Catholic Church blasts Venezuela for 'brutal repression' of protesters

[Zorro]

Venezuela's Roman Catholic Church accused President Nicolas Maduro's government on Wednesday of "totalitarian" tendencies and "brutal repression" of demonstrators during two months of political unrest that has killed several dozen people.

The surprisingly strong attack is likely to revive church-state tensions that were constant during the 14-year socialist rule of Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chavez.

Monsignor Diego Padron, who heads Venezuela's conference of bishops, said the "principal cause" of the crisis was the government's attempt to implant a blueprint for government that Chavez left behind called "the fatherland plan."

"Within it they are hiding the promotion of a totalitarian-style system of government, putting in doubt its democratic credentials," he said, reading a church communiqué.

http://news.yahoo.com/catholic-church-blasts-venezuela-brutal-repression-protesters-234610701.html

[Mika]

1. Hahahaha

[Judi Lynn]

3. Same church sent priests to torment leftist prisoners in Argentina's US-supported Dirty War!

Argentina's torture priest given a life sentence
Patrick McDonnell in Buenos Aires
October 11, 2007







No, a hanging's not on the cards, Father … the chaplain
reacts as the verdict is read in the La Plata court.

A CATHOLIC priest accused of collaborating with Argentina's military dictatorship more than two decades ago has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to life in prison.

The case of Father Christian Federico von Wernich, 69, a former police chaplain, had become a rallying cry among human-rights activists who said it was the first time the church's alleged complicity with the former junta had been addressed in court.

~snip~

The prosecution charged that Von Wernich abused his clerical status by offering spiritual comfort to prisoners, then informing on them to the police. The prisoners later were tortured and killed.
(snip)

A three-judge panel found him guilty of crimes against humanity in connection with what it called a genocide committed during the dictatorship.

Official figures indicate about 11,000 people were killed or "disappeared" during the rule by military juntas, from 1976 to 1983, but human-rights activists say the number was closer to 30,000.

More:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/argentinas-torture-priest-given-a-life-sentence/2007/10/10/1191695990475.html

[MADem]

2. I think that the use of armor piercing bullets in the deaths of two of the students is just

disgraceful. They wanted Daniel Tinoco dead. That wasn't a stray bullet, it was a targeted assassination.

I also think that the wounds that other students have photographed and shown the world, from the plastic pellets, the steel buckshot and the bean bags are just horrific.

I'm sure Diosdado Cabello is just biding his time. He'll either run the joint himself eventually, or let Rangel play the puppet. If Maduro keeps this up, he'll be hated on all fronts; he's got absolute power, the authority to rule by decree, and all he's doing is screwing up.

[Mika]

4. Dicktater fer life.

Where have we heard that before?

[MADem]

5. Well, Maduro has an authority from the General Assembly to Rule By Decree you know.

He asked for he, he got it last November and it expires in a year.

Everything that has happened lately--all the violence, all the overreach, all of the Cubans mixed in and "supervising" the National Guard, all the shortages, all the deaths--those are his fault, they happened on his watch.

And I'm quite sure Diosdado Cabello, dear friend of the late Hugo Chavez, comrade in arms during Hugo's military years, who delivered that authority to Maduro-- is just sitting back and biding his time. "God Given Hair" provided Maduro with enough rope to hang himself.

[joshcryer]

6. Cabello's power move is pretty easily tested.

If it happens it happens in a year or so. Maduro can't sustain the repression.

[MADem]

7. I agree. nt

[joshcryer]

9. If not him, Adan.

Actually, if he does make a move Adan will likely denounce it to maintain the status quo. He may even wind up "getting rid of" Maduro and blaming it on Cabello. Adan is a hardcore neo-Leninist.

[MADem]

10. Interesting...! Or, Cabello could play Cheney to puppet Rangel...! nt

[joshcryer]

8. Daniel Tinoco was interviewed by VICE.

They definitely assassinated him. There is absolutely no question about that.