Venezuela: War on private property?

Veneconomy (Venezuela) ^ | Jan. 11, 2005 | Staff

[Kitten Festival]

The war to the death against big estates decreed by President Chávez in the Poliedro put paid to the illusions held by many who still believed that the government was going to act rationally and within the confines of the law. ...

This Commission will have a “constitutional mandate” to incorporate the land it considers “idle, abandoned or underused” into “the productive process of the country,” according to the Decree on the Reorganization of the Ownership and Use of Land Suitable for Agricultural Use. The land so considered will be handed over to groups of the population and organized communities for its productive, sustainable use.

That all sounds fine on paper, but … There is a notable absentee in this decree: the right to private property. Nowhere does it make any mention of respect for private property or of any mechanism for compensating those who, at the time, hold rights over the confiscated land.

Nevertheless, spokesmen from the government coalition side have said that the ownership of the properties that are affected will be reviewed. This could be seen as a good sign, or it could be merely for show, as it is well known that, in Venezuela, very few landowners can show that they own the land based on documents going back to a royal decree of the 16th century. A malicious application of the concept of ownership would leave owners defenseless.

The seriousness of this situation stems from the fact that this is a strategically calculated attack on every Venezuelan’s right to property. This strengthens the thesis ... that it is not an effort aimed at benefiting a vulnerable sector of the population, but one whose purpose is to dismantle the private sector and to serve as an means of reprisal against anyone who opposes the process.

[Kitten Festival]

This is one of the most eloquent essays I have read so far on this terrible spreading destruction of private property in Venezuela. A must read, open and read all of it, it just keeps getting better.

[phoenix0468]

Time for many Venezuelans go to the nearest court and get a decree of ownership, and then buy a gun for protection of that ownership. Isn't that pretty much what we did here in the latter 18th century?

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Sad. The Vens have had their last free election.

[Paleo Conservative]

I wonder how much food Venezuela will have to import after they confiscate all the efficient farms?

[vpintheak]

Rats, socialists, commies, liberals, and all the snot nosed idiots in the DU love Chavez. In other words, him and his government shouldn't get any hep from US in any way shape our form. Unless that help leads to a new government.