Tag Archives: Hugo Chavez

May
31
2011
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In Case You Missed It… Differing views on U.S.-imposed sanctions on Venezuela

Below are two differing views on the sanctions the U.S. recently imposed on Venezuela’s PDVSA.

US Oil Sanctions Against Venezuela May End Up Helping Chavez
The Wall Street Journal
By Ezequiel Minaya and Kejal Vyas
May 30, 2011

U.S. sanctions against Venezuela’s state oil company may benefit rather than hurt President Hugo Chavez’s government by providing fuel for anti-U.S. rhetoric as the leftist leader rallies supporters ahead of next year’s presidential elections. Slamming Washington is a timeworn strategy for winning votes in many parts of Latin America, and it could provide a boost to the re-election bid by Chavez, who in his 12 years in power has become the region’s loudest U.S. critic. “Chavez is using [the sanctions] as a weapon to consolidate his base, to put the opposition in an uncomfortable situation and to rally support for his election campaign,” said Anibal Romero, a Caracas-based retired professor of political science. While analysts don’t expect the recent sanctions to have much effect on Petroleos de Venezuela SA, or PdVSA, as the state oil company is known, the reaction from the Chavez government has generated unease among holders of Venezuelan debt, weighing on bonds trading in New York in recent days.

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Hugo Chavez in the U.S. Crosshairs
Foreign Policy
By José R. Cárdenas
May 27, 2011

Finally, Hugo Chavez is being held accountable for his reckless efforts to aid and abet Iran’s illegal pursuit of a nuclear capability and evasion of international sanctions. This week, the Obama administration announced it was imposing sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company PDVSA and the Venezuelan Military Industries Company CAVIM for their illicit dealings with Iran. The sanctions are admittedly minimal, but one hopes they signal a new vigor on the part of the administration towards further exposing and countering the nefarious Venezuelan-Iran axis.

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May
20
2011
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In Case You Missed It… Articles Roundup Week of 5/20/11

In this week’s News Roundup…A German newspaper reports on the alleged construction of Iranian missile bases in Venezuela; suspected drug lord Walid Makled reveals deals with several Venezuelan government subsidiaries; and Mr. Chávez is forced to implement energy rationing measures in an attempt to combat rolling blackouts, while the opposition gains momentum.

‘Die Welt’: Iran Building Rocket Bases in Venezuela, Jerusalem Post
German newspaper says Iranians paid cash to build mid-range missile launch pads on Paraguana Peninsula in Venezuela. According to the daily, Iranian engineers visited the site in February.

Makled had Deals with PDVAL and CASA, El Universal
The relationship between the Makled Group – the economic empire led by alleged drug kingpin Walid Makled – and state-run oil holding Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) was not limited to Venezuelan Petrochemical Corporation (Pequiven). It also made business in the food sector.

The FARC Enablers, Foreign Policy
When the Colombian military raided a camp of the narco-terrorist group FARC (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia) across the border in Ecuador in 2008, the resulting intelligence haul from computers belonging to FARC capo Raúl Reyes revealed the shocking extent to which the group conspired and colluded with the radical populist governments of Hugo Chávez in Venezuela and Rafael Correa in Ecuador.

Venezuela adopts electricity rationing measures in response to blackouts, The Washington Post
Venezuela’s government is urging people to save energy and has begun rolling blackouts in some parts of the country after two major power outages in the past month. Some units at thermoelectric plants have not been operating, and the government is taking steps to bring them back on line, Electrical Energy Ministry official Igor Gavidia said Thursday. Speaking to reporters, he acknowledged there are “weaknesses” in the country’s power plants. Vice President Elias Jaua urged Venezuelans to save energy, saying demand has been growing and at certain times of day power usage “reaches the electrical generation capacity.”

Venezuela: Chávez Trying to Eliminate Opponent, Hudson New York
The race for Venezuela’s presidential election has already started. Given the fact that Chávez controls the main media outlets, opposition candidates know that the competition will be very stiff and very unfair.

 
May
19
2011
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Chavez perpetuates harassment of private sector and all opposition to his rule

Under the pretext of doing its due diligence in assessing the cause for the country’s food shortage crisis, the Venezuelan government unleashed yet another round of expropriations and threats of expropriations. On Wednesday, Venezuelan government officials carried out a surprise inspection of a warehouse belonging to U.S. agri-business giant Cargill as part of the government’s investigation of retailers for alleged hoarding and price-gouging.

President Hugo Chavez often blames “capitalist speculators” for shortages of goods, but critics insist the food shortages are due to the incompetent policies of the Chavez government. Fernando Morgado, former president of local business chamber Consecomercio, says Chavez’s constant threats and intimidating tone are exacerbating the problem.

Cargill is one of several U.S. companies which have subjected to government intervention and harassment in Caracas. Others include some of America’s most iconic companies – from Pepsi, McDonald’s and Wendy’s to Hilton Hotels.

A report released by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in May 2010 cites watertight evidence that the policies of President Chavez are wreaking havoc on Venezuela’s economy by discouraging foreign investments into the country. The ECLAC report concludes that, in 2009 alone, Mr. Chavez’s systematic nationalization of major industries has caused a negative inflow of $3.1 billion in foreign investment dollars in Venezuela.

Also on Wednesday, the mayor of Caracas ordered the expropriation of the daily El Nuevo Pais. The measure coincided with the paper’s extensive coverage of allegations that Iran is building missile bases in Venezuela, a story that was broken last week by a German newspaper.

“This appears to be a retaliatory measure,” said the paper’s editor, Rafael Poleo.”In the last few days, we had been reporting on the issue of the Iranian missile bases. We were the only daily in Venezuela doing this.”