'll never vote Liberal again. -Mark Lundie, Waterloo, April 4

Whether you are American or Canadian I'm disgusted by the whining about "if the shoe was on the other foot Americans would support us Canadians." Well, the shoe is not on the other foot because Canada is not a war-mongering nation and would not have taken the position the U.S. has to begin with. Remember how the U.S. was 3 years behind Canada in joining the first two World Wars? Yeah, right beside us, weren't you! -Lorne Busse, Toronto, April 4

I am against this war, against the fascist tendencies of this administration, and I feel sorry for the Iraqi people who, on top of having to deal with a tyrannical dictator, now have to watch innocent family members die while their country is invaded because "it's for their own good." -Chad Lovewell, Wilmington, N.C., April 4

I am a Canadian who has immigrated to the U.S. I have been here for almost four years and since then I have gained an appreciation for my American friends. It sickens me to see Canadians slamming Americans and their policies when in fact Canadians benefit in all respects from having a strong neighbour. -Ed Kahle, Houston, April 4

I find it alarming that many responses supporting the U.S. actions are based on our reliance on the U.S. as a trading partner. Is this the basis of our "friendship"? -Mike Fagan, Belleville, April 4

It goes without saying that the rule of Saddam Hussein is brutal. However, the world can thank the U.S.A. and its meddlesome CIA that his regime exists at all. Indeed for years Saddam was a favoured American ally. -Kelly Thomas, Toronto, April 4

Where were the hoards of protesters when Saddam was slaughtering his people? I don't recall one single person offering to be a human shield to stop Chemical Ali. -Joan Craig, Ottawa, April 4

Mr. Chretien has made a wise decision not to involve Canada in this war. Saddam is no saint, but this time around there was no provocation to merit a war. I supported the '91 war but the pretext of going to war this time is flimsy and hollow. -Tuffour Agyemang, Toronto, April 4

The U.S. invasion of Iraq is indefensible. It is a naked attempt to steal Iraqi oil. Millions worldwide have protested and the United Nations has opposed this criminal invasion. -Irvine Barat, Windsor, Mar. 30

Many supporters of the war have accused anti-war Canadians of acting smug . . . regarding our government’s decision not to support it. Most Canadians don’t feel smugness, they feel fear. Not only because of the potential for human misery in Iraq and that region generally . . . but fear that future U.S. administrations will lead the U.S. to automatically deal with international problems with the same 'might is right, damn the torpedoes' foreign policy. -Rick Argles, Mississauga, Mar. 30

Saddam's brutality towards his neighbours and his own people is well documented and indisputable. That alone is reason enough to go in. -Peter Degrassi, Mississauga, Mar. 29

The war is now a fact, so now it makes no difference if you support it or not. It is a time to pray that it will come to a swift conclusion with as little death and destruction as is possible. This is a very volatile part of the world and it would take little to get a massive and destructive world war started. Prayer is needed badly! -Michael Doyon, Gander, Mar. 29

I spent 30 years of my life serving Canada as a member of its Armed Forces. In all that time whenever there was trouble in the world and we were sent to help, our American brothers were always there first. . . . What our government has done is unforgivable. We are standing by while our best friend is in need. Forget the right and wrong of the war, it's our duty to our friend that we must honour. I can honestly say I am ashamed to be a Canadian at this time. -Marvin Hodgins, Kingston, Mar. 28

I believe any thinking person is against war but sometimes it is necessary and we should back our neighbours and allies. -Josephine Ronquist, Westbank, B.C., Mar. 28

I am in full support of Chretien. The fact is that Saddam Hussein was America's boy. The CIA helped him to power, as they did the Shah of Iran and Noriega and Marcos and the Taliban and countless other brutal tyrants. The fact is that George Bush Sr. continued to supply nerve gas and technology to Saddam even after he used it on Iran and then the Kurds in Iraq. -Natalie Armstrong, Alliston, Mar. 28

I am appalled that many Canadians were content with the status quo in Iraq. They know of the brutality, murder, rape, and more that is part of daily life in Iraq. . . . Remember, Saddam has two sons who are equally brutal, if nothing is done now the rape and murder of the Iraqi people will continue for another generation. -Joseph Leclerc, Quinte West, Mar. 28

No one wanted a war, but it has started and we need to support the cause. I am an embarrassed Canadian! -Betty McKeown, Ft. Myers, FLA, Mar. 28

I am a Canadian living in the United States. . . . Has our Prime Minister forgotten who are friends are? We are now ignoring the U.S, Great Britain, and Australia, only to align ourselves with Russia, China, Germany and France. All of these countries . . . have been supplying sophisticated military technology to the Iraqi regime. Wake up Canada! -Greg Ward, Houston, Mar. 28

The U.S. has stated that they do not necessarily need to be directly attacked in order to claim self-defence because the mere possibility of a nation's aggression is provocation enough to 'defend' themselves. What would have happened to the world if this logic had prevailed during the Cold War? -Graham Pipher, Mississauga, Mar. 27

I believe that Canada's attempt to broker a deal at the U.N. was an admirable thing to do. But now that reality has set in and the war is on, we need to realize who we share this continent with and support the U.S. effort in Iraq. -Brian Doughty, Stratford, Mar. 27

I just have one question for everyone, regardless which side one is on concerning the war: where were each and every one of you during the last twelve years when this mad man massacred his people? And why isn't anyone protesting what is going on in Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Northern Ireland, Brazil, Sudan, the Congo, North Korea, Burma, and China? -Ian McClosky, Buffalo, NY, Mar. 27

At least the U.S. and England are trying to help the people of Iraq. What is Canada doing? At least we are trying to stop the torture and killing. -Jack Sawyer, Dallas, TX, Mar. 27

In the 80's, the U.S. bolstered Saddam into power, gave him the tools to battle Iran, and for a while, turned a blind eye to his use of chemical weapons. Now, they are portraying themselves as liberators against a regime that they themselves advocated. -Kevin Winik, Toronto, Mar. 27

Remember this moment in our history! When our fellow Canadians complain that the United States are shunning us and we are losing jobs, our economy is taking a hit, and tariffs are to high - remind them how we stabbed the U.S. in the back when they needed us. -John Chartrand, Toronto, Mar. 27