Venezuela Chavez Recall Vote Unlikely Before Aug. 19

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela Chavez Recall Vote Unlikely Before Aug. 19 (Update1)

March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is unlikely to face a recall vote demanded by his opponents before Aug. 19 because a Supreme Court ruling on the matter may take months to decide, a legal adviser to the opposition said.

Any referendum after the date means Chavez won't be forced to face reelection even if he loses the recall.

A dispute between two chambers of the Supreme Court over the validity of signatures collected to trigger a referendum on Chavez, 49, probably will be decided by the court's 20-justice full chamber after several months, said D'lsa Solorzano, legal adviser in Caracas to the Democratic Coordinator, which represents the opposition.

``We expect the full chamber will take at least two months to decide,'' Solorzano said in an interview. ``It's likely there won't be a referendum before August 19.''
(snip/...)

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000086&sid=amvudAixwZJ8&refer=latin_america

[tkmorris]

1. If it happens after August 19

If recall elections take place after August 19 and Chavez were to lose than Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel would take over the office. I am going searching for information on this guy but does anyone else have anything? Is he a true heir apparent in the Chavez mold or merely a stooge along for political reasons? His name has not often arisen in my searches about Chavez so I am in the dark here.

For those confused, if the recall were to take place prior to August 19 and Chavez lost a new presidential election would be triggered immediately. If Chavez lost after August 19 the Presidency reverts to Rangel until the next regularly scheduled election.

[AP]

4. If memory serves, Rangel had one of the best moments in The Revolution Wil

Not Be Televised.

I need to see this movie again, but I think Rangel gets one of the opposition leaders on the phone and tells them that they have nowhere to go, that the palace is full of guards who are loyal to the government. He puts the phone down, and says something like, "I think that scared the shit out of them."

I could be totally wrong about this.

[Judi Lynn]

2. "An Open Letter to John Kerry" from a Venezuelan American

March 24, 2004

An Open Letter to John Kerry
You Are Wrong on Venezuela, Senator
By EVA GOLINGER

As a registered Democrat who supports major changes to current US governance, I must express my utmost disappointment and disillusionment with your March 19, 2004 Statement on Venezuela. I am a US citizen of Venezuelan origin. I have voted on the democratic bill since I was first legally permitted to vote many years ago. Along with many other residents and citizens in this country, I believe the current US administration has acted in ways contrary to my beliefs and perceptions of democracy and progress, and has betrayed notions of what the United States of America should truly represent and pursue in the world community.

Up until Friday's statement, I had hope that you, as a presidential candidate, could offer the American people a true alternative and change from the brutal, insensitive and interventionist government we have had during the past four years. As a Venezuelan-American, I must tell you that your statement on Venezuela is not only highly misplaced, but also demonstrates how truly uninformed you are about the situation in Venezuela. It also leads me to believe that you have been influenced by interested parties insisting you take a stand on this issue in their favor.

You declare that international pressure should bear on President Chavez to allow the referendum to proceed, which clearly demonstrates your ignorance of the referendum process in Venezuela. As per the Venezuelan Constitution, certain procedures must first be completed before a recall referendum can be held on President Chavez' mandate, and those clamoring for the referendum have yet to fulfill the necessary requirements that would permit such a vote to take place. It may be easy for you to make a statement on an issue you do not fully understand or care about, merely to acquire approval from a targeted voting pool, yet I would warn you to not make such whimsical declarations without first examining the entire situation.

You, as others in the current administration and congress, may feel as though President Chavez is somehow interfering in the referendum process. But, Mr. Kerry, I suggest you seek out other news and information sources than those currently serving you, because a more accurate report of the events in Venezuela would demonstrate to you that President Chavez has taken no steps whatsoever to impede a recall referendum. Venezuela's Electoral Council and Supreme Court are currently determining whether hundreds of thousands of potentially fraudulent signatures are subject to further review and certification. Determining whether substantial numbers of signatures on a very important petition is an issue, which I hope, you would consider worthy of scrutiny and absolute certainty. Or would you permit such a situation to occur in your own election and just let potentially fraudulent votes against you be counted without any further verification or review?
(snip/...)

http://www.counterpunch.org/golinger03242004.html

[Judi Lynn]

3. Venezuela's Oil Giant: Investors Undeterred by Friction with U.S.

Venezuela's Oil Giant: Investors Undeterred by Friction with U.S.
EFE News Services Tuesday, March 23, 2004


Foreign firms will continue to invest in Venezuela's energy sector despite the current strains between Caracas and Washington, the chairman of state-owned oil giant PDVSA said Monday.

"Investors know we have the largest reserves in the Western Hemisphere and that we are very close to the world's leading energy market, which is the United States, and that's why there's strong interest by industry firms in being in Venezuela," Ali Rodriguez told reporters.

The PDVSA chief said domestic opponents of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez have mounted an international campaign to make things difficult for oil multinationals investing in Venezuela.

Rodriguez said the campaign is bound to fail, noting that on Feb. 19 U.S. giant ChevronTexaco received approval to drill for natural gas in the Deltana platform off Venezuela's eastern coast.
(snip/...)

http://www.rigzone.com/news/article.asp?a_id=11743

[AP]

5. Remember how France and Russia's problems with the invasion of Iraq

had more to do with whether their preexisting contracts would be honored than with whether it was just and legal?

Obviously, signing these contracts is the way for Chavez to get the money he needs to build up the working class and the poor. I wonder if the US-supported oil companies see them as jeopardizing less fair contracts (from the VZ-persective) they would rather sign with an opposition-led government?

[Judi Lynn]

6. Yep, I remember.

I think EVERYONE is slated to lose "big time" who isn't connected to _Bush's "friend" list, if he gets to have his way.

Do you think sensible investors who KNOW what the real situation is in Venezuela would turn on the legitimate Venezuelan government?

_Bush couldn't survive without the disinformation.....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This may crack some DU'ers up who have been following Vene. threads:

March 25, 2004

Misreporting Venezuela
Hugo Chavez as Processed by The Independent
By TONI SOLO

Many people read the London based Independent newspaper because among its reporters is the outstanding Robert Fisk. The anti-war stance of the newspaper on Iraq and its stance on genetically manipulated foods and other environmental issues may give the impression that the Independent is a responsible newspaper across the board. But a look at its coverage of Venezuela reveals the same old story of distortion, omission and deceit on US intervention in Latin America that one finds everywhere else in the corporate media.

It may be worth pointing out that the owner of the UK Independent is Tony O'Reilly, one of Ireland's most prominent businessmen, formerly head of H.J. Heinz. H.J. Heinz heiress Teresa Heinz is married to Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry. Also of note is that O'Reilly shares philanthropic concerns through the Ireland Fund with fellow fund member Peter Sutherland, former GATT and World Trade Organization chief, also chairman of oil giant BP-Amoco.1 It's unlikely their corporate philantropy extends to Hugo Chavez, the Venezuelan president.

Three important stories on Venezuela have appeared in the Independent during March.2 One by Phil Gunson on March 2nd, one by Andrew Buncombe on March 13th and one by Rupert Cornwell on March 20th. Phil Gunson's article is crude anti-Chavez propaganda. Buncombe's is a straightforward account of US funding for the Venezuelan opposition. Cornwell's is a more insidious anti-Chavez piece employing classic BBC-style bonhomie and "balance". Both pieces depend on ignoring crucial facts.
(snip/...)

http://www.counterpunch.org/solo03252004.html

[Judi Lynn]

7. Any DU'er who knows John Kerry's "position" on Venezuela

and has read the Free Venezuela "exile" statement from South Florida claiming responsibility for his recent statement might really enjoy signing this petition to ask him to reconsider:

To: John Kerry Campaign Headquarters
Vea una versión en Español de este documento al final.

We demand that democratic candidate for President of the United States, John Kerry retract his position on Venezuela, and get better informed about Latin America before issuing such biased opinions. We warn Kerry of not underestimating the support of progressives, who in the past election voted for candidates such as Ralph Nader, in the face of a democratic platform that clearly failed to meet their expectations.

Please call and/or send emails or faxes to the Kerry headquarters, demanding that Kerry be more informed about Venezuela and Latin America so that he will not commit the same errors of prior administrations whose thoughtless actions have increased anti-American sentiments throughout the region.

Background

The democratic candidate for President of the United States, John Kerry, published a statement on his web site this past March 19 (http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0319d.html), stating his position on the political situation in Venezuela. In this declaration, Kerry relies on inaccurate information and repeats views identical to those of the Venezuelan opposition to democratically-elected President Hugo Chavez.

Without offering any evidence, Kerry, follows the line of the Venezuelan opposition, accusing Chavez of aiding the Colombian guerrilla forces, permitting narcotrafficking, undermining democratic institutions, attempting to impede a possible recall referendum on his mandate, and of implementing policies that are detrimental to US interests.

Chavez is a President who has been elected twice by clear majorities in democratic elections, and who, at this time, still enjoys one of the highest levels of popularity amongst Latin American leaders. Chavez’s policies have earned him the support of millions of progressive and liberal voices throughout Latin America as well as in North America.

Kerry’s recent statement makes it clear that he has taken the side of the right-wing Venezuelan opposition, an opposition which is unequivocally responsible for the political instability in Venezuela due to its failure and refusal to accept Chavez as the President of Venezuela, despite his clear support by a majority of Venezuelans proven through numerous electoral victories.

The fact that in his statement Kerry suggests Bush has not put enough pressure on Chavez, completely ignores the ample evidence of the millions of dollars the Bush administration has given the Venezuelan opposition through the National Endowment for Democracy. Such substantial financing has been used numerous times in attempts to oust Chávez from office through extra-constitutional means.

Additionally, it is evident from Kerry’s Statement on Venezuela that he clearly was appealing to the right-wing Cuban-American vote in Florida, and not the progressive and liberal vote that forms the base of the Democratic Party.

It is almost unexplainable that Kerry, as a Democrat, maintains almost the same positions as Bush and his ultra-conservative cabinet. Many in the progressive community had hoped that Kerry could bring a fundamental change to the arrogant US government foreign policy towards Latin America. Statements such as Kerry’s lead us to believe that there may be little change in that policy, and unfortunately, mistrust and resentment towards the United States in Latin America would probably continue to grow as a result.

http://www.petitiononline.com/kerryven/petition.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You might find the comments interesting. They are probably mostly from Venezuelans. (I screwed up on mine, and couldn't retrieve it in time to correct it. Now I'm exposed as a mental defective! So who's perfect?)

Wake Forest University College Republicans......