IVSS kingpin, Rafael Vargas number two in revolutionary new rich list

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, June 08, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Former Presidential Secretariat Minister Rafael Vargas  has been warding off attacks about his influence in the Social Security Institute (IVSS)  highlighted by www.aporrea.org  in a report on a Radio Nacional de Venezuela (RNV)  decision to take "Actores Economicos" program off the air. 

Program presenter, Rafael Febles says the decision was taken after he criticized Vargas (currently IVSS acting director) for his performance at the Institute. According to the journalist, Vargas was rude to him over the phone but in a letter to aporrea.org Vargas denies the phone conversation and says the campaign against him was inspired by the opposition.

Quinto Dia columnist, Miguel Salazar has been highlighting Vargas, calling him the "mentor of the gang that has taken the IVSS by assault" and lists him as second in the order of the new rich under the Chavez Frias Administration. Salazar accuses Vargas of precipitating the exit of respected IVSS director, Roberto Rodriguez.

Vargas calls himself a revolutionary and denies intervening to get rid of Rodriguez or other IVSS personnel ... "this information is typical of opposition-managed news and the only person arrested in connection with corruption was  a middleman and not any director." In a veiled warning to aporrea.org, Vargas, using what old timers call "60s revolutionary surplus," demands the respect that his revolutionary work merits for his efforts in helping alternative media.

Salazar's list of Fifth Republic "nouveaux riches" is the following: Rafael Sarria, Rafael Vargas, Luis Alfonzo Davila, Ismael Garcia, Eliecer Hurtado, Jorge Kamkoff, Jorge Castillo, Antonio Rojas Suarez, Enrique Medina Rubio, Arturo Garcia, and Guaicaipuro Lameda. The journalist promises more revelations. Salazar reports that Vargas has placed another henchman as new general director of the passports & identification Office (Oni-Dex) ... the new man comes from IVSS where he headed the Control & Losses Department!