Chavez Plays Politics - Caught Dry, Venezuelan Hydro-Pwr Dam May Mean Lights Out*** But with the opposition girding to organize a recall referendum on the mandate of President Hugo Chavez, the government appears loathe to require people to cut back on their electricity consumption. Indeed, Roberto Bottome, editor of local economic newsletter VenEconomy, noted that "state-owned (utility) companies don't bill three-quarters of the population, so there's no incentive to conserve." Apart from the capital Caracas, to which AES Corp.'s EDC unit provides thermo-generated electricity, and Margarita Island, Venezuela's electricity supply is generated by public companies badly in need of investment.***
The FARC, Venezuela and Brazil: Growing Security Concerns in South America***Although FARC leaders repeatedly have pledged that their forces would not intrude into neighboring countries or stir up trouble beyond Colombia, recent developments suggest the pledges are not being honored. Colombian intelligence analysts believe that FARC and ELN units are behind the creation of a two-year-old border region group that calls itself the Bolivarian Liberation Front (FBL). This Venezuelan group, which claims to model itself after the FARC, is located inside a rough triangle bound by the cities of San Fernando in Apure state, Barinas and San Cristobal in Tachira state. The FBL is believed to number several hundred Venezuelans and former members of the now defunct Colombian Popular Liberation Army (EPL) militant group, and its actions are largely confined to kidnapping and extortion. However, the group took credit for a bomb that exploded recently at the Colombian consulate in Caracas.
In Brazil, the FARC reportedly has formed strategic partnerships with the country's largest organized crime gangs, Brazilian daily O Globo reported recently. In exchange for weapons and munitions, FARC instructors reportedly are teaching Red Command gang members in Rio de Janeiro how to operate automatic weapons, manufacture bombs and organize mass prison escapes. Brazilian security services detained Chilean national Carlos Orlando Messina Vidal on March 29, and charged him with being a FARC trainer working with organized crime gangs in Rio de Janeiro. Another six suspects sought by Brazilian authorities appear to have escaped. Against this backdrop, political aides are planning a meeting between Venezuelan leader Chavez and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva, though an exact date has not been announced. Officials said recently that the meeting would concern bilateral economic and investment issues.***