Interview
Opinion
Opposition fails to make counterproposal in Venezuelan political debate page 7
Injustice in USA: breaking private Manning page 8
Friday, November 30, 2012 | Nº 137 | Caracas | www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve
Socialists Lead in regional polls A new public poll released by the firm Consultores Venezolanos de Opinion Publica has placed the candidates of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as favorites in the gubernatorial races of states currently controlled by the opposition. One of the most closely watched regional races is that of Miranda where ex-Vice President of the Chavez administration, Elias Jaua is challenging the runner-up in the October presidential elections, Henrique Capriles. page 2
ENGLISH EDITION/The artillery of ideas
President Chavez receives complimentary medical treatment prior to regional elections Endandered species database
Integration
Caracas & Paris strengthen ties French officials signed accords in Venezuela this week to further relations. page 3 Politics
Afiuni’s claims to be investigated Venezuelan authorities have pledged to follow-up on charges made by Judge Maria Afiuni. page 4
INTERNATIONAL
The Venezuelan head of state returned to Cuba for additional treatment this week, following up on radiation therapy he received earlier this year for cancer he has suffered in his pelvic region since 2011. Chavez’s absence comes just two weeks before gubernatorial elections take place in the South American nation. Chavez’s party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), is currently leading polls in a majority of the country’s 23 states and is expected to sweep the elections. Chavez was re-elected October 7 with 55% of the vote. [Continued below]
The Venezuelan environmental organization Provita has launched an online tool for monitoring biodiversity called WikiEVA (Especies Venezolanas Amenazadas), which contains information about threatened species in Venezuela. The site, wikieva.org.ve, which was created with support from the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), contains lists of all the threatened species that are found in Venezuela, including mammals, reptiles, birds, insects, arachnids, fish, mollusks, corals, and crustaceans. Currently, there are 2,828 species listed in 14 classes, and 202 of them are endangered, which means they are at risk of extinction. The project was inspired by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species. By 2014, the organizers of the initiative hope to expand the site to include all the threatened plant species
International
Venezuela & US Relations, potential?
Venezuela’s Chavez in Cuba for Treatment T/ Agencies
Will anything change between the two nations during the following months?. page 5
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez traveled to Cuba Tuesday evening to undergo “special” medical treatment six months after his most recent session of anti-cancer radiation therapy. On Tuesday morning, the Venezuelan President sent to the National Assembly a re-
quest for permission to leave the country immediately, legislative speaker Diosdado Cabello said. “It has been recommended to me to begin special treatment consisting of several sessions of hyperbaric oxygenation that, along with physical therapy, continue consolidating the process of strengthening my health that I have been
undergoing”, said Chavez in his request, which was immediately approved by the assembly. “I have been exercising due care about my health and assiduously complying with the ... treatment plan ordered by the medical team attending me”, Chavez added, going on to say that he will remain in Cuba for an undetermined period. Chavez said he will address the National Assembly on January 10 to outline his government plan for the period 20132019 after winning re-election in October.
The President, who in June 2011 was diagnosed with cancer that required him to undergo three separate operations in Cuba, conducted an election campaign that intensified its rhythm into the final stretch. Since he won re-election on October 7, Chavez has reduced his public appearances to a minimum in order to speed his recovery from the intense treatment he received throughout the past year. On Wednesday, Venezuela’s Vice President, Nicolas Maduro, affirmed Chavez is “doing very well”.
2 Impact | . s Friday, November 30, 2012
The artillery of ideas
Poll gives advantage to socialists in regional elections; CNE puts electoral apparatus in motion T/ COI P/ Agencies
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new public poll released by the firm Consultores Venezolanos de Opinion Publica (Consultores VOP) has placed the candidates of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as favorites in the gubernatorial races of states currently controlled by the opposition. The information was revealed last weekend during the television program Jose Vicente Hoy, transmitted by the private channel Televen. According to Consultores VOP’s polling results, the socialist candidates currently carry an edge in the states of Miranda, Zulia, Nueva Esparta, Carabobo and Tachira, all states won by the Venezuelan rightwing in 2008. Highlights from the survey include a 17.5 percent advantage for PSUV candidate Francisco Ameliach in the state of Carabobo and a 22.3 point lead for socialist aspirant Francisco Cardenas in the country’s most populous state, Zulia. In Nueva Esparta, PSUV candidate Carlos Figueroa maintains a 7.8 percent edge over the incumbent Morel Rodriguez while Jose Vielma currently holds a 20.6 point lead over the opposition’s Cesar Perez in Tachira. Rangel explained during his program on Sunday that the poll was carried out between November 5 and 7 and that he is presenting the results “so that those involved make their evaluations and so that what happens on [election day] isn’t taken as a surprise”. One of the most closely watched regional races is that of Miranda where ex-Vice President of the Chavez administration, Elias Jaua is challenging the runner-up in Venezuela’s October presidential elections, Henrique Capriles. The poll released by Consultores VOP gives Jaua 45.5 percent of the vote - an advantage of 4.6 points over the incumbent Capriles. “In Miranda, we are seeing the particularity that the [socialist ticket]: former Vice President Elias Jaua has launched his campaign with a lot of force and he’s reaching diverse social sectors while the candidacy of Capriles looks like it’s confused and without direction”, Rangel commented. As part of his campaign, Jaua attended the inauguration on Monday of
a new public transportation system for the residents of the Tuy River Valleys in the Southwestern part of Miranda state, adjacent to the capital Caracas. The twenty-four new buses will benefit 80 communities of the valleys by providing transportation for residents from 5:30am to 11pm at a cost of 1.5 Bolivars (approximately 35 US cents). Fifty-six workers from Metro Caracas will operate the service, whose vehicles are a product of one of the many international agreements signed between Venezuela and the People’s Republic of China. “The Venezuelan people have a right to public quality transportation at a fair price”, Jaua said during the inauguration of the new routes, which will transport more than twenty thousand people daily. “I feel content to have been able to contribute something so that the peo-
ple of the Tuy Valleys have a comfortable transportation system. We met with the Chinese companies and organized the system. Making sure that the resources arrived on time was part of my job as Vice President”, Jaua commented on Monday. For his part, the President of Metro Caracas Haiman El Troudi assured the population that they can expect a first rate service operated by qualified workers in brand new vehicles. “They are units with a capacity of 60 people - 40 seated and 20 standing. They are safe and economical with highly trained personnel and for only 1.5 Bs”, Troudi stated.
CNE CONTINUES PREPARATIONS As the gubernatorial candidates continue with their campaign activity, Venezuela’s National Electoral Commission has been preparing the national voting
apparatus for the coming contest on December 16. This has implied the registration, beginning last Monday, of electoral witnesses from political organizations as well as indigenous groups and other observers designated by the gubernatorial candidates themselves. A CNE resolution passed last week allows for candidates and/or parties to register 12 regional electoral witnesses enabled to preside over the operations of any polling place in a given state. One principal witness with two substitutes for every voting center is additionally permitted. In conjunction with the registration of electoral observers, the electoral authority has been busy carrying out legally-mandated workshops for poll workers around the country. More than three thousand sessions have thus far been realized for the more than 460,000 workers who will operate Venezuela’s voting centers on December 16. The training requires that potential poll workers receive two hours of instruction at one of the 1,500 spaces dedicated to imparting the workshops around the nation. In compliance with the Law of Electoral Processes, any Venezuelan chosen via a CNE lottery to operate a polling place is obligated to carry out the remunerated duty and is required to take the necessary course to ensure a smooth and efficient voting process on election day. On Monday, the CNE carried out a raffle in which a new car and 28 laptop computers were awarded to a select group of workers who stood out in the performance of their electoral duties during the country’s October 7 presidential elections. CNE Vice President Sandra Oblitas commented that the awards are part of the incentives being presented to the citizens who made last month’s electoral contest one of the most successful processes in recent Venezuelan history. Following the ceremony, Oblitas made an appeal to the workers of December’s election to maintain the reputation of Venezuela as one of the most transparent and efficient voting processes in the world. “The call is that citizens attend the training and that we make the December 16 election an extremely successful event”, the electoral official said.
. s Friday, November 30, 2012
The artillery of ideas
| Integration
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Caracas and Paris sign accords, affirm bilateral cooperation
Venezuelan government responds to Yukpa needs T & P/ Ministry of Indigenous Peoples
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T/ COI P/ Agencies
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enezuela and France took a major step towards reinvigorating bilateral relations last weekend after the two nations signed a series of accords in Caracas that will increase cooperation in industry, mining, science and tourism. Seven agreements in total were signed as a result of the meeting, which saw French Minister Benoit Hamon visit the South American country to ink new deals with his Venezuelan counterpart, Ricardo Menendez. The delegation arrived after an official invitation from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez who expressed his desire to re-initiate high level relations with France after four years of inactivity. Key among the new agreements are plans for the erection of a Renault automobile assembly plant in the Caribbean country. “We’ve signed accords that, like in the case of Renault, will be implemented in Venezuela as a result of the relationship that we have”, commented Menendez, Industry Minister of the Chavez government. Work commissions have been formed between the Ministry of Industry and the French automotive company to begin es-
tablishing a time line and the details of the new factory. The first meeting of the commission is scheduled for December 5. According to Menendez, the two allied countries are also evaluating proposals for the establishment in Venezuela of an auto parts and vehicle plant that will destine its production for export. “We’ve been developing the idea that this relationship should be based on processes of technology transfer and of complementarity from the industrial point of view”, the high official affirmed. Sunday’s meeting was held in the Antonio Jose de Sucre Yellow House in Caracas, the principal office of official Venezuelan diplomacy. For Hamon, French Minister of Social Economy and Solidarity, the encounter is an indication of the desire on behalf of socialist President Francois Hollande to “develop projects which benefit both countries, strengthen bilateral ties and work towards the integration of Latin America and Europe”. The economic representative of the Hollande government also highlighted “the effectiveness of President Hugo Chavez in his social, political, and economic management which ratifies Venezuela as a country in permanent, efficient and democratic growth”.
Apart from the concretization of a letter of intent regarding the establishment of the Renault plant, other agreements penned by the two governments include an extradition accord and a plan of cooperation between Venezuela’s National Tourism Institute and the airline company Air France. Further collaboration will be seen between the Venezuelan Institute of Scientific Research (IVIC) and the French Institute of Development Research to advance technological interdependence. Officials report that an energy agreement focused on the generation of electricity in Venezuela was also signed by the two allies. Venezuela’s Menendez underscored the importance of the growing relationship with France and pointed out the role that the government of Hugo Chavez has played in fostering an environment conducive to international cooperation. The latest round of agreements with France are, Menendez asserted, “a product of the deep stability that our country represents and the stability that President Hugo Chavez has achieved through the growth of our economy, the entrance of Venezuela into Mercosur and all that this represents on an international level”.
ditor’s Note: This article is in response to an article published in the November 23, 2012 edition of Correo del Orinoco International (#136) on Page 5, titled “Venezuelan Government to Hold Assembly With Yukpa Indigenous Group”. Recently a group of indigenous Yukpa from the Shaktapa community, demonstrated against a dispute in the ownership of land given to them by the national government last December 15, 2011, in a decree by President Hugo Chavez Frias. The land transfer has triggered a problem due to an ongoing armed conflict between cattle ranchers and the indigenous community for final occupation by the traditional owners of the land (The Yukpas). These demonstrations have been public on several occasions and the national government through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples under the responsibility of Minister Aloha Nunez responded to their demands by calling for dialogue with various community elders and chiefs who reside in the Sierra de Perija. In Perija, the Yukpa indigenous communities Japreria and Bari are the largest Yukpa people comprising 177 communities in 14 pilot centers (community organization models adopted by the people Yukpa since 1998). These communities have received unrestricted supported from the national government for rural
development and strengthening their areas. “We received the call for dialogue through Zenaida Romero, daughter of Chief Sabino Romero and today we are discussing this request with the members of our communities, who are tasked along with all community elders and chiefs to organize, unite and convene a great meeting with mass participation to find a solution to this conflict”, said one Yukpa leader. Meanwhile, another group of indigenous community activists from Shaktapa openly attacked the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples, expressing their refusal to attend the meeting with the Minister Nunez, an act that led to a division among the indigenous group. To date, the government of President Chavez through the Consolidation Plan border municipalities and the Ministry of Popular Power for Indigenous Peoples, has invested a total of 15,088,327.75 bolivars (approximately $3.5 million), building 294 housing units and financing 77 indigenous community councils and social communities. Also, 11,230 people have been attended to medically and 28 Yukpas indigenous warriors have been formed in agroecology through the Cuba-Venezuela program. Additionally, the Chavez administration has helped build a Center for Shamanic Healing in the community and delivered four collective land titles returning 185,240.57 hectares benefiting 177 communities corresponding to 3350 families.
4 Politics | . s Friday, November 30, 2012
The artillery of ideas
Venezuelan authorities pledge investigation upon formal complaint in Afiuni Case T/ COI P/ Agencies
Orientation (INOF), the detention center where Afiuni was held for part of her time in custody, have decried the allegations as being the product of a political campaign being waged against the Chavez administration. “We are dealing with a misinformation campaign on a national and international level. This campaign goes against the model we are developing in our country and is part of sus-
tained attacks by international groups that attempt to sway public opinion against Venezuela, alleging we constantly violate human rights”, said Laila Tajeldine, Director of International Relations and Human Rights for the Venezuelan Penitentiary Ministry. Family members of Afiuni reacted to news of the sexual abuse allegations with surprise, according to a report published in El Nacional Newspaper. “We’re consternated. I don’t know what to say. In the family we didn’t know that something like that had happened”, said Nelson Afiuni, Maria’s brother. The judge has informed that she never came forth with the accusations over the past three years due to recommendations made by psychiatrists who warned her to not go public. Silence notwithstanding, Venezuela’s Women’s Minister Nancy Perez has commented that while the ministry has not received any formal complaint from Afiuni, the institutions in charge of protecting the rights of women in the country will act in the event that such a complaint is made. “In the case that a complaint is made to us, we will act accordingly... Just like any woman in this country, she has all of her rights guaranteed by the constitution”, Perez said.
was compared with schemes applied in other countries”, explained the head of Sunavi, Ana Marina Rodriguez. The concomitant rent level will then be set, of between 3% - 5% of the property’s total value over a year. Multiple property owners must charge less rent than single property owners.
“What we want to find is a balance, without speculation and so that the rent level is honest. Housing isn’t merchandise, it’s a human right, [and] that’s this government’s commitment”, said Rodriguez. After an inspection, the inspector, tenant and landlord must sign a document recognising the Sunavi property value and rent level. Rodriguez argued that the inclusion of grassroots sectors in monitoring inspections would promote transparency in the process. The implementation of rent controls follows the passing of the new Leasing Law last year. The first draft of the law was introduced to Venezuela’s National Assembly by tenant movements under the “people legislator” mechanism, after gaining over 400,000 signatures.
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enezuela’s Attorney General Luisa Ortega announced on Tuesday that an investigation regarding the case of alleged sexual abuse of Judge Maria Afiuni has not been opened for lack of an official complaint made by the magistrate who is currently serving time under house arrest. Afiuni went Wednesday to the Attorney General’s office, but said she would not file a complaint regarding her alleged abuse. “Article 26 of the Penal Code indicates that an investigation into these kinds of crimes can only proceed if the party affected requests it”, Ortega told journalists regarding allegations that Afiuni had been victimized during her time in custody. Maria Afiuni was arrested by Venezuelan authorities in December 2009 after releasing from custody a wealthy banker charged with evading currency regulations in the country. The executive, Eligio Cedeno, quickly fled to the United States upon his release by the 31st Control Court judge who claimed that the banker had been held too long in pre-trial detention, warranting his conditional freedom. Since her arrest, Afiuni’s case has become a cause célèbre for
opposition activists in Venezuela and internationally who allege that the judge has suffered a violation of her human rights at the hands of President Hugo Chavez. Government backers have been quick to point out, however, that her actions in freeing Cedeno took place in a context that clearly violated Venezuelan law and that she had received preferential treatment
while imprisoned when compared with other inmates in the country. In February 2011, Afiuni was transferred to house arrest owing to health problems and earlier this month, allegations that the judge was sexually abused during her incarceration were revealed in a new book dictated by the judge. Members of the Venezuela’s National Institute of Feminine
Tenant activists to help set rent levels in Venezuela T/ Ewan Robertson www.venezuelanalysis.com
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enant movement activists will help authorities inspect properties and set rent levels as part of the implementation of rent controls in Venezuela. The initiative comes as the government’s National Superintendency of Leased Housing (Sunavi) prepares to begin inspection of leased properties to determine their value. This value will then be used to set the price at which a given property can be rented. Sunavi and the Metropolitan Tenants Movement held a workshop in Caracas yesterday to train volunteer inspec-
tors, who will accompany and monitor Sunavi officials on the inspections. Around 200 tenant movement activists, community council members and construction students received the training. “The workshop is simple and easy…the objective is that we endorse the inspections”, said Merlene Sierralta of the Bolivarian Tenants Movement, who participated in course. Similar courses will be held throughout the country, and demand for the workshop yesterday far exceeded expectations. Property inspections will begin next week, with 2,500 requests to inspect and set the rent level already lodged with
Sunavi by tenants in the Capital District alone. Sunavi inspectors will use the Housing Ministry’s methodology to calculate a property’s “real” value. The methodology uses 256 categories including property structure, materials, contents and location. “It is a scientific process that establishes a method that
. s Friday, November 30, 2012
The artillery of ideas
T/ COI P/ Presidential Press
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ver the weekend investigative journalist Jose Vicente Rangel hinted at a “possible” renewal of diplomatic relations between Venezuela and the United States in the wake of recent presidential elections in both countries. While suggesting a re-elected Barack Obama might change US interventionist policy towards Latin America, Rangel stressed Venezuela’s permanent defense of peoples’ right to self-determination and the need for US policy makers to treat other nations with “mutual respect”. In recent statements to the press, Venezuelan Executive Vice President Nicolas Maduro confirmed that his country would have “no problem at all” with improving relations, “so long as the conditions exist to do so”.
“POSSIBLE” RENEWAL Speaking on his weekly television program Jose Vicente Today, Venezuelan journalist and former Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel described the recent re-election of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his US counterpart, Barack Obama, as “an opportunity for renewing a dialogue based on mutual respect, a dialogue free of interventionist intentions held between the governments of the United States and Venezuela”. “The possibility now exists”, he explained, “to recover, on serious and responsible terms, the relations between our countries”. According to Rangel, “a step forward in that direction (towards dialogue) makes sense given the growing role played by Latin America on the world stage as well as the electoral triumph of Obama over his right-wing extremist opponent, Mitt Romney”. Both the election (2008) and re-election (2012) of Barack Obama, argued Rangel, “reflect a desire for change within US society, a stimulus for progressive social policies that could include a change in foreign policy based on the positive recognition of what is now taking place across Latin America”. “The Latin America of today is living a new reality. As
Renewal of Venezuela-US relations “a possibility” such, it must be approached by others with new criteria – not the interventionism of past times”, Rangel affirmed. “Venezuela is now watching the compass of time to see how the US (Obama Administration) conducts itself in the coming period”, Rangel said, adding that changes in policy by Washington would allow Caracas to “determine if a true opportunity exists to renew relations…or conclude that nothing can be done”. Rangel also stated firmly that Obama “must find intermediaries that truly represent the US people, who have clear political positions, and who understand the role they play as representatives” of the United States. His call for more responsible “intermediaries” is tied to ongoing disagreements between Caracas and Washington related to their respective ambassadors. After years of strained diplomatic relations during the George W. Bush Administration (2000-2008), in June 2009 both countries had ambassadors in each others’ capi-
tals. A year later, however, US Ambassador to Venezuela Patrick Duddy ended his service in Caracas and relations soon worsened after Obama’s nominee ambassador, Larry Palmer, made interventionist statements regarding Venezuela during hearings in congress. In a written letter to the US Senate – later made public – Palmer wrote that Venezuela’s Armed Forces had “morale and equipment problems”, suggesting the US government could take advantage of such difficulties. He also accused officials within the Chavez administration of having “clear” links to Colombian insurgent groups deemed “terrorists” by the US State Department. Palmer also committed himself to “safeguard US economic interests and investments”, if chosen to be ambassador. In response, President Chavez called Palmer’s statements “typical of an imperial nominee” and “undiplomatic for a supposed diplomat”. The Venezuelan President later announced that Caracas
would not accept Palmer as US Ambassador, stating that Palmer “disqualified himself by breaking all the rules of diplomacy”. In response, the US State Department revoked the visa of Venezuelan Ambassador to the US, Bernardo Alvarez. Both countries have not had ambassadors ever since.
NOT CONVINCED Speaking to reporters last week, socialist lawmaker Jesus Cepeda expressed very little hope as it relates to a possible shift in US foreign policy. Cepeda said Venezuela-US relations “will likely stay the same” because “in the United States it isn’t the President who governs”. Cepeda, who is currently President of the Venezuelan National Assembly’s Commission on Foreign Relations, affirmed that US foreign policy is determined by “economic conglomerates” and not elected officials. While critical of US politics, Cepeda welcomed Obama’s reelection because, he argued, “the other candidate (Republican Mitt Romney) promised,
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or at least showed signs of, a more hostile attitude”. The Romney ticket, he said, “included open campaigning against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, against Venezuela, against the integration of our (Latin America) peoples, against our legitimate rights”. Cepeda suggested a “first step” in a US policy shift should be an end to the longstanding blockade against neighboring Cuba and a policy of respect towards Latin America’s “current process of integration based on selfdetermination”. “An improvement in relations will come about when there is respect for the sovereignty of our peoples, when there is a real policy of nonintervention by the US and a respect for our sovereign foreign policy, when our legitimate rights as a nation and as Latin Americans are recognized”, he said. In recent statements to the press, Executive Vice President Nicolas Maduro said Venezuela would have “no problem whatsoever” normalizing diplomatic relations “so long as the conditions exist to do so”. “We’ve always said that we desire relations based on respect and equality among nations – including between the governments of the United States and President Chavez’s revolutionary government here in Venezuela”, Maduro affirmed. “We’ll have to wait and see”, he concluded.
OBAMA “SHOULD REFLECT” Days after Obama won the 2012 presidential election, President Chavez told reporters that he hoped “President Obama reflects a bit and dedicates himself to governing his country, forgets about invading other peoples, destabilizing other countries, and etc.” “Obama should first reflect on the conditions in his country”, Chavez explained, “which regrettably includes numerous social and economic problems…where poverty and misery are increasingly on the rise”. Chavez lamented the current state of affairs within the US, a country he described as “ruled by a super elite which exploits the country and society, poisoning it, cheating it, and manipulating it”.
6 Social Justice | . s Friday, November 30, 2012
The artillery of ideas
Venezuela shows progress in the anti-drug fight
T/ Paul Dobson P/ Agencies
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ata was released this week that further shows Venezuela is making progress in its march towards a healthier society, and one built under socialist ideals that protect citizens from the vices of capitalism. The numbers, released by Interior Minister Nestor Reverol and Education Minister Maryann Hanson, refer to the consumption of legal and illegal drugs in the school-aged population and show notably low consumption rates in nearly all sectors, especially when compared to international results. The study, which was conducted in 2009 by the National Antidrug Office (ONA), shows that a substantial 86.8% of the school-aged population has never tried cigarettes, the deadliest legal drug in the world, which suggests that smoking based illnesses in the future will be severely reduced. Regarding illegal drugs, the data is equally low. Only 0.9% of 13-15 year-olds asked stated that they had tried marihuana, 0.24% for cocaine, and a mere 0.19% crack. However the report suggested that there is still work to be done in the field of alcohol, with 47.2% of school-aged students admitting to having tried an alcoholic beverage. The study, which questioned 74,465 students in over 979 locations, was conducted by the National Antidrug Office (ONA) in a coordinated set of studies
conducted in various other countries of the region. “Studies in Colombia and in Brazil under the same parameters, with the same amount of students asked, show that Venezuela is lower than the norm in its consumption of cigarettes, alcohol, and marihuana”, stated Minister Reverol, at the event held in the offices of the ONA in Caracas. Reverol connected the results to the policies of the Chavez government in the fields of educa-
tion, attention, and prevention: “the comparisons that we can make at an international level demonstrate that Venezuela has a successful policy in this area”. “The World Report of the UN published this year on June 26 shows that Venezuela has some of the lowest levels of consumption, with an average of 0.69% consumption when we are talking about cocaine”. This figure is well below other countries of the region, he explained, such as the USA, “which has a con-
sumption of 1.6%, as well as Chile and Uruguay”. According to figures released by the CIA World Factbook from 2007, referring to the entire adult population, Venezuela stands well down the list in consumption of tobacco, in 73rd place. The US is in 39th, the UK 65th, Canada 57th and Spain 9th. This figure is expected to have lowered even further for Venezuela since the introduction of the ban on smoking in public places in 2011. Further figures released by the World Drug report in 2011, which again refer to the entire adult population, show that only 0.9% of Venezuelans use marihuana, which is well below other capitalist countries such as Australia (10.6%), Canada (12.6%), the UK (6.6%), Italy (14.6%), Spain (10.6%), and the US (13.7%). The Venezuelan Antidrug office ONA organizes cultural, sporting, educative, and recreational activities in the communities to promote anti-drug awareness, and support for those who suffer from such vices. It receives significant resources from the socialist government of Hugo Chavez through the National Antidrug Fund which this year alone has funded 697 projects, and since 2009 has trained 228,618 community assessors for anti-drug activity. The reports’ figures, which failed to draw the attention of mainstream media, disprove alleged figures released by the NGO Foundation for Human Development in Harmony with the Environment (Fundehama) last week, which seemed to shockingly suggest that 47.2%
of all school children in the country consume drugs. Minister Reverol strongly denounced the incorrect figures released by the NGO. The flawed report, announced by Jose Lugo, President of Fundehama, used the statistics from the 2009 study out of context, with the aim of creating chaos, false propaganda, and fear in the population, as well as damaging the image of Venezuela and its considerable advancements in the struggle against drugs. The figures released by Fundehama failed to mention that the data cited related to the overall amount of people who had been treated at the ONA centers during that year, of which 47.2% were of school age. Minster Reverol made it very clear that “it’s not that 47.2% of the school population are consumers, but rather it refers to those 5,063 patients that visited our 49 (drug rehabilitation) centers”, which means that the ONA are having particular success reaching young addicts. “One shouldn’t confuse the population, saying that 47.2% of the school-aged population consumes drugs, this is a big mistake”. The Chavez administration has made significant advances in the anti-drug battle, both in combatting drug trafficking which originates from neighboring Colombia, as well as lowering national consumption levels through educative and preventative campaigns, and improving and expanding the attention to those who suffer from addictions.
Organ donation rates are calculated per million people, and last year Venezuela had just 3.8 donors per million. This is lower than Latin America’s regional average of 7.4 per million. Spain has the most donors at 38.8 per million. The waiting list for transplants in Venezuela currently stands at over 5000 patients, some of which have had years
waiting. There are currently 1300 patients waiting for a kidney, 1500 for a new cornea, 345 for bone marrow, and over 20 for a new liver. Only adults over age 18 may register to be organ donors in Venezuela. In the first three and a half hours after the launch of the online system known as Sinidot, about 5,715 people logged in to register.
Venezuela begins voluntary organ donation program T/ AVN
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s of Monday, all Venezuelans have the option to register as organ donors – or decline the option to donate – through the new National Donation and Transplant Information System (Sinidot). The system was created in response to the 2011 Law on Organ Donation and Transplants, and particularly its article 15. Registration is quick and can be done through the website of the Ministry of Health (www.mpps.gob.ve), click on the link to Sinidot, and follow the instructions. Individuals may enter the system and change their selection as many times as
they wish. If they choose to register as a donor, they may also choose certain restrictions such as selecting specific organs to donate or indicating how they are to be used, whether for therapeutic or scientific ends.
VOLUNTARY DONATION The coordinator of the program, Nelson Hernandez Maldonado, explained that, “Citizens should feel calm and safe. This tool offers everyone the necessary means to express their willingness to donate. It does assume that everyone is a donor unless they indicate otherwise, according to article 27 of the law. The Sinidot allows you to say no or put conditions on the donation”.
The artillery of ideas
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minimized state and at the same time has nothing to do with the bureaucratic socialism of the 20th century and its authoritative statism. Instead, it seeks to advance a democratic and social state based on rights and justice, on participatory democracy, on the direct exercise of popular sovereignty. This kind of debate helps bring people out of political lethargy, breaks inertia, and serves to overcome the thesis that the permanent democratic revolution is now concluded and that institutionality is all that matters. In short, it gets everyone thinking about governance, about efficient public management, the administration of popular will and the strengthening of both the faces and voices of democratic power. In Venezuela today there are tendencies from above and tendencies from below that are at an impasse. One of the greatest roadblocks we face is that part of society that says “yes” to Chavez while at the same time says “no” to following through on his proposals. By doing so, they leave President Chavez isolated. It’s no accident that Chavez often expresses sentiments of solitude, often says he feels like (Simon) Bolivar, alone. People’s power is the direct control over popular sovereignty. It’s the power to modify structures in society that serve only to maintain inequality and exclusion. As such, the debate underway empowers movements of workers, students, campesinos, the indigenous, scientists, professionals, etc. The mobiT/ Hector Escalante lization of these sectors of society benof political pluralism and the diversity Meanwhile, those within the oppoP/ File efits the entire national collective since of proposals on the table. Future discussition that do reflect, think critically, they represent the basis of Venezuelan sions will produce a more participatory etc., do so using a limiting ideological he Plan of the Nation for the 2013democracy, the basis of our constitudemocracy with a greatscript born of US poli2019 period, proposed by President tional transformation. er density of debate, rec- “The current debate tics. They see nothing Hugo Chavez last June in the conThe crux of the issue, however, is that ognizing the multiplicity more than “democratic is about transforming text of his socialist platform for the this process is bound to modify the corof voices, the diversity of totalitarianism”, “fas2012 presidential election, stopped berelation of forces, the political framerevolutionary currents, an electoral platform into cism”, “authoritaring an electoral platform when it was work that exists and the relations that the balance between maian nationalism”, or opened up for debate and improvement holds it together. Behind the scenes jorities and minorities, an authentic, participatory, what some of them call by the Venezuelan people. In short, the there are actors that seek to secure a and the inclusion of ten- democratic, and inclusive “radical populism”. As national program is to be strengthened political and social pact among differdencies from within both such, the possibility of by the contributions of the national colent social classes, a sort of social diagovernment and opposi- design of policy“ a constructive debate lective, by the experiences and needs of logue. But if one digs a little, one finds tion circles. on the importance of the people. a set of clashes between interests of Sadly, the opposition has shown a planning the country’s social and ecoPresident Chavez has insisted reall types. This clash of interests, both truly infantile capacity to take advannomic development becomes trapped peatedly that the “invitation” to debate economic and social, is the key reason tage of these public spaces created prein a polarized dead end. Their posiis open to all sectors of society, that is, President Chavez has put the debate cisely to foment a controversial, agonistioning limits the discussions on what both pro- and anti-Chavez forces. But into the hands of people’s power. And tic dialogue with the government. The actions are to be taken, resources to will the initiative truly if the national collective opposition has failed to be designated, responstrengthen democracy “The opposition has failed make a counterproposfails to use a sharp class sibilities among actors, “One of the greatest and people’s power in analysis to interpret the al to be discussed with the content and objecVenezuela? That is the to make a counterproposal the nation, a fact that issues at hand, groups tives of an ambitious roadblocks we face is that question that guides this to be discussed with the involved, etc. we’ll never signals their total lack plan aimed at building part of society that says interview with Javier succeed in understandof interest in holding a Bolivarian Socialism Biardeau, Professor of nation, a fact that signals ing what lies behind the true debate. Putting it of the 21st Century in “yes” to Chavez while at Sociology at the Central permanent conflict besimply, the Venezuelan order to overcome capitheir total lack of interest the same time says “no” University of Venezuela tween government and opposition seeks only talism, once and for all, (UCV). opposition. to operate as a destrucin Venezuela. in holding a true debate” to following through What’s your take on In Venezuela, there tive voice and force in THE CRUX OF THE DEBATE on his proposals” the national discussion to improve the are dominant classes society. Regrettably, the terrible habit The current debate 2013-2019 Plan of the Nation? in the realms of the within opposition circles of characteris about transforming an electoral I think it’s a very positive advance economy, politics, ideology, and culizing the government as an “authoriplatform into an authentic, participawhen compared to the methods used ture. The question to ask is whether tarian democracy” creates a grey area tory, democratic, and inclusive design to plan and design public policy within or not people’s power takes power out that cancels out the possibility of creatof policy so as to produce a matrix of liberal representative democracy. At away from the oligarchy of money? ing a constructive opposition that conpublic policies to be carried out in the the same time, this is just a beginning, That is precisely what it does. That’s tributes to society. According to those different realms of national and intera brief and limited process that still what it’s all about. Otherwise, we’d negative voices, to debate policy with national political life. This debate is needs to establish authentic channels be in the presence of a simulation of the government is to collaborate with a far removed from neoliberalism and its for debate that allow for the recognition people’s power. “totalitarian” or “autocratic” regime.
Opposition fails to make counterproposal
T
Friday, November 30, 2012 | Nº 137 | Caracas | www.correodelorinoco.gob.ve
INTERNATIONAL
! PUBLICATION OF THE &UNDACION #ORREO DEL /RINOCO s Editor-in-Chief %VA 'OLINGER s Graphic Design Pablo Valduciel L. - Aimara Aguilera
Opinion
Breaking private Manning T/ Michael Ratner
B
y the time the 23-yearold soldier’s court martial starts on February 4, 2013, Bradley Manning will have spent 983 days in prison, including nine months in solitary confinement, without having been convicted of a single crime. This week, in pre-trail hearings, a military court is reviewing evidence that the conditions under which he has been held constitute torture. These conditions include the nine-month period spent 23 hours a day in a sixby-eight-foot cell where he was forbidden to lie down or even lean against a wall when he was not sleeping – and when he was allowed to sleep at night, officers woke him every five minutes – and where he was subjected to daily strip searches and forced nudity. The UN Special Rapporteur for Torture has already found this amounted to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment, and possibly torture. For almost three years Manning has endured intense physical and mental pressure, all designed to force
him to implicate WikiLeaks and its publisher Julian Assange in an alleged conspiracy to commit espionage. It is also a message to would-be whistleblowers: the US government will not be gentle. “[If] you saw incredible things, awful things… things that belonged in the public domain, and not on some server stored in a dark room in Washington, DC.… what would you do? … It’s important that it gets out…it might actually change something… hopefully worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms…” These are purportedly Manning’s words*, and that is change many of us would like to believe in: that if you give people the truth about their government’s unlawful activities, and the freedom to discuss it, they will hold their elected officials accountable. But it is one thing to talk about transparency, the lifeblood of democracy, and even to campaign on it – in 2008, candidate Obama said, “Government whistleblowers are part of a healthy democracy
and must be protected from reprisal” – and another thing to act on it. On a fundamental level, Manning is being punished, without being convicted, for a crime that amounts to having the courage to act on the belief that without an informed public our republic is seriously compromised. Or, as he is quoted saying, for wanting “people to see the truth… regardless of who they are… because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public”. The US government is intent on creating a portrait of Manning as a traitor who aided and abetted Al Qaeda by releasing classified information into the public domain. But what actually occurred was that documents were sent anonymously to WikiLeaks, which published them in collaboration with The New York Times, The Guardian and other news media for the benefit of the general public, much like the Pentagon Papers were published a generation ago. The emails the prosecution is using to try to prove Manning was the source of the
leaks also depict the side of the story they want to hide, that of a young soldier grappling with the dilemma of a would-be whistleblower who knows he is taking great risks by exposing the state-sponsored crimes and abuses he witnessed, the “almost criminal political back-dealings… the non-PR-versions of world events and crises”, as he is quoted describing them to the confidant who ultimately betrayed him. “I will officially give up on the society we have if nothing happens”. One can’t help wondering what Manning must think now, after so long under such brutal conditions of confinement. Did he expect the government to punish him in such a disproportionate and unlawful manner? Manning’s abusive pre-trial treatment is a clear violation of the Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the United Nations Convention Against Torture, and even US military law. In fact, Manning’s defense attorney David Coombs is arguing in the pre-trail hearings this
week that in view of this blatant disregard for his client’s most fundamental rights, all charges should be dismissed. The government claims this was all done to prevent Manning from committing suicide, though any rational observer might point out that these conditions are more likely to drive someone to suicide than keep him from it. The more likely explanation is the obvious one: the government wants to break Manning enough to force him to implicate WikiLeaks and Assange, and make enough of a show of it to deter other whistleblowers. At stake is the foundation of our democracy, a robust free press, and the fate of a true American hero. *Disclaimer: Bradley Manning has not been convicted of any charges, nor has he admitted to any of the allegations against him. Likewise, he has not acknowledged the chat logs that purport to be his words. Michael Ratner is President Emeritus of the Center for Constitutional Rights, which represents WikiLeaks and Julian Assange as well as other journalists and major news organizations seeking to make the documents from the Manning trial public. Bradley Manning is being punished – and tortured – for a crime that amounts to believing one’s highest duty is to the United States people and not the United States government