mapage.noos.fr por Manuel Malaver Domingo, 16 de Febrero 2003      Se de muy buena fuente que no fue Charles Shapiro el único embajador en salir apresurado, “serio y hablando por celular” del acto en el cual el presidente de la República, Hugo Chávez, entregó las licencias a cinco empresas norteamericanas y noruegas que serán socias del gobierno venezolano en la explotación de la plataforma deltana. Y es  que, si como sucedía en otros tiempos, los periodistas no enfrentaran peligros para cubrir la fuente de Miraflores y redactoras como Adela Leal y Berenice Gómez no se redujeran a seguir los sucesos a control remoto y por los monitores de la redacción, los lectores se habrían enterado de que igualmente los embajadores de Noruega y Trinidad y Tobago salieron del acto como alma que lleva el diablo, “serios”, celular en mano y como en trance de llamar a María. Y no era para menos, ya que lo que les había sucedido esa tarde no eran conchas de ajo: fueron invitados dentro de la más rigurosa etiqueta a un acto donde presuntamente el tema a tratar se limitaba a las ventajas mutuas de la explotación del gas en el Delta del Orinoco y he aquí que Chávez se lanza con un discurso político que entre otros disparates soltó la prenda de  que los gobiernos  de Bush, y   Su Majestad, el Rey Harald, eran firmes aliados de la “revolución bolivariana”.  Pero lo peor fue que el discurso se refirió exclusivamente a la dolorosa actualidad política venezolana, siendo objeto la oposición  de las amenazas, calumnias y vilipendios de siempre, los 10 mil trabajadores que acaban de ser despedidos de PDVSA acusados de golpistas y saboteadores, y la empresa con la cual norteamericanos y noruegos “no tienen (¿tenían?)”, al decir de Alberto Quiroz Corradi “sino respetuosa admiración” sometida a tal escala de escarnios que era como si  estuviera hablando de la cueva de Alí Baba. “Había gente cobrando sueldos gigantescos y que no hacían nada” comenzó Chávez. “Esos sí conspiraban y financiaban movimientos golpistas. Por eso este acto tiene esa justificación y el alto grado de confianza del mundo en Venezuela. Agradecemos a los golpistas que nos permitieron reorganizar PDVSA. Despedimos más de 10 mil personas que conspiraban y ahora sale una demanda y un juicio histórico. ¿Qué te parece Shapiro?”. En otras palabras: que Chávez  usa y usará  las concesiones a las empresas Chevron-Texaco y Statoil como una presión para que los gobiernos de Noruega y Estados Unidos apoyen la “revolución” y la presencia de los embajadores de esos países en Miraflores revela que esto ya es así, porque Venezuela cuenta con un presidente confiable y que hace lo democráticamente correcto. ¿Pero  es verdad? ¿No había dicho Chávez minutos antes que él, el todopoderoso dueño de PDVSA,  acababa de despedir 10 mil trabajadores por la simple razón de que no apoyaban su gobierno y se habían plegado al paro? ¿Y este no es el mismo hombre que semanas atrás introdujo en la Asamblea Nacional una ley que de aprobarse le da licencia al Ejecutivo para cerrar medios impresos y quitarle las concesiones a radios y televisoras? ¿ Y no introdujo otra ley proponiendo que los magistrados del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia pasen de 20 a 30 y así tener la posibilidad de controlarlos de una manera más “democrática” y más “legal” ? Claro que sí, pero no hay dudas  que hasta ahora estas no son señales para que los embajadores de dos países democráticos y donde se respetan los derechos humanos, se nieguen a participar en manipuleos, que es cierto, tienen los imperativos del vil metal, pero podrían hacerse con menos cinismo. Porque ¿qué otra cosa quiere decir esta frase de Chávez, dicha con toda inocencia, pero indudablemente que con el piquete de la amenaza para todos aquellos que no entienden que están canjeando concesiones por apoyo político: “Lo primero que les digo es que de aquí no nos vamos a ir, para que no se sientan defraudados mañana y puedan decir que Chávez se fue y dejó el negocio hecho”. O sea que, muchachos, no se preocupen, apóyenme y harán toda la plata del mundo.  Aquí de lo que se trata es de acabar con los capitalistas democráticos y nacionales, porque son gente muy quisquillosa y que echa mucha broma. Ustedes, por el contrario, pueden tener todas las empresas y monopolios que quieran, pero eso sí, sin meterse en política, ni con el gobierno. Y esa receta del capitalismo más puro y salvaje no me la dio Hugo Farías, ni Emeterio Gómez, ni Domingo Fontiveros, ni Orlando Ochoa, ni Alexander Guerrero sino un economista tirado a político que lleva 40 años mandando: Fidel Castro. Por eso: “Les ruego que le digan a sus gobiernos que aquí hay un gobierno que gobierna, y seguirá gobernando en el marco de la Constitución y de las leyes nacionales. Que respeta los derechos humanos, la democracia, la libertad de expresión, pero no permite el abuso y el atropello”. El abuso y el atropello fueron las tres cadenas que Chávez se tiró ese día ( de mas de 3 horas cada una), las amenazas de no pagarle las prestaciones a los ilegalmente despedidos trabajadores de PDVSA, y los dos proyectos de leyes que de aprobarse harán de la libertad de expresión y de la independencia del Poder Judicial en Venezuela un cuento con final feliz para los pichones de dictadores que se preparan a un regreso alentador por todo el mundo. Y también fue un abuso y un atropello invitar a dos cándidos embajadores a un acto a favor del capitalismo y la democracia, cuando en realidad se trataba de un acto a favor del capitalismo puro, colonial y salvaje que ahora llaman socialismo.

mapage.noos.fr por Luis DE LION Sábado, 8 de Marzo 2003

Sin duda que para cualquier pichón de dictador que pretenda en la actualidademular a Fidel Castro o Pinochet - por solo citar a dos - se va a encontrar con la infranqueable barrera de un mundo cada vez más globalizado. Dicho impedimento junto a la - por ahora - guerra tibia de la lucha antiterrorista, pueden resultarle tan incómodo al anteproyecto de dictador venezolano, como lo son el someterse a elecciones, o el convivir con una prensa libre, entre otros estorbos democráticos. Ese retoño de dictador, se valió de unos inocentes e iletrados electores para acceder al poder; pero felizmente dichos electores, ya no son tan inocentes y dejaron de practicar ayuno político. La tan detestada - por el minidictador - herencia democrática venezolana ha hecho que quienes se oponen a Chávez, lejos de hacer trincheras, estén conformando un poderoso muro de contención. Pieza fundamental de ese muro es la internacionalización - querida o no - de la crisis y del respectivo socorro que los venezolanos le exigen a la comunidad internacional. Un primer paso fue la presencia de Gaviria en Caracas, luego vino el grupo de países amigos y en el interim el paro cívico-petrolero, que sin duda atrajo a la prensa y demás organismos internacionales; y mientras millones de venezolanos tomaban la calle, se fue activando en el mundo la red de redes de venezolanos en el extranjero, quienes valiéndose de un arma, solo mata dictadores como lo es Internet, contribuyen en el difícil trabajo de hacerse escuchar por quienes ejercen influencia sobre las respectivas opiniones públicas internacionales. Fue así, como recientemente Le Monde le dedicó dos páginas a la oposición y The New York Times, acaba de publicar un excelente artículo de Moisés Naím.

En ese mismo orden, dicha red de redes se aprestaba éste domingo 9 de marzo a una jornada mundial en repudio a la violencia y los abusos del gobierno de Chávez, en 38 ciudades en el mundo. PROVEO, Lucha Democrática, RECIVEX y SAVE Venezuela, han unido esfuerzos no solo creativos sino de divulgación - a través de Internet - con la finalidad de que los venezolanos que residen fuera se agrupen y organicen una misma protesta, el mismo día.

Sin embargo, algunos personajes de esos que se enquistaron en el servicio exterior y en otros cargos de la administración pública, de la IV y V República y que solo la metástasis que constituye la revolución chavista los dejó fuera del guiso; pretenden hoy regenerarse unos, repotenciarse otros, utilizando descaradamente a las activas asociaciones de venezolanos en el extranjero.

Sin embargo, la indetenible y ahora globalizada centrífuga democrática que generan los grupos de venezolanos en el extranjero pondrán más temprano que tarde en su sitio, a estos miserables, quienes en su precariedad intelectual no perciben que ya no hay más espacio para sus vicios, corruptelas y amiguismos. En fin, se trata de la misma precariedad y problema de percepción que va a terminar catapultando a Hugo Chávez y los suyos fuera del poder.

www.veninvestor.com March 8-9, 2003 Good Day,   During the past few days, the United States has stepped up pressure on the Venezuelan government to set a timetable for elections. Yesterday, the US State Department issued a press release with comments by U.S. Under Secretary of State Alan Larson, who spoke at a March 4 energy conference in New York. "Conflict in Venezuela has damaged its reputation as a reliable oil supplier, and all parties to the ongoing political turmoil there must work together to restore confidence, stability and rule of law" The United States is signaling to Chavez that it will not support Venezuela's oil industry if he does not agree to elections.  ""And when the Venezuelan parties show a commitment to seek reconciliation and restore their position as a reliable partner of the United States, they will find a willing and ready partner in the United States."   Under Secretary Larson also said that the US planned to continue seeking energy alternatives, to diminish dependence on a volatile oil market. "In the long run we need new technologies that can fuel our economy without posing threats to the environment or our national security."  Finally, Larson said that the US was seeking new oil suppliers around the world, once again to diminish the impact of crisis from countries such as Venezuela. "We intend to engage intensively with energy partners all over the world to diversify supplies, improve investment opportunities and assure that market forces work as transparently and efficiently as possible."      Further,  during his daily press briefing, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer said that in a phone conversation between President Bush and Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo, "a close friend and ally"  both presidents "expressed concerns about threats to democracy in the Andean region", as well as "the need to support Organization of American States Secretary General Gaviria in finding constitutional, democratic, peaceful and electoral solutions to the crisis in Venezuela."    Yet another group of seven US State representatives wrote a letter condemning the Venezuelan government, following this week's letter to Colin Powell by US State Representative Diaz Balart and six other Republicans, yet another group of seven US House representatives presented a letter critical of the Chavez regime. The letter, (see below) is directed at Chavez and states: "We are disturbed by the recent punitive actions taken by your government against the leaders of the opposition to you, and we are particularly concerned by the recent murders of people identified with that opposition." The letter is signed by the same US Congressmen who wrote a letter to President Bush condemning any US "involvement in any unconstitutional effort to overthrow [Chavez's] government."  The letter was a blow to Chavez, who said this week that Diaz-Balart's letter only the reflected the opinion of one person, as well as "international conspiracy" against his government, while claiming that other US Congressmen supported his government.    Finally, Associated Press reports that the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela said Friday that "The United States is concerned that international terror groups have established bases in all Latin American countries."  Shapiro's statements follow comments earlier this week in Miami by the U.S. Southern Command's Gen. James Hill, who said that "that terror organizations, including the militant Lebanese group Hezbollah, were operating in border areas of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay and on Venezuela's Margarita Island."   The Associated Press reports: "The Organization of American States and other mediators have so far failed to get the two sides to agree on the new elections sought by the opposition or to convince the political rivals to curb their harsh rhetoric." She states that the Carter proposals "failed to give impetus to the talks," which are in their fourth months of little progress.  The only agreement reached so far, to curb violence, was violated almost immediately with the gruesome slayings of three dissident soldiers and one political activist, and "the Feb. 18 arrest of opposition leader Carlos Fernandez and bomb blasts outside Spanish and Colombian diplomatic missions last week have further complicated the impasse."     Opinions   Today's opinion is an article in Business Week, titled "Oil and War", which describes all the reasons besides a war with Iraq why oil prices have increased. "First is Venezuela. After a devastating strike, it's still producing far below its previous output, and it may not come back for months or years, if ever."    Our second opinion article is "la oposicion se radicaliza", by Luis de Lion. (www.luisdelion.net)

E-mails   Our e-mails today both concern the Bolivarian Circles. Sydney Hedderich of Toronto describes the formation of a Bolivarian Circle in Toronto, and Liz Mata provides a letter that she wrote to the Miami Herald's Andrea Elliott, who featured them in yesterday's edition.     Events   On March 6, Dr. Margarita Lopez Maya of the Universidad Central de Venezuela will offer a talk titled "Venezuela on the Brink: Popular Protest and Civil Society in a time of Conflict" at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Lucha Democrática, Resistencia CiviI de Venezolanos en el Exterior (RECIVEX) , SAVE Venezuela and PROVEO would like to invite all Venezuelans to participate in the "Global Day in Repudiation of the Violence and Abuses of the Hugo Chavez Regime", which will take place on March 9 in cities around the world, including Washington DC and London. For upcoming events, please check www.11abril.com, www.proveo.org, www.aveny.com and www.veninvestor.com.   I hope you are safe, content, and peaceful, wherever this e-mail finds you,   Alexandra Beech   Research Staff Carlos Penug (international news) Sol Maria Castro (local news) Conchita Fernandez (Research and Translations)

www.wilmingtonstar.com Last changed: March 08. 2003 8:21PM

An opposition member yells "Chavez out" during a rally at a highway in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, March 8, 2003. The protest was called to show support for opposition leaders who led a failed two-month strike against Chavez. One of the leaders is under house arrest and several others are on the run from authorities.

By STEPHEN IXER Associated Press Writer Secret police swooped in on an anti-government demonstration Saturday in a failed attempt to arrest a national strike leader who emerged from hiding to address the rally. The police fired shots into the air and launched tear gas canisters to disperse anti-government protesters, who smashed police vehicle windows with sticks and stones, the television station Globovision reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests. Police rushed to the rally trying to seize former oil executive Juan Fernandez, one of several leaders of a failed two-month general strike aiming to force President Hugo Chavez's resignation or early elections. The strike ended Feb. 4. Fernandez warned Chavez to "pack his bag because we are going to get rid of him" and then was whisked away by supporters as protesters applauded wildly. Thousands of protesters waving placards reading, "No to judicial terrorism!," blocked a Caracas highway to demand justice in Venezuela and show support for opposition leaders. One of the leaders, businessman Carlos Fernandez, is under house arrest and several others are in hiding. At an International Women's Day event Saturday, Chavez accused his foes of committing high-profile crimes - including last month's bombing of Colombian and Spanish diplomatic missions in Caracas - in an attempt to smear his government. No one has been arrested for the blasts. "By God and my mother, there will be justice!" Chavez roared. Chavez also praised this week's arrest of a man for the killings of three dissident soldiers and an anti-government activist whose bound, tortured bodies were found last month. Tayro Aristiguieta, who was arrested in a Caracas slum, confessed to the killings, Chavez said. Detectives said the killings were not politically motivated, although protesters said they believe the government was behind the slayings. Also Saturday, soldiers were sent into the streets to launch a new government food distribution program, selling discount staples at open air markets in poor neighborhoods nationwide. The initiative comes ahead of predicted food shortages, as opposition producers say they cannot continue operating under the government's new price controls. Fixed prices for basic goods like meat, rice and medicines were introduced as inflation - fueled by a rapidly devaluating bolivar currency - threatened to spiral out of control. Inflation reached 8.3 percent in January and February. The strike was strongest in the oil industry, the source of half of government revenues and 80 percent of export earnings. Venezuela was the world's fifth-largest oil exporter before the strike began Dec. 2, producing 3.2 million barrels a day. Chavez said this week production was up to 2.6 million barrels a day, while fired managers say daily output was at 1.9 million. The Organization of American States and other mediators have so far failed to advance peace talks. The opposition claims Chavez has undermined the country's democracy and hurt the economy. Chavez, who was first elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, says his foes want to replace him with the old status quo, when an elite minority held power for decades.

www.veninvestor.com

"This revolution is peaceful, but it is not unarmed. The revolution is willing to defend its maxims in any territory. Sirs: I'm staying until the year 2021. Whoever is desperate, well, you'll have to wait a little while. I'm only staying until 2021 and with my sword drawn, I will defend this revolution which is of the sovereign people. Afterwards, I'll hang in a hammock in the plains of Arauca, or here in Punto Fijo, to sing the songs of Ali Primero."    - Hugo Chavez, while visiting a refinery yesterday     Good day,   Opec has a "dirty little secret" according to an analyst interviewed by Dow Jones.  Opec has limited production capacity, and Venezuela is not producing the oil that the government claims. "They can't handle the Venezuelan situation. In spite of claims that production is ramping up, we just haven't seen that," said John Kilduff, an analyst at Fimat USA Inc, that tracks and forecasts oil markets. The problem is "serious enough that it may not be able to keep the world humming at the pace it's accustomed to."  Saudi Arabia's claims that it can meet orders are false, and "[t]he only reassuring statistic is that combined strategic reserves around the world would be enough to put 12 million barrels a day on the market for about 45 days," reports Dow Jones.    The Miami Herald reports that the Venezuelan suicide-bomb suspect arrested last month with a hand grenade after arriving at London's Gatwick airport had "spent time in Afghanistan, Sudan and other countries linked to international terrorism, according to Venezuelan sources close to the investigation." This has "renewed fears not only over security loopholes at Venezuelan airports but the possibility that Islamic terrorist organizations may be using the country as a base" Furthermore, [t]he suspect's travels and known activities are consistent with links to al Qaeda or other extreme Islamic groups, according to specialists in international security issues."  A senior Venezuelan source told the Herald that passport copy showed that Hazil Mohamad Rahaman, 37, had traveled to Yemen, as well as twice, in 2000 and 2001, to Franfurt, Germany, where the World Trade Center attacks were planned, as well as attacks against the US missions in Kenya and Tanzania.  The suspect said that he applied for political asylum in Germany using a false Palestinian id. In addition, the Herald reports that Ramaham disappeared from Caracas three years ago, and then returned on January 20 and stayed in a hotel. "He bought the grenade -- presumably on the black market...for 200,000 bolivares (around $125)."  The grenade was found in his sole luggage, a backpack, that was rejected for its size and had to be checked. "When it was discovered, the grenade was wrapped in aluminum foil inside an infrared massaging device, which in turn was apparently concealed in a lead-lined wooden box." After Sept. 11, according to a former DISIP (secret police) agent, "Washington asked the Venezuelan government to check on the whereabouts of around a dozen terrorist suspects thought to be on Margarita. They were there, the agent said, ``but I've not seen any subsequent action to deal with them.''   Seven US House representatives asked Secretary of State Colin Powell to apply the Inter-American Democratic Charter in the Venezuelan case. (to read the charter, please read www.oas.org)  The letter, written and delivered by Florida Republican Lincoln Díaz-Balart, asks that the secretary of state invoke the charter against Hugo Chavez, given that the government has violated Article 20 of the charter:   The objectives of the programs and actions will be to promote governance, stability, good governance, and the quality of democracy with special preference given to strengthening political institutions and the wide range of social organizations which make up civil society. At the same time, and noting that democracy is not just a juridical structure and a political regime, but a way of life founded on liberty and the constant economic, social, and cultural improvement of its people, such programs will pay similar attention to strengthening a democratic culture and promoting democratic principles and practices and the values of liberty and social justice in child and youth education.   US oil policy featured in news, due to a Senate Democrats report issued yesterday, claiming that even though the Bush administration last year "added 41 million barrels of oil to the reserve, kept in salt domes along the Gulf of Mexico, U.S. energy companies cut back comparably on their own oil inventories, resulting in no net increase in nationwide oil supplies," according to the Washington Post.  In addition, "Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham rejected the notion that the government's decision significantly affected energy prices. He said the amount was too small to have an impact." In "India tanks up on Iraq oil" The Telegraph from Calcutta, India reports: "With no oil being available from nearby Venezuela, US companies had to go farther out to the Gulf and Russia to buy, which meant a higher demand for ships as the cargo had to be carried over longer distances."   Newspapers across the US also offers features describing the plight of Venezuelans, both in Venezuela and the US. The Mercury News and AP offer "Supply Shortages Hit Venezuela Hospitals", Christopher Toothaker reports: " Supply shortages in public hospitals - a problem in this impoverished country for years - have sharpened since President Hugo Chavez imposed strict controls on foreign exchange in January."  The Oklahoman provides the story of a Venezuela couple in "Venezuelan strife gives couple appreciation for U.S. comforts", which reports that "Mike Giordano, 28, remains in Venezuela while his wife, Alison, has returned to Edmond because they're worried about the political chaos gripping the South American nation."  

In local news...

In his customary inflammatory tone, Chavez threatened to "recover" the governships held by opposition leaders. Furthermore, he said he planned to remain in power until 2021. Visiting a refinery, he said that Venezuela is currently producing 2.5 million oil barrels per day. * The commission that will choose 20 candidates for the National Electorate Council was sworn in by the National Assembly board yesterday. The commission includes six government National Assembly reps, five opposition reps, and ten representatives from civil society. * Army General  Raúl Isaías Baduel denied the presence of FARC leaders in Venezuelan territory. * The first bilateral meeting scheduled for today between the government and opposition to debate an electoral solution was postponed until Thursday by the government representatives, due to a prior "commitments.  These bilateral meetings are to replace the negotiations table, which will not meet this week since OAS head Cesar Gaviria is at an "important meeting" in Bolivia. * A fire left 75% of Caracas without electricity for more than 40 minutes yesterday.    Opinions   Today, I've included several opinion articles. As the Venezuelan crisis becomes a global topic and more people realize that Chavez is dragging down the world economy down with him, more editorials slant towards the opposition and the need to remedy the crisis. The International Herald Tribune offers "Chavez is creating a political abyss" by Moises Naim,  who claims that Venezuela "has become a nightmare for its people and a threat not just to its neighbors but to the United States and even Europe." Naim also describes how Venezuela has defied all the assumptions shaped in the 1990's about how how the US could influence any country's politics, and also the precept  "that global economic forces would force democratically elected leaders to pursue responsible economic policies. Yet Chávez, a democratically elected president, has been willing to tolerate international economic isolation - with disastrous results for Venezuela's poor - in exchange for greater power at home."  The Washington Times editorial, "Chavez and the Media," states: "Regardless of how Mr. Chavez and his supporters regard the objectivity the press in Venezuela, the president would make a big mistake to limit its freedoms. After all, Mr. Chavez can use speeches and state-owned outlets to counter any perceived subjectivity or inaccuracies. Weakened accountability could well result in serious human rights abuses in Venezuela, as seen in other places in the world."   In "Venezuela's democracy must not be forgotten," by the San Antonio Express, Jonathan Gurwitz writes that "the beauty of Venezuela, its democratic tradition, its rule of law, its respect for individual rights, and its vibrant economy are all in peril today as its leftist President, Hugo Chávez, threatens to turn Venezuela into the Iraq of the Western Hemisphere."   USA Today provides an interesting interview with US Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham, about the crucial topic of energy alternatives: "As the USA moves closer to war with oil-rich Iraq, gas prices are on the rise. So are concerns about terrorist attacks that might involve radiological materials available from widespread sources. In addition to tackling these pressing concerns, the Bush administration has proposed spending $1.7 billion over five years to start developing hydrogen fuel cells that could power cars, eventually eliminating U.S. dependence on foreign oil."   In the Naples News, "Bonnie Erbe: Country remains passive toward failing economy" Bonnie Erbe wonders why "the American public seems to be as blithely tolerant of an economy that has been almost purposefully tipped away from the brink of recovery and toward (if not over) the brink of recession for more than a year now."  She also claims that "President Bush's war strategy is directly responsible for higher gas prices, higher oil and natural gas prices to heat our homes, increased airline ticket prices, higher food prices (which must be shipped and trucked into grocery stores,) higher UPS and Fed Ex shipping costs (both companies have instituted fuel surcharges to ship packages) and more for, well, just about everything we eat, drink, drive to, and need to live." In "Brazil blocking conference to deal with Latin crises", The Miami Herald's Andres Oppenheimer reports that "there is a big bad boy who is blocking plans to solve Latin America's multiple crises -- Brazil," which is "paralyzed by 19th century fears of U.S. imperial designs, which have long driven it to instinctively reject almost anything coming from Washington or supported by Washington, regardless of its merits."   Commentary   The following is the letter I wrote to the New York Times, regarding the editorial by Moises Naim. (Republished by the International Herald Tribune). I encourage you to also write the New York Times with your views on Naim's editorial to letters@nytimes.com.  Please include your name, address, and phone number at the end of your piece. Also, if you send me a copy, I will publish it in the Daily, (without your info). Remember that your letter can be no longer than 150 words.   To the Editor,   I am writing concerning Moises Naim's op-ed, "Hugo Chavez and the Limits of Democracy" (03/05/03). Mr. Naim describes the dangers of letting democracy merely mean elections, using Venezuela as an illustration of flawed thinking regarding developing countries.  A shocking reality for Venezuelans is that the United States, the OAS, the United Nations, and the European Union - supposed global leaders - stood motionless as the lines between activism and treason were erased.   You don't hire a demolition crew to construct a building. Chavez was adept at destroying all institutions in Venezuela - both good and bad. During the next decade, politicians will have to rebuild the country from scratch. That will not include Chavez, who should accept that his appointment with Venezuela ended.  He is grasping to power like an acrobat hanging from a tightrope. Eventually, he will let go, but not before dragging the country further into despair.   Alexandra Beech   Events

On March 6, Dr. Margarita Lopez Maya of the Universidad Central de Venezuela will offer a talk titled "Venezuela on the Brink: Popular Protest and Civil Society in a time of Conflict" at 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at The Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. Lucha Democrática, Resistencia CiviI de Venezolanos en el Exterior (RECIVEX) , SAVE Venezuela and PROVEO would like to invite all Venezuelans to participate in the "Global Day in Repudiation of the Violence and Abuses of the Hugo Chavez Regime", which will take place on March 9 in cities around the world, including Washington DC and London.

For upcoming events, please check www.11abril.com, www.proveo.org, www.aveny.com and www.veninvestor.com.   I hope you are safe, content, and peaceful, wherever you are, Alexandra Beech