To the editors of The Observer

Re: Your article “US STAND ON CHAVEZ BACKFIRES” Dear sirs,

The Observer should do its homework before printing a biased portrayal of an international problem that, because of the impending iraki war, could affect the US in the short run. At least, you could print two opposing views of the problem and your own Miami Herald could be a good source. Telling a lie a thousand times doesn't make it true. But that is what the venezuelan president and its international PR team are trying to do. Yes, Chavez was democratically elected, as well as Mussolini and Hitler were at their times. After having in the attempts while he cowardly hid behind. But he has delegitimized himself with constant violations to a tailored Constitution he had his National Assembly write for his interests. Venezuela lives in a permanent coup d'etat where there is absolute disregard for the division of powers and where only the whims of the president are heeded. The public administration posts, from top to botton, are filled with his cronies, family, former guerilla members and fellow military officers who have stolen record high oil incomes . Also, government backed terrorists roam the streets. He came to power promising to fight against the poverty and corruption that plagued the country, but those promises turned out being empty words. Their corruption, absolute ignorance and administrative incapacity have ruined the country. After more than four years in power Venezuela is poorer than ever , the basic needs of people are not met; hunger is widespread , medical care unexistent, and unemployment increases day by day. This is the man who prides himself as a friend of Castro, Lybia, Saddam Hussein, the Taliban regime, as well as an anti Jew. He poses as part of an axis of power against the US. A man who protects and gives harbor to the Colombian guerilla and the narcotraffickers. The man who said the Church was a tumor in our society. He wants to close television and radio stations, newspapers; anything that opposes his regime Today, Chavez is opposed by more than 80% of the¿ population, rich and poor, white and black and brown, unions, private companies, universities, churches, artists, intellectuals, the right and left, and all of them just want to hold free elections, NOW. But, he is afraid. One thing Mr. Blanco said is true. Chavez has changed PDVSA, the national oil company. The jewel of the crown went from being one of the top oil companies in the world to a third world corrupted and incompetent operation. What an irony that its CEO is a former guerilla member who is proud of having destroyed oil pipelines in the past. Petty thieves are in charge and bribes are the order of the day. Office equipment, laptops, scanners are sold for pennies. Environment violations are disregarded. Hordes of barbarians smash knowledge, talent and professionalism. Oil fields are destroyed. Mediocrity and ignorance are rampant. And for 80 years Venezuela was the safest and most reliable oil supplier to the US.
Yes, the country has committed economic suicide staging this general strike to force the president to accept the constitutional right to hold elections. Chavez is afraid of his own people, of the rejection most feel for him, because he is not a real democratic leader. He is just trying to perpetuate himself in office like any other third world dictator. That is the reason why thousands, millions of people march and demonstrate daily on the streets to demand what they are entitled to. Free elections and the right to live in peace and freedom.
Yours truly, Mercedes M. Atencio Economist Venezuelan citizen resident in Charlotte, NC