Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Odds and ends from Venezuela
Just a quick update on some happenings in Venezuela:
First, some of the military officers who participated in the April 2002 coup against President Chavez sought asylum in Colombia. News reports indicate that they have been turned down by the Colombian government and may wind up back in Venezuela to face the Venezuelan legal system.
There was this sweet little comment about it in the news though:
So lets see if I understand this correctly. Mr. Ramirez thinks that he is being prosecuted for political reasons. That he helped lead a bloody overthrow of a government wouldn’t have anything to do with it ,would it? Of course not. Such is the thinking and logic of the opposition. I’m sure if he ultimately goes to jail (as Chavez did when he lead a coup) the opposition will immediately add him to their list of “political prisoners”. This is why when you hear any of the anti-Chavez types talking about political prisoners you should take a step back and be careful not to step in the bullshit.
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In what has become a non-stop torrent of good economic news the National Institute of Statistics reported reported today that unemployment in August 2005 was 12.1% which is a reduction from the 14.2% in August of last year. At the same time the number of people employed in the formal sector of the economy rose to 5,645,735 from 5,119,222. An increase of more than 500,000 jobs in the past year. And with the strong growth Venezuela has been experiencing hopefully this very positive trend will continue.
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Lastly, Ultimas Noticias reported today that of the 167 opposition candidates populated for the National Assembly only 14 are women. A little bias there maybe?
This is particularly funny given the oppositions habit of crowing about how women are often at the forefront of their movement. Thats actually partly true. After all, when you have a movement led by such notorious cowards as Antonio Ledezma, Carlos Ortega, Carlos Andres Perez, Gustavo Cisneros, Juan Fernandez among others of course they are going to put the women out front. You don’t think THEY want to risk getting hurt do you. But of course, once things settle down and the opposition is back in power women will go back to their natural place in society – in a kitchen or on a billboard in a skimpy bikini. They know to let the real work of governing be done by men. “Know your place, accept your lot.” That should be the official motto of the opposition.
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First, some of the military officers who participated in the April 2002 coup against President Chavez sought asylum in Colombia. News reports indicate that they have been turned down by the Colombian government and may wind up back in Venezuela to face the Venezuelan legal system.
There was this sweet little comment about it in the news though:
BOGOTA, Colombia - Former top Venezuelan military officials accused of trying to oust Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in a 2002 coup are seeking refugee status in Colombia.
Rear Adm. Hector Ramirez, who was named Venezuela's defense minister during the failed two-day coup, is one of nine former or current military officers seeking refuge in Colombia, local media reported Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, we cannot return to our country, precisely due to political persecution," Ramirez said, according to the RCN radio Web site.
So lets see if I understand this correctly. Mr. Ramirez thinks that he is being prosecuted for political reasons. That he helped lead a bloody overthrow of a government wouldn’t have anything to do with it ,would it? Of course not. Such is the thinking and logic of the opposition. I’m sure if he ultimately goes to jail (as Chavez did when he lead a coup) the opposition will immediately add him to their list of “political prisoners”. This is why when you hear any of the anti-Chavez types talking about political prisoners you should take a step back and be careful not to step in the bullshit.
.....................................................................................................................................
In what has become a non-stop torrent of good economic news the National Institute of Statistics reported reported today that unemployment in August 2005 was 12.1% which is a reduction from the 14.2% in August of last year. At the same time the number of people employed in the formal sector of the economy rose to 5,645,735 from 5,119,222. An increase of more than 500,000 jobs in the past year. And with the strong growth Venezuela has been experiencing hopefully this very positive trend will continue.
.........................................................................................................................................
Lastly, Ultimas Noticias reported today that of the 167 opposition candidates populated for the National Assembly only 14 are women. A little bias there maybe?
This is particularly funny given the oppositions habit of crowing about how women are often at the forefront of their movement. Thats actually partly true. After all, when you have a movement led by such notorious cowards as Antonio Ledezma, Carlos Ortega, Carlos Andres Perez, Gustavo Cisneros, Juan Fernandez among others of course they are going to put the women out front. You don’t think THEY want to risk getting hurt do you. But of course, once things settle down and the opposition is back in power women will go back to their natural place in society – in a kitchen or on a billboard in a skimpy bikini. They know to let the real work of governing be done by men. “Know your place, accept your lot.” That should be the official motto of the opposition.
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