Has The Chavez Crackdown Started In Venezuela?

www.plastic.com found on the Guardian written by chatsubo, edited by George (Plastic) [ read unedited ] posted Thu 20 Feb 8:05am

"The mostly bloodless political conflict that has gripped Venezuela for many months took a decidedly uglier turn with the news that three anti-Chavez dissident military officers and an accompanying woman were found murdered after being apparently kidnapped and tortured," chatsubo writes. "A fifth person, a 14-year-old girl, was found alive, though in serious condition. "The populist, and some say authoritarian, Chavez has polarised the country, especially since the recent abortive coup attempt, which apparently had U.S. support.

"One of the victim's brothers claims that the officers had been under constant intimidation from Venezuelan security forces and police, and had received death threats from the Bolivarian Circles, self-styled pro-Chavez militias, as well as the far-left Tupamaro group.

"Rafael Narvaez, the head of Venezuela's human rights association, said, 'There are no credible institutions left any more, and there is currently no rule of law or due process in Venezuela, We will push as hard as we can for the authorities to investigate the murders, but if we hit a brick wall, we will ask the international community to apply pressure.'

"The discovery of the bodies was followed by the news that Carlos Fernandez, head of the country's largest business council, and one of the leaders of the general strike, was snatched from a restaurant by armed men claiming to be secret police agents. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton said he had no knowledge of Mr. Fernandez's whereabouts.

"As professional coup watchers will tell you, the use of agent provocateurs was common practice during the Chile and Iran coups.

"As a democratic socialist myself, I would find it profoundly depressing if Chavez has resorted to such brutal, Stalin-era tactics of control and oppression. Surely you don't have to choose between democratic rights and social justice for the poor? Can't you have both?"