<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Matthew Riemer

USA-based commentarist Matthew Riemer writes: The Andean region of northern and western South America will undoubtedly become increasingly important to the Bush administration and its foreign policy focal point, the "war on terror," as instability in the region continues to spread and oil production is expected to increase.

Venezuela has been in and out of the headlines over the past year beginning with the attempted coup of April 2002. President Hugo Chavez was ousted for a matter of hours only to be ushered back to power by loyalists within his own military.

The next attempt to thwart Venezuela's democratically-elected government came this past December when opposition leaders fueled a "general strike" in protest of Chavez' presidency; though in many cases the strike was really a "lockout" as opposition leaders and upper managers literally locked workers out of their places of employment, ostensibly forcing them to take part in the protests.

After two months the strike crumbled and, to the chagrin of many in Washington, Chavez remained in power once again. Recently, to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the failed coup, Chavez supporters staged gatherings in Caracas.

The past year has been hailed by many as a victory for leftist agendas in Venezuela, in the region, and more broadly, in the hemisphere. Obviously, this has not escaped Washington's attention; US Secretary of State Colin Powell remarked last week that he has "concerns about Chavez's commitment to the kinds of democratic institutions that we believe are vital in a democracy."

In recent weeks, Venezuela has also become notably involved with its crucial neighbor to the west, Colombia. Bogota, as well as anti-Chavez elements in Venezuela, has accused Caracas of not only sympathizing with but also providing shelter and aid to Colombian leftist guerrillas on Venezuelan soil in remote border regions. The Colombian government, prompted by reports from its own villagers living along the northeast border with Venezuela, are also conducting an investigation of alleged Venezuelan military strikes within Colombia's borders against Colombian right-wing paramilitary forces engaged with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Venezuelan Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel has rejected such allegations, claiming that Colombian paramilitaries had crossed into Venezuela: "This is part of an arsenal of lies which are permanently used to discredit Venezuela and make her look like a refuge for guerrillas and other elements involved in Colombia's violence."

• Chavez is scheduled to meet with recently-elected Colombian President Alvaro Uribe on April 23 to address these contentious issues of global interest.

An indication of how some in Washington are regarding the current situation is a telling Washington Times editorial released April 16, which observed with alarm: "Colombia's narcotics and terrorism cabals are spreading violence beyond Colombia. They have been given sanctuary in Venezuela, are involved in coca cultivation in Peru, are behind some drug-related violence in Brazil and launch forays into Ecuador. This regional aspect of the Colombian problem has developed a dangerous dynamic. Eyewitnesses claim the Venezuelan military has selected which narco-terror group they are backing, and are bombing their adversaries in Colombia. Thus far, the Colombian response has been subdued. But, if such bombing continues, the situation could erupt in conflict."

Such events and formulaic reactions to them illustrate how any region, any conflict in the world, can be neatly molded and packaged to interface with the "war on terror" paradigm. For Bogota's part, the Uribe administration knows it can most easily gain Washington's attention through its use of the rhetorical lexicon of the "war on terror" -- all one need do to emphasize the seriousness of a given situation or to justify one's actions is to dub one's enemies "terrorists."

• Chavez, Rangel, and other outspoken members of the Venezuelan leadership are also well familiar with the usefulness of such propaganda, albeit from the other side as they defend themselves against various allegations of "terrorism."

Washington, though seemingly aloof, is anything but and has expressed its concern and commitment to Colombia several times over the last year. In a December 4, 2002 address in Bogota, Colin Powell promised Colombia: "When I return to Washington, I intend to make the case before our Congress for full funding for our Colombia programs. This is a partnership that works and a partnership we must continue to make and invest in." He later added, "I would like to be able to get a lot more funding for Plan Colombia but, as you know, there are limits to what the United States is able to do within our own country and around the world."

Colombia was also significantly mentioned in the US State Department's 2002 report on human rights as being the source of 44 percent of the terrorist attacks against US interests in the form of the FARC.

Colombia's oil production, while far less than Venezuela's, is still among the highest in Latin America. Many foreign companies, such as Occidental Petroleum of Los Angeles have significant investments there. Ecuador's oil production is also expected to increase over the next few years and may reach as high as 600,000 barrels per day by 2005.

Now Venezuelan officials have claimed that they have "evidence" that the United States was involved in the April '02 coup aimed at removing President Hugo Chavez. Without much surprise, the US embassy in Caracas has denied such claims, calling them outright lies.

With the recent elections of Lula da Silva in Brazil and Lucio Gutierrez in Ecuador, both considered populist in nature and prone to making neo-liberals nervous about the state of the South American economy, the US-backed government of Alvaro Uribe in Colombia is feeling a bit isolated.

Because of this coalescing of many key events: the popularity of "leftist" leaders, Chavez, Lula, and Gutierrez; the continuing tension and friction between Washington and Caracas; the emerging involvement of Venezuela, though at this point only alleged, in Colombia's civil war; the admission on Washington's part of both its commitment to Plan Colombia and the significance of FARC as the source of 44% of terrorist attacks against US interests; and the increasing importance of South American oil over the next 25 years, the United States will only become more intimately involved in the region.

• Matthew Riemer writes for The Power and Interest News Report (PINR), an analysis-based publication that seeks to, as objectively as possible, provide insight into various conflicts, regions and points of interest around the globe. PINR approaches a subject based upon the powers and interests involved, leaving the moral judgments to the reader, seeking to inform rather than persuade. Email: content@pinr.com

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Dawn Gable

Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2003 04:58:14 +0000 From: Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: Chavez the Film

Dear Editor: I would like to publicly express my gratitude to all those who participated in bringing us The Revolution Will Not Be Televised (Chavez the Film). 

• As I have stated before I was in Venezuela during the coup and for the 2 years surrounding the coup ... my partner is a Guardia Nacional de la Republica soldier.

I am so touched by this film ... I cannot watch it without crying, reliving the emotions I experienced during those few days of disbelief. I knew all along that Chavez did not resign. I knew it the moment I heard the news. I spent the first day walking around the ranch cussing, sitting in an old irrigation pipe crying, and talking on the phone to the GN at Corozopando.  The guards were itching to go to Caracas and save their President ... but they were told to hang tight and that there was a plan ... they were very frustrated and angry.

The day Chavez returned to power, we went into the city before we heard the news that Chavez had returned. My Venezuelan anti-Chavez co-worker warned me to not wear anything that identified me as a Chavista and warned me that now it would be dangerous to let anyone know I was a supporter ... an American co-worker mumbled “some democracy” in response. I did not heed the advice ... I have never felt so willing to give my life as on that day.

As we approached small towns on the way to the city of Guarico, we noticed cars with shoe polish writing on their windows that said “ Chavez volvio” and "Chavez hasta 2026" (I think that was the date?) ... it suddenly became very clear what had happened as we entered the city. There was a parade of Chavistas driving back and forth through the streets chanting and singing and celebrating. I jumped out the window of the car and joined in while my anti-Chavez driver ate crow.

One of my co-workers and I spent the day watching the state-owned TV station in our room in the city while our anti-Chavez hosts spent the day in their room watching the private stations fabricate a new story.

I will never forget these few days ... they have changed me as much or more than 9/11 changed the people who were here in the States on that horrifying day.

Thanks to all for capturing this on film ... you all are true heroes.

Dawn Gable morning_ucsc@hotmail.com

Last Updated: Tuesday, 22 April, 2003, 09:22 GMT 10:22 UK
By Peter Greste BBC News correspondent in Buenos Aires

John Snow became US Treasury Secretary in December 2002

The US Treasury Secretary, John Snow, is on his way to South America for the first foreign trip in his new job.

Analysts say the visit to Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia is an attempt to re-engage in the region, amid signs that the Bush Administration is concerned about a perceived political shift to the left.

Many on the continent also believe Washington has abandoned it in favour of the war on terror.

John Snow might not be the most senior figure in the Bush Administration but his four-day visit is the most significant US foray into Latin America in six months.

Concerns

According to the official press release, Mr Snow will learn how Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia are building strong economic policies, addressing social problems and promoting economic growth.

But he'll also be trying to re-engage with the US' own backyard a year and a half after it turned away from the region in the war on terror.

Brazil first raised concerns late last year when it elected as president the left-wing Workers' Party candidate, Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva.

Lula has often spoken strongly against US domination of regional trade.

Then Ecuador did much the same by installing another leftist, former coup leader Colonel Lucio Gutierrez, as its president.

Washington is still eyeing both with a degree of suspicion along with similar left-wing trends in Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela.

Colombia has always worried the US with its ongoing war against both drug-traffickers and guerrillas.

This trip isn't the start of any grand new era in US regional policy, but it does indicate that Washington is ready to think again about its neighbourhood.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Ignacio Velasco has come out fighting, warning that the Roman Catholic Church in Venezuela is prepared "to go down into the catacombs to praise God if the disgrace of a communist and atheist regime should befall Venezuela." 

Speaking at a religious ceremony marking the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Velasco told the faithful assembled at San Jose de Chacao church that Jesus preached a gospel of peace and union and the Venezuelan people has always identified itself with that message but must keep alert against the dangers of a Communist regime "because it would take away the catechism and freedom." 

Recalling that "communism denies God and the human spirit and heralds dictatorship," the Cardinal insists that "it has never done any good for the poor ... the Church laments the executions of dissidents in Cuba ... it's a sign of lack of respect for human life." 

Cardinal Velasco has confirmed that he received death threats by phone during Holy Week, admitting that he felt fear but insisting that he would continue his mission on earth.  Commenting the situation in Venezuela, Velasco says he is concerned that no agreement has been reached yet and believes that an electoral solution is the best.

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Presidential candidate, Lt. Colonel (ret.) Francisco Arias Cardenas relates how a lady in the provinces approached him and said "our poor President (Chavez Frias)  ... they won't let him govern ... help him ... don't let traitors convince you."

Arias Frias insists that the opposition must take such pleas into account so that ordinary folk do not see "motives of sadness or shame in what we propose to do  ...  there can be no regret at the President's leaving office." 

The former Zulia State Governor and February 1992 coup d'etat Western Front Commander swears that nothing will happen to the President or allow anyone to harm him. "We cannot keep him in office because his errors, unnecessary confrontations and slow pace in the learning the art of governing is destroying us." 

There can be no room for sorrow or feelings of loneliness, Arias Cardenas contends, because "we have the strength and conscience to push ahead towards a better Venezuela." 

Arias Cardenas says that Venezuelans must decide at the ballot box and that there was no reason to be afraid because "we can vote for several options and the recall referendum will open the way." 

The recall referendum is for an early change and the reason for it is that the President hasn't changed in five years. "The President must learn from his mistakes but from the opposition bench ... he could meditate on his shortcomings, and deceits ... he could rethink and piece together a new proposal because his revolution has brought us hunger and misery." 

"Yes to the referendum with sure hope in the future!"

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Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher Editor@VHeadline.com