Posted on 02/25/2003 4:12:08 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Embassies of Chavez's Critics Bombed
Feb. 24: Three were wounded in the explosion of two bombs in the Spanish Embassy and Colombian consulate Monday in Caracas, Venezuela early today.
Signed brochures promoting President Hugo Chavez’s “Bolivarian Revolution” were found at the sites.
A Venezuelan government official said, "We are outraged and will find those responsible for the crimes” (www.eluniversal.com) as he evaluated the damage.
The violent act comes in a time of gross discontent by the Chavez regime with the negotiating committees led by Cesar Gaviria, ex–president of Colombia and current secretary general of the Organization of American States.
Gaviria heads the “Group of Friends,” a spontaneous diplomatic initiative formed by foreign affairs officials from Brazil, Chile, Mexico, the U.S., Spain and Portugal aimed at resolving the Venezuelan conflict that is dividing the country.
Chavez harshly criticized commentaries by Gaviria on arrested strike leader Carlos Fernandez’s rights to better conditions. Fernandez was imprisoned Wednesday evening on charges of treason.
The president urged Gaviria to “find a place for himself” after the secretary general commented on “the importance of assuring that judicial decisions be considered in a setting determined by independence, impartiality and accordance with strict enforcement of the law and respect to rights consecrated in the Constitution” (www.globovision.com, Feb. 23).
Gaviria voiced concerns after the strike leader’s arrest in view of the violent treatment given to Fernandez after Mikael Moreno, a recently appointed Supreme Court judge, ordered his capture. Moreno, former defense lawyer of government officials filmed shooting at peaceful protesters in the April 11th massacre that left a death toll of 17 people last year, proposes 26 years of prison for Fernandez on charges including treason.
The Spanish and Portuguese secretaries of foreign affairs stated that the arrest of Fernandez “will not contribute to a peaceful solution based on dialogues” (www.eluniversal.com, Feb. 23).
The troubled president of Venezuela said “there are people who do not learn,” referring to the pronouncement of foreign affairs officials on the arrest of the opposition leader. He warned the U.S. too and said that they “should not continue to make mistakes” (www.eluniversal.com, Feb. 23).
U.S. Department of State spokesman Philip Reeker condemned on Monday Chavez’s rhetoric, stating that “his incendiary declarations did not help the progress of dialogues between opposition and the government” (www.eluniversal.com, Feb. 24). The move reflects the increased support of the U.S. government to the Venezuelan opposition.
Brazil Neglects Terrorist Label for Colombian Guerrillas
Feb. 21: The Brazilian government has manifested its opposition to the U.S.-sponsored “Plan Colombia” aimed at eradicating drug-trafficking operations led by Marxist Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC). Brazil fears that once expelled from Colombia these might invade Brazil through the Amazon jungle.
Lula, however, plans to ship satellites to the Colombian government to oversee the border.
Aurelio Garcia, adviser to the foreign ministry of the newly elected government of Brazil, said, "Brazil does not label rebel Colombian forces due to the fact that they might see their role in future peace negotiations hindered” (El Tiempo, Feb. 19).
Garcia said that President Inacio “Lula” da Silva’s government would wait for President Uribe’s final proposal with regard to terrorist labels for the main guerrilla group, FARC, before taking any decisions. He fears that the Colombian government might consider negotiating with terrorists at some point in the future, leaving Brazil unable to mediate negotiations.
Colombian President Uribe started a campaign about two weeks ago among the Organization of American States member countries to find supporters for the Colombian government’s goal of eliminating guerrilla groups. The explosion of a bomb that killed 35 people and wounded 173 at Club Nogal, an elite meeting spot in the center of Bogota, prompted the move by President Uribe and his cabinet.
So far, the U.S., Argentina, Central American countries such as Panama, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Guatemala have consented to the request, approved by the U.N. Security Council last week.
Brazil's Lula Pushes for Reforms
Feb. 20: Brazilian President Inacio “Lula” da Silva, former union and Worker’s Party leader, opened Congress’ first session with a message of cooperation between the largely poor masses and lawmakers to work together in these difficult times, where Brazil would see its feeble financial situation increasingly affected by a war against Iraq.
Lula’s appearance in Congress is highly unusual.
The Brazilian president is attempting to push for long-expected tax and pension reforms to improve the government’s fiscal and social-security condition in view of the growing deficit, which is threatening to push the government into bankrupcty.
The internal pension system, which grants higher pensions than former salaries to many public employees, has been a major expense for the Brazilian government. The drive to give way to these reforms was inherited from the past administration, which could not pass them in Congress due to the strong opposition by Lula’s Worker’s Party.
Lula declared, “It is time for each Brazilian to think less about their individual benefits and more in terms of the general good” (oglobo.com, Feb. 18).
The newly elected president has so far taken respected economic measures, such as an increase in interest rates to 25.5 percent and a current account surplus goal of 4.25 percent.
He said: “The stability of the currency is threatened. The people fear a decrease in the Real’s purchasing power. The virus of inflation has come back to become a real threat to the Brazilian economic system.”
In consideration of the expected rise in inflation, Lula has intervened in the yearly recalculation of tariffs to the utility industry. Seventeen utility distribution companies expect tariffs to be fixed for an increase of no more than 30 percent, as opposed to the expected 42.64 percent increase.
The balancing act that Lula is trying to pull off: to placate his leftist supporters, who control 57 percent in the lower house and by 75 percent in the Senate. Conservatives, however, are on the side of these reforms and will provide support in this respect.
Lula said in the opening session of Congress: “With this sentiment of a helping hand, of joint resposibility and of national understanding, I bring my message to this house. There is not a Brazil of Executive, Legislative and Judicial Powers, but 175 million human beings who have the urgency to conquer their citizenship.”
Venezuela Signs Non-violence Treaty With Opposition
Feb. 19, 2003: Government representatives and the opposition have signed an accord against violence caused due to political unrest in Venezuela.
The document is considered the first victory at the negotiating table since former Colombian President Gaviria and member of the Organization of American States arrived in Caracas to mediate talks between the opposing factions last December.
The OAS, the Carter Center and the United Nations Development Program have helped in the drafting of the eight-point treaty, which disproves of violence and attempts to promote peace, tolerance and republican principles such as the rule of law.
The document attempts to appease the opposing factions’ violent discourse and rhetoric neglecting “verbal intemperance, mutual recrimination, harsh language and other actions that would stimulate the confrontation” (www.eluniversal.com, Feb. 18).
A main point within the treaty prompts authorities to investigate the causes of violence and effectively sanction the perpetrators, especially in the cases where human lives were lost or human rights were abused. The treaty instates a Truth Commission to investigate the facts behind the violence of April 11th, which left a death toll of 17.
The commitment embraces the intent to cultivate the enforcement of this accord and further discussion of mechanisms to activate the truth commission, as well as the disarmament of civil society.
The part about pensions for public officials that are greater than past salaries reeks of the problems that brought about Argentina's crash. Brasil needs to get out from under the IMF and take on a strong dose of free-market economy.
At a U.S. request, Venezuelan officials said they sent more than a dozen federal agents, national guardsmen and municipal police to boost security around the embassy, which wasn't expected to reopen until Friday. No one claimed responsibility for Tuesday's bombings, which blew out ceilings and twisted metal street signs. Both sides in Venezuela's conflict blamed each other, and the finger-pointing threatened to undermine Organization of American States-sponsored negotiations.***
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Sending the fox to guard the hen house.
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