<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, June 09, 2003 By: Luis Zuleta

Date: Mon, 9 Jun 2003 11:35:59 -0300 From: Luis Zuleta luiszuleta@hotmail.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: The constitution DOES NOT state

Dear Editor: I'm reading Mr. Roy S. Carson's article "Come in Houston ... opposition PR has a problem understanding democracy" and two things stand out.

1 - He claims that the Venezuelan opposition is paranoid by making certain assumptions about the government's willingness to allow (or not to block) a referendum on Mr. Chavez' mandate. As much as I agree that the opposition (and anyone for that matter) would be wrong to ignore the constitution or even think about going over it in order to remove Mr. Chavez, I'm wondering why he thinks the "Venezuelan Community Abroad" goes into an "extraterrestrial trajectory" in their statement. When reading the statement by the VCA, even those paragraphs carefully chosen by Mr. Carson to distort the meaning and context of it, it seems to me that the VCA is expressing concerns based on the fact that, as of today, the mechanism to allow the referendum is not in place. By this I mean, there is no electoral council (CNE) and the existence of that CNE depends largely (make that fully) on the willingness of the still government-controlled National Assembly to DO THEIR JOBS and select one. Those concerns seem well founded since Mr. Ameliach continues to call on permanent or urgent sessions to discuss anything the Chavez' faction can come up with or put on a public spectacle like it happened last Friday except to determine the members of the new CNE.

The concerns of the VCA about the impossibility to have an early Presidential election, if the recall doesn't succeed before Mr. Chavez enters the last two years of his mandate, is actually founded in the fact that the recall could be affected by the government's intent through the National Assembly to delay it as much as possible (based on their actions) by not designating a CNE in time to make it happen. If this is the case, and evidence points in that direction, then there is a big problem, since the constitution would not allow taking this into account and making the necessary adjustments. If the recall does not take place in time because the government blocks the election of the CNE, denies funding, or any other maneuver, then it should be the Supreme Court's job to intervene ... but wait there is a law being pushed by the government to increase the number of justices by 10 and therefore regain control of the TSJ.  See a trend here?

The constitution DOES NOT state that a recall referendum's process begins after August 19 ... it was the TSJ. The constitution states that a recall can take place at the midpoint of the term, but it is the TSJ who determines that midpoint. See the concern now? The VCA does not seem to be calling on the international community to punish Mr. Chavez for something he might do or might not do ... they seem to be calling on the international community to continue their role as an impartial arbitrator to guarantee BOTH SIDES that the agreement will be fulfilled.

That to me IS understanding democracy.

2 - Every time someone writes about Mr. Chavez and his little coup in 1992, everyone supporting this man (or "objective" writers simply telling it like it is) go crazy and complain about how that cannot justify what happened in April, which is true. But, I'm wondering why Mr. Carson and everyone else writing about the Venezuelan situation continuously feels the need to "remind" anyone not supporting Mr. Chavez about "Dictator for a day" Mr. Carmona, basically assuming that everyone opposing Mr. Chavez back then supported him in his attempt to undermine democracy, or that anyone opposing Mr. Chavez today still does support what this man did.

Over one year after those unfortunate events (those of Mr. Carmona, not of the people fighting for their cause) I think is time to drop that once and for all, and to stop assuming that ANYONE opposing Mr. Chavez was supporting that monumental violation of democratic principles.

Best Regards, Luis Zuleta luiszuleta@hotmail.com

President Chávez's foes made all they could to impede, at least for one hour, the approval of a reform to the Parliament's internal regulations

ELVIA GÓMEZ EL UNIVERSAL

"There will be no peace in the National Assembly as the ruling party MVR tries to use the Parliament as it wishes," said representative Enrique Márquez (opposition party LCR) still agitated after the clash in the Congress that cost him his glasses.

In fact, a minority group from the opposition seemed unwilling to give in to their efforts to avoid what they considered an abuse by pro-government parliamentarians. However, most of the opposition congressmen warned that the great news of the week -that pro-government factions lacked the necessary votes to impose their will, according to the opposition- was not evident because of the chaos at the National Assembly.

Congressman Julio Borges (opposition party Primero Justicia) said that Wednesday's incident was "a point of inflection" and that opposition groups were forced to react as they did. He warned the situation was the prelude of a government plan to shut down the Parliament.

Henry Ramos Allup (opposition party AD) rejected the call hastily made by the Parliament president, Captain Francisco Ameliach (R), to hold a session on Friday at El Calvario, an allegedly pro-Chavist area of Caracas.

Even though the rules governing the Parliament provide for the possibility to hold sessions out of the official premises, holding such a session must be decided by the Parliament, which was not the case yesterday. Besides, the congressman said, pro-government groups seek to expose their opponents to the attacks of "political criminals." He also said that the opposition would not accept the ruling party's efforts to continue controlling the Parliament on the ground of its scanty advantage.

According to assemblyman Felipe Mujica (MAS), the main victim of incidents at the lawmaking body is democracy. He regretted that the Parliament is now ruled by intolerance.

Leopoldo Martínez (Construyendo País) set clear that the ruling party could not introduce any reform to the Parliament internal regulations because two appeals against previous changes were filed before the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) by opposition congressmen. He explained that as the court had made no decision on the appeals, only the TSJ could rule on the issue.

The reform to the internal regulations of the National Assembly makes it possible to create regular committees without quorum and to declare valid decisions made without the minimum number of votes previously required. The reform also intends to eliminate the Legislative Committee -in charge of two controversial draft bills, the Radio and Television Responsibility Law and a reform to the Supreme Court of Justice Law, both promoted by the Executive Power. The government does not have a majority in this committee.

According to opposition leaders, the reform is a violation of the pact reached at the Negotiation and Agreement Table and recently signed by the parties. "We are aware of the need for a consolidation of the pluralism provided for in the Constitution. Venezuela needs the participation of all the sectors to continue its path in peace and democracy, so that each and everyone may express his or her ideas, adopt his or her respective position, and make decisions choosing among the different political options that exist," states article 5 of the agreement reached at the Negotiation Table.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic news Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Rebel Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) leader, Juan Fernandez has returned to Venezuela after an allegedly successful tour of the USA and Europe to lobby against the Venezuelan government and its oil policy.  He says people abroad realize that Venezuela is not a democratic country and that Hugo Chavez Frias' criteria carries more weight than  the Constitution. 

"The international community supports the recall referendum ... the opposition has come out of it well showing it has great democratic sense." 

Fernandez' organization, Gente del Petroleo, which acted as a shadow PDVSA during the national stoppage, supports the referendum and Fernandez says organizing the referendum is top priority ... "we will obtain victory for Venezuela ... that implies that we must do a good job with intuition, unity and with everyone pulling its weight." 

Seen by some analysts as courting Presidential aspirations, Fernandez claims that the government is afraid because it knows it will lose the referendum ... "we are ready to reconstruct Venezuela and the oil industry ... we are the alternative." 

Referring to the situation in PDVSA, Fernandez criticizes the government campaign against Intesa and doubts the capability of the government substitute company. 

Playing on the Cuban Communist card after passing through Miami, Fernandez maintains that people abroad see a Venezuelan government manipulated by foreign interests, namely Cuba ... "it's incredible how Venezuelan nationalism once a motive of pride, has diminished."

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Fiery Primero Justicia (PJ) National Assembly (AN) deputy, Liliana Hernandez  has resurfaced calling on the opposition to undertake street agitation to promote the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez Frias. 

In what seems to be an internal opposition shouting match to gain maximum brownie points, Hernandez proposes the appointment of an impartial National Electoral College (CNE)  ... "the CNE  should not consist of political party quotas but of people with merit." 

Calling President Chavez Frias "a man without democratic values," Hernandez says it is not a fight on equal terms because Chavez Frias has everything stacked in his favor ... "I'm not saying we should go out and force Chavez Frias out at rifle point but we are trying to generate street action because without pressure from the street, there will never be a recall referendum."

Meanwhile, the National Electoral College (CNE) has ordered the suspension of a Proyecto Venezuela (PV) advertisement on TV stating that the recall referendum is on August 19. CNE director, Romulo Lares says it leads to confusion and is inexact in content. The PV spot has been shown 38 times over the last three weeks.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Most opposition political parties say they support next week's "Assault on Petare" one hundred percent and promise to go the whole hog with or without municipal permission. 

Coordinadora Democratica (CD) leader, Enrique Mendoza  says he will obtain permission to hold a public rally from Metropolitan Mayor Alfredo Pena, if Sucre Mayor Jose Vicente Rangel Avalos refuses ... "no public official can prohibit a pacific protest and Pena is a higher authority." 

Proyecto Venezuela (PV) leader, Jorge Sucre challenges the government, warning that the government knows it has lost support in Petare and has resorted to the threat of armed groups to keep protestors off the streets. 

Primero Justicia (PJ) leader, Carlos Ocariz joins the opposition chorus that people in Petare no longer support President Chavez Frias. 

Alianza Bravo Pueblo (ABP) president, Antonio Ledezma has announced that he will lead a march on Thursday to protest the government media content law and laughs at the proposed government Public Protest Law ... "the security zones didn't work nor will a new law .. the government hasn't learned its lesson." 

Showing he is far more gung-ho than other opposition leaders, Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) leader, Leopoldo has jumped one step ahead announcing that after Petare, the opposition will lead an assault on La Guaira (Vargas). 

On a more timid note, former MAS leader and current Union party leader Luis Manuel Esculpi says his party is preparing legal actions against the proposed Public protest law.