Interventionism

all the facts and news in Venezuela on Interventionism of government of hugo chavez and how it influences Venezuelan people

Jul
28
2010
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Political Beer in Venezuela: Chávez Looks to Nationalize Major Brewery

Credits: Towards FreedomThis article was originally posted by Toward Freedom

Venezuela has the highest per capita consumption of beer in Latin America, clocking in at 90 liters per person annually. Empresas Polar, one of the largest breweries in the country, is currently in the crosshairs of President Hugo Chávez, who would like to put the company under state control.

Since becoming president in 1999, Chávez has nationalized numerous industries, from the oil sector to Venezuelan operations of the US agricultural and food corporation Cargill.

Now, Chávez has his sights on Polar, a major beer and food producer. The move is part of a government strategy to stem food shortages and decentralize corporate wealth to benefit the majority of Venezuelans.

Venezuelan billionaire Lorenzo Mendoza, the owner of Polar, placed (with his family) in 125th on Forbes Magazine list of the global wealthy.

“I’m not afraid to nationalize Polar, Mendoza, so be careful,” Chávez said. “Let’s see who lasts longer — you, with your Polar and your riches, or me, with my people and the dignity of a revolutionary soldier.”

Sending a clear signal to Polar, which is also the distributor of Pepsi Cola in the country, Chávez ordered the company to remove a massive globe-shaped Pepsi advertisement from a high-rise building in downtown Caracas. The Chávez government also moved to expropriate a Polar warehouse outside of Caracas to turn it into a space for public housing.

In one verbal attack against the billionaire, Chávez said, “Come down from your cloud, Mendoza. Here in Venezuela… We’re done with the sacred cows.”

 
Jul
28
2010
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Lawyer from anti-Chavez TV faces prosecution

This article was originally posted by The Associated Press

A  lawyer who represents Venezuela’s lone television channel that remains critical of President Hugo Chavez has been charged with obstructing justice, prosecutors said Tuesday.

Perla Jaimes tried to prevent police from raiding a home belonging to Guillermo Zuloaga, the president and majority shareholder of the Globovision TV station, the Attorney General’s Office alleged in a statement.

Jaimes, who could face up to three years in prison if convicted. denied any wrongdoing.

“None of the arguments they are using correspond with reality,” she said.

The May 1 police raid led to criminal charges of usury against Zuloaga, who also owns several car dealerships. Zuloaga has called the charges bogus and contends prosecutors are acting on orders from Chavez to punish him for Globovision’s stinging criticism.

Human rights groups also have voiced concern that Chavez is using prosecutors to crack down on outspoken critics, including Zuloaga. He recently fled the country after a court issued an arrest warrant for him and one of his sons.

Chavez denies trying to silence the station for its tough editorial line.

 
Jul
27
2010
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Chaos in Caracas: Chavez Says U.S. Hastening Plans to Attack

This article was orginally posted by The Huffington Post

Earlier this month Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez ordered scientists to exhume the 180-year-old remains of his hero, independence leader Simón Bolívar. But over the weekend Chávez showed his biggest bone to pick is still with America.

On Saturday, Chávez announced on State Television that the United States is accelerating a plan to attack the oil-rich nation under the pretext of fighting drug trafficking, citing a memo from a secret source inside America. The announcement capped off a frenetic two-week period in Venezuela that began with the interment of Bolívar and included a move by Chávez to seize a major stake of Globovision, the country’s only remaining opposition broadcast outlet. By last Thursday, Chávez had formally severed diplomatic relations with backyard rival Colombia. And then, just for good measure, he threatened to halt all oil exports to America in the face of a U.S. attack.

Of course, this isn’t the first time the mercurial Venezuelan leader has made anti-American accusations of dubious merit, and Latin American historians say this is just another case of Chávez being Chávez. But one still wonders why the president is ramping up the rhetoric so drastically now. Some analysts have suggested that his antics serve as an opening salvo of aggression toward Juan Manuel Santos, who will be inaugurated president of Colombia on Aug. 7, when Álvaro Uribé, an ally of President Obama, steps down. But it’s equally likely that Chávez wants to upend his own country’s parliamentary elections in September.

Venezuela’s economy is sagging and its crime rate is spiking. Chávez’s rural base is upset with him after 30,000 tons of food, destined for poor neighborhoods, was discovered rotting in Venezuelan warehouses. Chávez’s socialist government is in no danger of losing the majority, but opposition parties are making inroads. In desperate need of diversion, Chávez has created a state of high alert.

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