<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 02, 2003 By: Oscar Heck

VHeadline.com commentarist Oscar Heck writes: CSIS is the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington-based think tank linking people from the US government, US congress, US business communities, intellectuals, etc. to other countries, including Venezuela.

CSIS does this particularly through a program called the “South America Project” and “is intended to upgrade US government, congressional, and private sector understanding of, and relations with, the countries that make up this region.” The person who apparently heads this program is Miguel Diaz, who in the early 1990s worked as an economist for the Central Intelligence Agency.

The person who heads CSIS is John J. Hamre, formerly deputy secretary of defense. CSIS “ … is guided by a board of trustees chaired by former senator Sam Nunn and consisting of prominent individuals from both the public and private sectors.”

Others on the management are former CIA and US defense people.

In an article by Miguel Diaz (quite a balanced report) dated December 10, 2002, he says, “The US' political and economic national security interests in Venezuela alone are important enough to command Washington's full attention.”

He also says, referring to the AFL-CIO (a major USA union group), “It supported Ortega's fight to be recognized as the duly-elected leader of the CTV in both the United States and international forums, and extended the red carpet treatment to him as they shepherded him through Washington when Ortega visited earlier this year.”

The AFL-CIO website mentions, on December 05, 2002: “Recently, the AFL-CIO has supported the CTV's process of internal democratization and its defense of freedom of association against the attacks of the Chavez government. From the moment he took office in 1999, Hugo Chavez led an assault on the freedom of association, attempting to weaken or eliminate the principal institutions of Venezuelan civil society, including the unions.”

It also mentions, “The assistance included: the printing of election materials, the training of CTV election committees and the sponsoring of forums, which brought labor, business, human rights and religious leaders together in defense of freedom of association. All of the AFL-CIO-Solidarity Center's funding for Venezuela went for this purpose.”

And, “The AFL-CIO will continue to support the CTV and condemn actions by the government of Venezuela, or any other government, that restricts workers' freedom of association in violation of international law … , there is no evidence that the CTV or its leaders went beyond the democratic expressions of discontent.”

From a transcript dated 19 April 2002, “Powell Calls for Dialogue and Reconciliation in Venezuela “: Powell says, apparently referring to the Chavez government, “There is no justification for any government to prevent its citizens from exercising their fundamental rights.”  He goes on, “Democracies do not remain democracies for long if elected leaders use undemocratic methods.” and, “And we urge all democratic forces in Venezuela from political life, civil society, the business community, and labor, to participate in that national discussion.”  He also mentions, “Venezuelans themselves must resolve their problems, but they need our support.” (In this sentence, it is not clear if he is referring to the USA or to the OAS)

From another Colin Powell speech on January 24, 2003: Powell says, “Tragically, however, the situation in Venezuela grows worse by the day. Venezuelans of all stripes see their democracy and their hopes for prosperity growing ever weaker.” And, “We are here to underscore our strong support for the people of Venezuela and for the democracy they have cherished for over four decades.”

Some comments and observations:

1. I do not doubt that CSIS has perhaps some honorable intentions such as facilitating business-to-business interests … “soft power”(?). However, as in the case of SAIC, it is rather disturbing that some of the leaders of CSIS projects and endeavors are former US defense and intelligence people.

2. Apparently, CSIS (as in the case of SAIC) is also a major “information provider” to the US government.

3. It appears that the AFL-CIO has been (or had been) duped by Carlos Ortega and the CTV into believing that the Chavez Government has/had restricted “freedom of association”. It is unfortunate, since the AFL-CIO apparently has at heart the real interests of its members, unlike the CTV who has real interests in “getting rid of Chavez”.

4. Unfortunately as well, the AFL-CIO appears to be convinced that, “… there is no evidence that the CTV or its leaders went beyond the democratic expressions of discontent.” (Carlos Ortega is hiding from the law in Costa Rica, charged with several criminal acts such as sedition and treason!)

5. Now, with respect to Colin Powell (signee at the PNAC, a US organization with the intent of “ruling” the world), it is quite evident that he has little regard for Chavez and gives the distinct impression that the Chavez government is acting in undemocratic ways. (Which is quite the contrary. The present Venezuelan Government is the first Venezuelan government in years to be truly democratic, unlike the uncivilized opposition people and its supporters who have acted in very undemocratic ways: e.g., the stoppage, the blocking of streets and the sabotage of PDVSA.)

6. It is also worth noting that Powell advocates “strong support for the people of Venezuela and for the democracy they have cherished for over four decades.” This, to me, is clear evidence that he is willing to support the Venezuelan “elite” … those that have, for at least 4 decades, “managed” the affairs of Venezuela through rampant corruption and irresponsible-without-conscience actions such as death threats, death squads, repression, speculation, monopolies, media control and censorship … and more recently, sabotage, treason and sedition.

The above appears to add to the proof that the USA is more deeply involved in Venezuelan internal affairs than what the USA is willing to admit. CIA, SAIC, CSIS, PNAC and many more US and Washington-based organizations have vested interests in Venezuela, not only in an economic sense, but also in an ideological sense (see the PNAC website, for example).

Note: I do not see how Colin Powell can dissociate himself from PNAC principles when speaking about US interest in Venezuela.

Finally, I and many others do not believe that Venezuela needs external “support”, as so “humbly” stated by Powell.

Oscar Heck oscar@vheadline.com

News24 02/05/2003 20:44  - (SA)  

Caracas - Prisoners at a jail near the Venezuelan capital released 400 hostages on Friday at the end of a five day protest over conditions.

The hostages, all relatives of prisoners, had been detained following their weekly Sunday visit to the Rodeo jail east of Caracas. Prisoners protested against ill treatment, insufficient food and lengthy legal processes.

"Today at dawn, all of them were freed following negotiations with the authorities. Everything passed off peacefully," one prisoner's relative said speaking on condition of anonymity.

In total, over 1 000 relatives were detained on Sunday at three different prisons, and according to the authorities all have now been freed.

Venezuela has a prison population of 26 000 housed in overcrowded, unhygienic violence-plagued prisons.

Reuters, 05.02.03, 2:46 PM ET

CARACAS, Venezuela, May 2 (Reuters) - Venezuelan steelmaker Sivensa <SVS.CR> on Friday reported a sharply narrower fiscal second-quarter net loss, but its sales were undercut by a two-month opposition strike against President Hugo Chavez.

Sivensa, the nation's largest private-sector exporter, posted a net loss $5.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, compared with a net loss of $11.5 million a year earlier.

Consolidated sales for the second quarter slipped 47 percent to $32.1 million from $60.6 million a year earlier as the economic decline and strike hurt the local market. Its foreign market was also hurt by currency controls introduced by the government in February, the firm said.

The Daily Times of Nigeria By Our Correspondent

THE Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Jackson Gaius Obaseki, and other directors, may be retired, any time from now in a move to restore sanity in the oil sector, the DAILY TIMES has learnt.

Gaius-Obaseki, who was one of the pioneer staff that joined the services of the corporation, then known as Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) in July 1972 was appointed GMD in June 1999 by President Olusegun Obasanjo.

Feelers from the Presidency indicated that President Olusegun Obasanjo may have finally succumbed to pressure from political associates, diplomats and a cross section of Nigerians to remove the GMD from office over his unseeming rigidity which has resulted in the nation losing millions of dollars.

The last straw, Presidency sources explained, was the recent fuel scarcity, which not only created unnecessary panic to government but also almost robbed President Oba-sanjo one of his major achie-vements in the last four years.

Coming close to the elec-tions, the said crisis caused many of President Obasanjo’s opponents to use it as plat-form to gather votes “which the President and his Vice did not find funny” he said.

It was gathered that the recent fuel scarcity, which still lingers in some states except Lagos could have been averted if he GMD had listened to advice of his lieutenants.

As the United States/Iraq war drew nearer and crisis in Venezuela persisted, he was said to have been advised to beef up petroleum importation even though the price was hovering between $26 and $28 per barrel, Gaius Obaseki was said to be adamant, insisting to make do with available products, considering the cost.

“The President in one of his routine discussions with the GMD even asked him what he was doing to ensure steady supply when war broke out in Iraq,” the source said.

Another offence, it was gathered was the haphazardly performances of the nation’s four refineries. Between 1999 to date, no government has ever committed funds to maintain the refineries as this present government.

“Yet, what we are seeing is refineries with installed capacity of 445,000 barrels per day processing less then 150,000 bpd (about 45 per cent capacity utilization)”

“With this, the huge expenditure on the refineries was wasted as the nation solely relied on importation which was viewed in government circle as a serious matter”.

The source said the Presidency was rattled four days ago over the importation of adulterated products when NNPC claimed that all the fuel importers met the international importation standard.

Although, the source said the Presidency appreciated the contributions of Gaius- Obaseki in repositioning oil and gas sector, government believes that the sector used further re-engineering.

Gaius-Obaseki who will clock 58 in November has two more years to officially retire from service.

Two of his colleagues who joined NNPC the same time in 1972: Andrew Uzoigwe, Group Executive Director, Exploration and Production and Alex Ogedengbe, Group Executive Director, Engi-neering and Technical services had retired.

It was not clear who is likely to succeed the GMD, but sources said one of his management team members: Group Executive Director, Refining and Petrochemical, Mansur Ahmed, the Managing Director of National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), Bunu Alibe, the Managing Director of Pipeline and Product, Marketing Company (PPNNC) and Dan Nzelu may be considered.