19 Aug 2006

Venezuela

Recently I saw a impressive documentary about the coup against Hugo Chavez, filmed from inside the presidently palace in Caracas.

More about this film here.

 

Chavez Says Venezuela Captured Four U.S. Spies

 President Hugo Chavez said Friday that Venezuela has caught four people, including a naval attache at the U.S. Embassy whom he accused of spying in February, and ordered out of the country  spying for the U.S. government and has turned them over to the Americans.

"The gringos in intelligence are fools," Chavez told the rally in western Venezuela. "I've caught four of their spies, four, and I've put them back in their hands. Not long ago we caught a very beautiful woman in Valencia, taking photos. Taking photos because they're fools."

 

CIA spy chief for Venezuela

Chavez read the name of the official named by Negroponte to head the Cuba and Venezuela mission, 32-year intelligence veteran J. Patrick Maher, and laughed.

Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president, said he believed that Maher's appointment was linked to presidential elections due in December that he is widely expected to win.

"This shows us that the empire does not rest, that it is hatching a plan for December or a period before December," he told reporters. "But whatever it is, we will thwart it."

U.S. officials have denied trying to overthrow the leftist Chavez, who is Cuban President Fidel Castro's close ally and friend. But U.S. President George W. Bush's government has repeatedly labeled Chavez a threat to democracy.

Chavez said he wishes the best for the American people and hopes they one day "live under democracy, because they live under a fascist dictatorship." 

(Foxnews / Aljazeera)

 

But still it's not all good in Venezuela, Amnesty International: Human rights defenders, victims of human rights violations, and their relatives are frequently subjected to attacks and intimidation. Despite this, they are almost never granted adequate or effective protection by the State. Venezuelan human rights organizations have documented over 100 police killings in Guárico State in recent years. In the vast majority of these cases the authorities have not investigated the complaints and the perpetrators have not been brought to justice. Many Venezuelan states have a similar history of police abuse.

Source: Venezuela: Fear for safety - Amnesty International