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GatoGordo
GatoGordo's Journal
GatoGordo's Journal
July 12, 2018
The government will incorporate the country’s civilian population into national security plans.
By Cira Pascual Marquina
Jul 11th 2018 at 9.20pm
Caracas, July 11, 2018 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Following news of a thwarted coup d’etat attempt and the arrest of some 40 military personnel on May 24, Venezuela's government has decided to activate local defense committees, officially called “Committees for Security and Integral Defense.” This decision roughly coincides with the reorganization of the country’s top military leadership that customarily takes place in early July, according to a longstanding Venezuelan tradition.
Venezuela’s newly-activated local defense committees, which will incorporate ordinary civilians into the country’s defense plans, fulfill one of the main guidelines laid out in the Homeland Plan 2019-2025, which is “to promote the participation of patriots in the defense of institutions, territorial integrity and the right to peace.” The committees, however, have even deeper roots in the idea of a civilian-military union – an alliance between patriotic soldiers and revolutionary civilians – that has been an important part of the Bolivarian Revolution since its earliest beginnings.
In a practical sense, the forming of the defense committees will mean that one spokesperson from each of Venezuela's 50,000 communal councils will undergo training with the country’s Bolivarian Militia units. Those selected representatives will then form a link between the Venezuelan state’s militias and the communal councils, which since 2006 have organized groups of 20 to 400 families across the national territory.
-snip-
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13932
VenezuelaAnalysis is the official English language Chavista mouthpiece for Venezuela.
There was no coup in May. Maduro makes shit up as he goes. Every time anyone in the military speaks out about the shitty situation that is Venezuela, its "another coup". Its an ongoing joke, especially since Maduro gave the military control of 97% of the wealth in Venezuela. (PdVSA, distribution of imports, etc). Why would they overthrow Maduro? He is their cash cow! Besides, since 2003, the entire military structure has been properly infiltrated by Cubans. Everything is done on Cubas command. Which is why Maduro "gifted" Cuba an entire refinery last year, and last week "gifted" them another 500,000 barrels of crude oil when Venezuelans are starving.
Maduro brings Chavista sycophants into military positions. Desperate times for Chavismo!
Venezuela to Launch Local Defense Committees as Maduro Makes Changes to Top Military BrassThe government will incorporate the country’s civilian population into national security plans.
By Cira Pascual Marquina
Jul 11th 2018 at 9.20pm
Caracas, July 11, 2018 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Following news of a thwarted coup d’etat attempt and the arrest of some 40 military personnel on May 24, Venezuela's government has decided to activate local defense committees, officially called “Committees for Security and Integral Defense.” This decision roughly coincides with the reorganization of the country’s top military leadership that customarily takes place in early July, according to a longstanding Venezuelan tradition.
Venezuela’s newly-activated local defense committees, which will incorporate ordinary civilians into the country’s defense plans, fulfill one of the main guidelines laid out in the Homeland Plan 2019-2025, which is “to promote the participation of patriots in the defense of institutions, territorial integrity and the right to peace.” The committees, however, have even deeper roots in the idea of a civilian-military union – an alliance between patriotic soldiers and revolutionary civilians – that has been an important part of the Bolivarian Revolution since its earliest beginnings.
In a practical sense, the forming of the defense committees will mean that one spokesperson from each of Venezuela's 50,000 communal councils will undergo training with the country’s Bolivarian Militia units. Those selected representatives will then form a link between the Venezuelan state’s militias and the communal councils, which since 2006 have organized groups of 20 to 400 families across the national territory.
-snip-
https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13932
VenezuelaAnalysis is the official English language Chavista mouthpiece for Venezuela.
There was no coup in May. Maduro makes shit up as he goes. Every time anyone in the military speaks out about the shitty situation that is Venezuela, its "another coup". Its an ongoing joke, especially since Maduro gave the military control of 97% of the wealth in Venezuela. (PdVSA, distribution of imports, etc). Why would they overthrow Maduro? He is their cash cow! Besides, since 2003, the entire military structure has been properly infiltrated by Cubans. Everything is done on Cubas command. Which is why Maduro "gifted" Cuba an entire refinery last year, and last week "gifted" them another 500,000 barrels of crude oil when Venezuelans are starving.
July 11, 2018
María Ramírez Cabello
The first half of 2018 was a sustained retreat for the Siderúrgica del Orinoco "Alfredo Maneiro" (Sidor), after producing only 39 thousand 092 tons of liquid steel, an amount that the state steelmaker could achieve in three days operating according to its capacity installed The collapse is evident inside and outside the industry located in Guyana.
The poor performance of the industry, re-nationalized in 2008 by order of the late former president Hugo Chávez, does not surprise the workers, who have witnessed the prolonged paralysis of their plants. Steel mills of slabs and billets where the metal is transformed into large pieces that later become flat or long products, spent most of the first six months of 2018 arrested.
Until Friday, the steel mill of Palanquillas remained paralyzed, as well as that of Planchones. "Planchones had started on June 10, but due to water problems it stopped. Then, there were problems with the argon that they solved last week. Supposedly, the delay is now due to the underground drains being covered, the floor of the furnaces is flooded and it is a risk to strain steel under that condition. If a ladle is drilled or the tank is going to have a large explosion," said one worker, who preferred to keep his name in reserve for fear of reprisals...
-snip-
http://www.correodelcaroni.com/index.php/economia/item/64939-sidor-opero-a-2-de-su-capacidad-instalada-en-el-primer-semestre-del-ano
When you don't maintain or upgrade infrastructure for 20 years, things break down. NO water and NO electricity is troublesome for any business. Pile on the fact that a formerly profitable enterprise was "nationalized" (confiscated) by the Chavistas and the leadership was replaced by Chavista lackeys, and it is a recipe for disaster.
Venezuelan steel production at 2% capacity
Sidor operated at 2% of its installed capacity in the first half of the yearMaría Ramírez Cabello
The first half of 2018 was a sustained retreat for the Siderúrgica del Orinoco "Alfredo Maneiro" (Sidor), after producing only 39 thousand 092 tons of liquid steel, an amount that the state steelmaker could achieve in three days operating according to its capacity installed The collapse is evident inside and outside the industry located in Guyana.
The poor performance of the industry, re-nationalized in 2008 by order of the late former president Hugo Chávez, does not surprise the workers, who have witnessed the prolonged paralysis of their plants. Steel mills of slabs and billets where the metal is transformed into large pieces that later become flat or long products, spent most of the first six months of 2018 arrested.
Until Friday, the steel mill of Palanquillas remained paralyzed, as well as that of Planchones. "Planchones had started on June 10, but due to water problems it stopped. Then, there were problems with the argon that they solved last week. Supposedly, the delay is now due to the underground drains being covered, the floor of the furnaces is flooded and it is a risk to strain steel under that condition. If a ladle is drilled or the tank is going to have a large explosion," said one worker, who preferred to keep his name in reserve for fear of reprisals...
-snip-
http://www.correodelcaroni.com/index.php/economia/item/64939-sidor-opero-a-2-de-su-capacidad-instalada-en-el-primer-semestre-del-ano
When you don't maintain or upgrade infrastructure for 20 years, things break down. NO water and NO electricity is troublesome for any business. Pile on the fact that a formerly profitable enterprise was "nationalized" (confiscated) by the Chavistas and the leadership was replaced by Chavista lackeys, and it is a recipe for disaster.
July 11, 2018
Artillery trucks mobilized missiles and anti-aircraft weapons by the Zulia state in Venezuela. This strange mobilization would go, according to information confirmed in Colombia and Venezuela , to the border area by the Táchira state .
The weapons, which were already identified by the Colombian authorities, correspond to Russian-made weapons that have a range of 90 km distance, and is that just hours before a Venezuelan deputy said in an interview that there was a plan to attack Colombia.
The scenario of the war will be given there in Colombia, we have weapons in case they want to attack us ... even, we could get to Bogotá or shoot down planes as soon as they take flight argued the politician Pedro Carreño.
The tension is constant, the retaliation of President Nicolás Maduro to Colombia insisting on a threatened do not stop, for this the Colombian Armed Forces maintain the alert in the areas of La Guajira, Norte de Santander, Casanare, Arauca, Vichada, Guainia and part of the Amazon.
Members of the Military Forces of Colombia receive special training in programs of Red Flag, NATO, UNITAS in the United States. For this while there are provocations there will be no response.
The elected president, Iván Duque, has said that there will be no ambassador in the neighboring country and that Colombia will withdraw from Unasur.
https://canal1.com.co/noticias/nacional/extranamente-venezuela-moviliza-armas-la-frontera/
Yet another attempt by Maduro and his merry morons to try to divert attention away from the chaos that is Venezuela.
Wholesale defections from the military, where the soldiers who remain are emaciated.
PdVSA employees leaving their formerly sought after jobs. Chavista "volunteers" enlisted. Oil output at 1940 levels.
Unions on strike. Nurses. Doctors. Transportation. (Maduro blames the unions for whatever he doesn't blame on the US)
No food. No medicine. No teachers.
Yet Maduro's morons insist that they are prepared to take the war to Colombia, whose military is well supplied and battle tested and ready to fight (50+ years fighting FARC and ELN) at a moments notice.
Can you say, "Falklands"?
In yet another bizarre move, Chavistas move military equipment to Colombia border
Strangely, Venezuela mobilizes arms to the borderArtillery trucks mobilized missiles and anti-aircraft weapons by the Zulia state in Venezuela. This strange mobilization would go, according to information confirmed in Colombia and Venezuela , to the border area by the Táchira state .
The weapons, which were already identified by the Colombian authorities, correspond to Russian-made weapons that have a range of 90 km distance, and is that just hours before a Venezuelan deputy said in an interview that there was a plan to attack Colombia.
The scenario of the war will be given there in Colombia, we have weapons in case they want to attack us ... even, we could get to Bogotá or shoot down planes as soon as they take flight argued the politician Pedro Carreño.
The tension is constant, the retaliation of President Nicolás Maduro to Colombia insisting on a threatened do not stop, for this the Colombian Armed Forces maintain the alert in the areas of La Guajira, Norte de Santander, Casanare, Arauca, Vichada, Guainia and part of the Amazon.
Members of the Military Forces of Colombia receive special training in programs of Red Flag, NATO, UNITAS in the United States. For this while there are provocations there will be no response.
The elected president, Iván Duque, has said that there will be no ambassador in the neighboring country and that Colombia will withdraw from Unasur.
https://canal1.com.co/noticias/nacional/extranamente-venezuela-moviliza-armas-la-frontera/
Yet another attempt by Maduro and his merry morons to try to divert attention away from the chaos that is Venezuela.
Wholesale defections from the military, where the soldiers who remain are emaciated.
PdVSA employees leaving their formerly sought after jobs. Chavista "volunteers" enlisted. Oil output at 1940 levels.
Unions on strike. Nurses. Doctors. Transportation. (Maduro blames the unions for whatever he doesn't blame on the US)
No food. No medicine. No teachers.
Yet Maduro's morons insist that they are prepared to take the war to Colombia, whose military is well supplied and battle tested and ready to fight (50+ years fighting FARC and ELN) at a moments notice.
Can you say, "Falklands"?
July 10, 2018
Producers are unaware of the reasons why the Executive differed on Saturday to disclose information about the agreements
By CARLOS SEIJAS MENESES
JULY 10, 2018 01:55 AM
Although the prices of some items were already established, the government decided at the last minute to postpone the announcement about the amounts of the products of Plan 50, which they set after "three intense weeks of talks," said President Nicolás Maduro. The president had said that the information would be provided by the vice president of the Economic Area, Tareck el Aissami, last Saturday.
Unofficially, it was learned that at the meeting the price set for the kilo of corn was 250,000 bolivars and that of rice at 200,000 bolivars to the producer.
"At the work table, the instruction of the vice president of the Economic Area to agree among the economic actors on the price of white table rice at the level of the final consumer was followed," according to a document on "arrangements reached."
The "fair" price of the kilo of rice for the consumer would have been agreed at 1,273,082 bolívares. While the coffee would be between 7.6 million and 5.7 million bolivars, depending on the degree, which ranges between 3 and 5. The price of levels 1 and 2 would not have been set.
-nip-
http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/economia/gobierno-fijo-los-precios-rubros-pero-los-anuncio_243343
In reality, the producers insisted that prices fluctuate (in the US dollar) with the costs associated with doing business. Chavismo was having no part of that, insisting that producers sell their produce at prices associated with the Bolivar (worthless) and prices NOT move (daily hyper-inflation rate is approaching 5%) for 3 months.
Remember, Chavismo said when they first sat down with producers that they were not going to dictate prices... which they promptly did with the first breaths out of their mouths.
Now, Maduro et alli has decided that instead of coming to any agreement, that Chavismo will simply TAKE (for the good of everyone!) 70% of everything and "disperse" it according to how Chavismo thinks it needs dispersing. Naturally, these producers will be compensated "fairly"... which means that whatever they are producing now, they won't have any of next week.
After unsuccessful talks regarding "fair prices", Chavismo decides that it wants 70% of everything
The government set prices for items, but did not announce themProducers are unaware of the reasons why the Executive differed on Saturday to disclose information about the agreements
By CARLOS SEIJAS MENESES
JULY 10, 2018 01:55 AM
Although the prices of some items were already established, the government decided at the last minute to postpone the announcement about the amounts of the products of Plan 50, which they set after "three intense weeks of talks," said President Nicolás Maduro. The president had said that the information would be provided by the vice president of the Economic Area, Tareck el Aissami, last Saturday.
Unofficially, it was learned that at the meeting the price set for the kilo of corn was 250,000 bolivars and that of rice at 200,000 bolivars to the producer.
"At the work table, the instruction of the vice president of the Economic Area to agree among the economic actors on the price of white table rice at the level of the final consumer was followed," according to a document on "arrangements reached."
The "fair" price of the kilo of rice for the consumer would have been agreed at 1,273,082 bolívares. While the coffee would be between 7.6 million and 5.7 million bolivars, depending on the degree, which ranges between 3 and 5. The price of levels 1 and 2 would not have been set.
-nip-
http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/economia/gobierno-fijo-los-precios-rubros-pero-los-anuncio_243343
In reality, the producers insisted that prices fluctuate (in the US dollar) with the costs associated with doing business. Chavismo was having no part of that, insisting that producers sell their produce at prices associated with the Bolivar (worthless) and prices NOT move (daily hyper-inflation rate is approaching 5%) for 3 months.
Remember, Chavismo said when they first sat down with producers that they were not going to dictate prices... which they promptly did with the first breaths out of their mouths.
Now, Maduro et alli has decided that instead of coming to any agreement, that Chavismo will simply TAKE (for the good of everyone!) 70% of everything and "disperse" it according to how Chavismo thinks it needs dispersing. Naturally, these producers will be compensated "fairly"... which means that whatever they are producing now, they won't have any of next week.
July 9, 2018
Elizabeth Fuentes | July 9, 2018
translated from Spanish.
Caracas.- At least, PSUV leader Pedro Carreño put his Gucci loafers in the Sunday interview that José Vicente Rangel. And not only because he misused the word "misionó" (which really means preaching or giving sermons), but he was so excited about revealing what the Venezuelan military response would be in the event of a war with Colombia, which even mispronounced the model of the weapons that are going to be used to shoot down the Colombian planes because I call them Iglar when in fact they are Igla-S.
As if that were not enough, the well-dressed Carreño - armed with a map and a MontBlanc pen - explained to his enemies of the Colombian army where and how exactly it would be that the Sukoi planes would go to attack each of the seven bridges that cross the river Magdalena "that crosses from north to south to Colombia, to divide it in two". And to finish putting the cake, revealed that "The Psuv is going to join the prolonged people's war with 1,200 battalions" also revealing the number of civilian troops to fight, figure that surely generated an infinite laugh in the Colombian generals who fought and they defeated the guerrillas of the FARC and the ELN -which in their best times had more than 20,000 troops trained and in arms-, but were reduced after 50 years of "office" by the Colombian army, to only 6,700 men...
-snip-
https://elcooperante.com/pedro-carreno-le-delato-a-colombia-toda-la-estrategia-militar-venezolana-en-caso-de-guerra/
It goes on and on. Good for a laugh. Especially since the Colombian army has been hardened by 50 years of fighting Marxist/Leninist terrorists (FARC, ELN) and Venezuela has spent its time "rattling Bolivar's sword" at various boogymen, when not shaking down its own citizenry. The Venezuelan military is top heavy in Chavista officers (4000+ generals!) who haven't ever fired a weapon, and few dispirited enlistees who are malnourished and poor of morale.
PSUV telegraph's Chavista plan to "bomb with Sukois" Colombia bridges
Pedro Carreño betrayed to Colombia all the Venezuelan military strategy in case of warElizabeth Fuentes | July 9, 2018
translated from Spanish.
Caracas.- At least, PSUV leader Pedro Carreño put his Gucci loafers in the Sunday interview that José Vicente Rangel. And not only because he misused the word "misionó" (which really means preaching or giving sermons), but he was so excited about revealing what the Venezuelan military response would be in the event of a war with Colombia, which even mispronounced the model of the weapons that are going to be used to shoot down the Colombian planes because I call them Iglar when in fact they are Igla-S.
As if that were not enough, the well-dressed Carreño - armed with a map and a MontBlanc pen - explained to his enemies of the Colombian army where and how exactly it would be that the Sukoi planes would go to attack each of the seven bridges that cross the river Magdalena "that crosses from north to south to Colombia, to divide it in two". And to finish putting the cake, revealed that "The Psuv is going to join the prolonged people's war with 1,200 battalions" also revealing the number of civilian troops to fight, figure that surely generated an infinite laugh in the Colombian generals who fought and they defeated the guerrillas of the FARC and the ELN -which in their best times had more than 20,000 troops trained and in arms-, but were reduced after 50 years of "office" by the Colombian army, to only 6,700 men...
-snip-
https://elcooperante.com/pedro-carreno-le-delato-a-colombia-toda-la-estrategia-militar-venezolana-en-caso-de-guerra/
It goes on and on. Good for a laugh. Especially since the Colombian army has been hardened by 50 years of fighting Marxist/Leninist terrorists (FARC, ELN) and Venezuela has spent its time "rattling Bolivar's sword" at various boogymen, when not shaking down its own citizenry. The Venezuelan military is top heavy in Chavista officers (4000+ generals!) who haven't ever fired a weapon, and few dispirited enlistees who are malnourished and poor of morale.
July 9, 2018
July 8, 2018
ND / 8 Jul 2018.- The high leader of the PSUV, Pedro Carreño, demanded that the national government take war actions against websites that induce an artificial price at the exchange rate.
This was said in Televen's Sunday program when José Vicente Rangel told him: "I am one of those who believes that capitalism will sooner or later collapse, but as long as that collapse comes, we can not pass on the idea to ordinary citizens. that we must wait for capitalism to collapse so that the internal problems in economic matters can be solved ".
"The President," responded Carreño, "has tried to equip salaries and wages ... but there we have the Bolivar-dollar benchmark. Do you sympathize with reality? Does it follow an economic reason? No. It's a totally induced issue!"
And he continued: "I am going to tell you the following, José Vicente. If this is a war, I think it's time to take war actions. Comrade President Chávez endowed our Armed Forces with excellent electronic warfare units, with state-of-the-art technology. Where are those war units? Why do not we use them to hack all the DolarToday and related pages that generate an increment every day of the dollar bolivar reference pattern and that cost is charged to the prices of the inputs? Why not inoculate a thousand Trojans in such a way as to give them war treatment. "
"Where are those resources?" JVR asked.
-snip-
http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/07/carreno-inocularme-1-000-troyanos-dolartoday/
Chavismo believes it isn't responsible for the epic economic meltdown that is ravaging Venezuela. In their minds eye, it is all a plot by the CIA, Colombia, the Illuminati and Portuguese pig farmers. And if ONLY El Pueblo could be kept from outside information about what a shambles Venezuela is, there would be prosperity for all! (DolarToday is a part-time website run by a Venezuela expat who lives in Alabama and works at a Home Depot)
Party honcho in Venezuela demands "electronic warfare" against internet
Pedro Carreño: We have to hack DólarTodayJuly 8, 2018
ND / 8 Jul 2018.- The high leader of the PSUV, Pedro Carreño, demanded that the national government take war actions against websites that induce an artificial price at the exchange rate.
This was said in Televen's Sunday program when José Vicente Rangel told him: "I am one of those who believes that capitalism will sooner or later collapse, but as long as that collapse comes, we can not pass on the idea to ordinary citizens. that we must wait for capitalism to collapse so that the internal problems in economic matters can be solved ".
"The President," responded Carreño, "has tried to equip salaries and wages ... but there we have the Bolivar-dollar benchmark. Do you sympathize with reality? Does it follow an economic reason? No. It's a totally induced issue!"
And he continued: "I am going to tell you the following, José Vicente. If this is a war, I think it's time to take war actions. Comrade President Chávez endowed our Armed Forces with excellent electronic warfare units, with state-of-the-art technology. Where are those war units? Why do not we use them to hack all the DolarToday and related pages that generate an increment every day of the dollar bolivar reference pattern and that cost is charged to the prices of the inputs? Why not inoculate a thousand Trojans in such a way as to give them war treatment. "
"Where are those resources?" JVR asked.
-snip-
http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/07/carreno-inocularme-1-000-troyanos-dolartoday/
Chavismo believes it isn't responsible for the epic economic meltdown that is ravaging Venezuela. In their minds eye, it is all a plot by the CIA, Colombia, the Illuminati and Portuguese pig farmers. And if ONLY El Pueblo could be kept from outside information about what a shambles Venezuela is, there would be prosperity for all! (DolarToday is a part-time website run by a Venezuela expat who lives in Alabama and works at a Home Depot)
July 9, 2018
July 9, 2018
Betsy Alvarado V. / July 9, 2018.- The 15 countries that make up the Caribbean Community (Caricom) reiterated their support for the Government of Guyana in its fight against Venezuela for the Essequibo territory.
"The Heads of Government reiterated their firm and unwavering support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana," the organization said in a statement on the summary of the agreements that emerged during the 39th Ordinary Meeting of Heads of State of the Caricom that was carried out in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The Essequibo region is under UN-mediation since 1966, when the Geneva Agreement was signed. Both countries agreed, through this document, to seek solutions to the dispute after Venezuela denounced in 1962 an arbitration award issued in 1899 by a court in Paris that set common limits and that for Guyana is still in force.
The disputed region, under the sovereignty of Georgetown at present, covers an area of about 160,000 square kilometers, which accounts for three quarters of the territory of Guyana. The controversy has worsened in recent years after the US company Exxon Mobil has discovered several oil fields in the waters of the area in dispute.
-snip-
http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/07/caricom-reitera-apoyo-guyana-disputa-venezuela-esequibo/
Backstory: The Essequibo region is the go-to crisis for every desperate Venezuelan despot since 1899. The minute things get really thick in Caracas, the current dictator-in-chief decides its about time to start reclaiming "that which belongs to the Fatherland!" Currently, the Guyanese border is guarded by about 8 guys who play dominoes and drink rum for 4 hours each day (the other 4 hours they work in the local military Credit Union). Guyana might have some rifles, but their army has equipment that dates back to 1966 and at best is used for flower planters.
Regardless, the only people who dispute the Venezuela border is Venezuela.
Venezuela doesn't have a friend when it comes to their "disputed" border with Guyana.
Caricom supports Guyana on the issue of El EssequiboJuly 9, 2018
Betsy Alvarado V. / July 9, 2018.- The 15 countries that make up the Caribbean Community (Caricom) reiterated their support for the Government of Guyana in its fight against Venezuela for the Essequibo territory.
"The Heads of Government reiterated their firm and unwavering support for the maintenance and preservation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Guyana," the organization said in a statement on the summary of the agreements that emerged during the 39th Ordinary Meeting of Heads of State of the Caricom that was carried out in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
The Essequibo region is under UN-mediation since 1966, when the Geneva Agreement was signed. Both countries agreed, through this document, to seek solutions to the dispute after Venezuela denounced in 1962 an arbitration award issued in 1899 by a court in Paris that set common limits and that for Guyana is still in force.
The disputed region, under the sovereignty of Georgetown at present, covers an area of about 160,000 square kilometers, which accounts for three quarters of the territory of Guyana. The controversy has worsened in recent years after the US company Exxon Mobil has discovered several oil fields in the waters of the area in dispute.
-snip-
http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/07/caricom-reitera-apoyo-guyana-disputa-venezuela-esequibo/
Backstory: The Essequibo region is the go-to crisis for every desperate Venezuelan despot since 1899. The minute things get really thick in Caracas, the current dictator-in-chief decides its about time to start reclaiming "that which belongs to the Fatherland!" Currently, the Guyanese border is guarded by about 8 guys who play dominoes and drink rum for 4 hours each day (the other 4 hours they work in the local military Credit Union). Guyana might have some rifles, but their army has equipment that dates back to 1966 and at best is used for flower planters.
Regardless, the only people who dispute the Venezuela border is Venezuela.
July 7, 2018
Posted on July 4, 2018 in The Info by Martín Pallares
translated from Spanish
Now Unasur has received the final puntillazo. If in recent months he survived agonizing it was because there was still, in his pretentious and expensive building in the Middle of the World, a parasitic bureaucratic structure that had not been liquidated because it was useful to the concerted interests between the government of Nicolás Maduro and the former Secretary of the organization, Ernesto Samper.
Unasur was in a comatose state because most of its members suspended their participation, realizing that it has only been useful for the diplomatic and political strategies of Chavez. However, his definitive death comes because of lack of money and accompanied by a series of complaints about irregularities that include cases of sexual harassment, misuse of funds and abuse of power.
A document signed by the head of the Cabinet, Yuri Chillán, reveals the liquidation of the agency. "Taking into account if at July 30 of the current year there are not sufficient recoures to cover the needs of the last quarter of the year, the Entity will enter into cessation of payments": it says in an official letter sent to Bolivian Vice Chancellor María del Carmen Almendras, Bolivia's coordinator at Unasur. In the office Chillán makes a detailed summary of the asphyxiating and already untenable situation. It shows how the only countries that are contributing to the body of the organisms are Bolivia, Guyana and Suriname; the last two with delayed contributions of 2017. In total, of what is seen in the documents, they have barely reached 222,332 dollars. This reaches, according to internal sources told 4Pelagatos.
-snip-
https://4pelagatos.com/2018/07/04/unasur-cierra-por-quiebra-y-en-medio-escandalos/
Backstory: UNASUR was the grand dream of Hugo Chavez, to have as its members ONLY South American nations as members. It was planned to counter the influence of the United States in the OAS, as Chavez never saw eye to eye with Uncle Sam.
Nevertheless, every South American nation signed on, including the ones influenced by the United States, but it soon became clear that the show was about the populist/Socialist Pink Tide that was then enveloping Latin America. And as scandal after scandal rocked Latin America, it became clear that the Hugo's special club was losing ground. First the Kirchners (Argentina), then Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff (Brazil) were caught in corruption scandals. Then Correa (Ecuador), which left only Evo Morales and Maduro (after Chavez died of cancer) as the last of the hard core.
When Maduro insisted that UNASUR be united in their hatred for the United States (Venezuela was paying the most in dues), the other nations started dropping out, beginning in April of this year. Even the stalwarts stopped paying dues. Only Ecuador (where their building is located), Suriname, Trinidad/Tobago, Bolivia, Venezuela and for the time being Uruguay remain. Only Bolivia is paying dues, though not enough to even keep the lights on.
UNASUR no more: Pet project of Chavez goes under as no one is left to keep lights on.
UNASUR closes for bankruptcy amid scandalsPosted on July 4, 2018 in The Info by Martín Pallares
translated from Spanish
Now Unasur has received the final puntillazo. If in recent months he survived agonizing it was because there was still, in his pretentious and expensive building in the Middle of the World, a parasitic bureaucratic structure that had not been liquidated because it was useful to the concerted interests between the government of Nicolás Maduro and the former Secretary of the organization, Ernesto Samper.
Unasur was in a comatose state because most of its members suspended their participation, realizing that it has only been useful for the diplomatic and political strategies of Chavez. However, his definitive death comes because of lack of money and accompanied by a series of complaints about irregularities that include cases of sexual harassment, misuse of funds and abuse of power.
A document signed by the head of the Cabinet, Yuri Chillán, reveals the liquidation of the agency. "Taking into account if at July 30 of the current year there are not sufficient recoures to cover the needs of the last quarter of the year, the Entity will enter into cessation of payments": it says in an official letter sent to Bolivian Vice Chancellor María del Carmen Almendras, Bolivia's coordinator at Unasur. In the office Chillán makes a detailed summary of the asphyxiating and already untenable situation. It shows how the only countries that are contributing to the body of the organisms are Bolivia, Guyana and Suriname; the last two with delayed contributions of 2017. In total, of what is seen in the documents, they have barely reached 222,332 dollars. This reaches, according to internal sources told 4Pelagatos.
-snip-
https://4pelagatos.com/2018/07/04/unasur-cierra-por-quiebra-y-en-medio-escandalos/
Backstory: UNASUR was the grand dream of Hugo Chavez, to have as its members ONLY South American nations as members. It was planned to counter the influence of the United States in the OAS, as Chavez never saw eye to eye with Uncle Sam.
Nevertheless, every South American nation signed on, including the ones influenced by the United States, but it soon became clear that the show was about the populist/Socialist Pink Tide that was then enveloping Latin America. And as scandal after scandal rocked Latin America, it became clear that the Hugo's special club was losing ground. First the Kirchners (Argentina), then Lula da Silva and Dilma Rousseff (Brazil) were caught in corruption scandals. Then Correa (Ecuador), which left only Evo Morales and Maduro (after Chavez died of cancer) as the last of the hard core.
When Maduro insisted that UNASUR be united in their hatred for the United States (Venezuela was paying the most in dues), the other nations started dropping out, beginning in April of this year. Even the stalwarts stopped paying dues. Only Ecuador (where their building is located), Suriname, Trinidad/Tobago, Bolivia, Venezuela and for the time being Uruguay remain. Only Bolivia is paying dues, though not enough to even keep the lights on.
July 6, 2018
By Mario Pérez - July 6, 2018
For some, distant, hidden places bring peace, serenity, solitude and relaxation. But in the land of Simón Bolívar, remoteness is a synonym for violations against human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of press and the capacity of free, critical and alternative media outlets to operate without coercion.
Such is the case with Radio Fe y Alegría 92.1 FM, in Tucupita, Delta Amacuro.
One of the 21 stations that currently make up the network owned by Fe y Alegría (an institution founded 63 years ago as a movement for popular education and social promotion), suffered a two-hour long power cut on June, 22. The second day this happened, the body responsible for the electrical service didn’t restore it.
Employees noticed something was off when they realized that the building where the station is located was the only place with no power, while nearby houses and stores were unaffected...
-fast forward-
...Francisco “Paco” Pérez, head of Radio Fe y Alegría 92.1 FM, realized there was something fishy about the power cut because there was no rationing in the area and they had no past due bills. He went to the National Electric Corporation’s (CORPOLEC) offices to ask what was truly happening. The answers were vague, but Pérez insisted until he got it: “The orders to cut the service come from the top.”
Paco looks at his hands and counts with his fingers: This is the fifth power cut the station has suffered so far this year. “The same happened last year, the radio was left without power and we went out to catch the CORPOELEC people working on disconnecting the wiring. When we asked them why, they said ‘orders from the top.’”...
https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2018/07/06/radio-station-in-tucupita-shut-down-by-corpoelec-for-the-fifth-time-this-year/
"Orders from the top!" seems to be the recurring theme in ChavismoLand.
No water to my business that doesn't accept fake money (Petro cryptocurrency) or worse, worthless Bolivars? "Orders from the top!"
No electricity to my radio station, newspaper or web host servers? "Orders from the top!"
PNB/GNB won't remove Chavista squatters out of my hotel, house or apartment building? "Orders from the top!"
And its not that these institutions are "enemies" of Chavismo. Heck no... the problem is that they aren't active participants in the fraud of Chavismo. Like Che Guevara, if you aren't going to pick up a gun and actively fight for the Revolution, the Revolution considers you a parasite and you are dragging it down.
El paredon (the wall) for you!
The march to Castroism continues. Chavismo selectively cuts power to radio stations
Radio Station in Tucupita Shut Down by CORPOELEC for the Fifth Time this YearBy Mario Pérez - July 6, 2018
For some, distant, hidden places bring peace, serenity, solitude and relaxation. But in the land of Simón Bolívar, remoteness is a synonym for violations against human rights, freedom of expression, freedom of press and the capacity of free, critical and alternative media outlets to operate without coercion.
Such is the case with Radio Fe y Alegría 92.1 FM, in Tucupita, Delta Amacuro.
One of the 21 stations that currently make up the network owned by Fe y Alegría (an institution founded 63 years ago as a movement for popular education and social promotion), suffered a two-hour long power cut on June, 22. The second day this happened, the body responsible for the electrical service didn’t restore it.
Employees noticed something was off when they realized that the building where the station is located was the only place with no power, while nearby houses and stores were unaffected...
-fast forward-
...Francisco “Paco” Pérez, head of Radio Fe y Alegría 92.1 FM, realized there was something fishy about the power cut because there was no rationing in the area and they had no past due bills. He went to the National Electric Corporation’s (CORPOLEC) offices to ask what was truly happening. The answers were vague, but Pérez insisted until he got it: “The orders to cut the service come from the top.”
Paco looks at his hands and counts with his fingers: This is the fifth power cut the station has suffered so far this year. “The same happened last year, the radio was left without power and we went out to catch the CORPOELEC people working on disconnecting the wiring. When we asked them why, they said ‘orders from the top.’”...
https://www.caracaschronicles.com/2018/07/06/radio-station-in-tucupita-shut-down-by-corpoelec-for-the-fifth-time-this-year/
"Orders from the top!" seems to be the recurring theme in ChavismoLand.
No water to my business that doesn't accept fake money (Petro cryptocurrency) or worse, worthless Bolivars? "Orders from the top!"
No electricity to my radio station, newspaper or web host servers? "Orders from the top!"
PNB/GNB won't remove Chavista squatters out of my hotel, house or apartment building? "Orders from the top!"
And its not that these institutions are "enemies" of Chavismo. Heck no... the problem is that they aren't active participants in the fraud of Chavismo. Like Che Guevara, if you aren't going to pick up a gun and actively fight for the Revolution, the Revolution considers you a parasite and you are dragging it down.
El paredon (the wall) for you!
July 5, 2018
Rachelle Krygier and Anthony Faiola, The Washington Post Published 3:21 am PDT, Thursday, July 5, 2018
CARACAS, Venezuela — By running stories of official brutality and corruption, this nation’s largest independent newspaper — El Nacional — threatened Venezuela’s mighty and defended its meek. Now the paper has found itself covering perhaps its most crucial story.
Its own fight to stay alive.
A judicial case against the 75-year-old outlet — lodged by one of President Nicolás Maduro’s top lieutenants — coupled with the blocking of its website is threatening the paper’s future. At a time when traditional media is under fire from autocrats around the globe, the intensifying effort against El Nacional illustrates how some governments are going to new lengths to silence dissent.
In Venezuela, the pressure against the paper, experts say, is a sign that the government is ready to effectively shutter what is left of the free press.
“If El Nacional is closed, it would have a grave impact in Venezuelan media,” said Carlos Correa, a university professor and the executive director of Public Space, a Caracas-based nonprofit that tracks press freedoms. “It would signal an escalation of censure and would definitely have a chilling effect on other outlets fearful to go through the same fate.”
Since the rise of leftist firebrand Hugo Chávez, who became president in 1999 and ruled until his death in 2013, press freedoms in Venezuela have been under threat. The state TV channel started airing hours-long presidential speeches and news propaganda. In 2004, Chávez passed a law allowing the official censure of outlets by a state watchdog, CONATEL. A host of television station and newspaper owners were pressured to sell to friends of the government or close their doors.
-snip-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/as-it-slides-toward-authoritarianism-venezuela-targets-one-of-its-last-independent-newspapers/2018/07/03/9cb5fe22-7a2d-11e8-ac4e-421ef7165923_story.html?utm_term=.784d9680a251
Backstory: Venezuelas all-Chavista TSJ (Supreme Court) recently ruled in favor (without so much as a hearing, let alone a trial) of Diosdado Cabello, PSUV party chief, Chavismos #2 man and new head of the all-Chavista ANC. The reason Diosdado sued El National? They reprinted a Spanish news story about allegations (well founded) that Diosdado had connections to drug trafficking. (Maduro's connections are without dispute) Naturally, the TSJ found for Cabello (they haven't ruled against Chavismo EVER) and awarded him 5 billion Bolivars in damages. (which could amount to about $5O in a week). However... the TSJ hasn't decided yet how best to compensate Diosdado. He wants outright ownership of El National, or at least $500,000,000 in damages (officially, the Bolivar exchanges at 10BsF to the USD)
Pablo Escobar's hitman "Popeye" has named Diosdado as the head of the "Cartel de los Soles".
El National is found in digital form only, and is now "blocked" in Venezuela. They have been unable to get newsprint for over 4 years from the State... which happens to control who gets newsprint. Convenient, eh?
WaPo: As it slides toward authoritarianism, Venezuela targets one of its last independent newspapers
As it slides toward authoritarianism, Venezuela targets one of its last independent newspapersRachelle Krygier and Anthony Faiola, The Washington Post Published 3:21 am PDT, Thursday, July 5, 2018
CARACAS, Venezuela — By running stories of official brutality and corruption, this nation’s largest independent newspaper — El Nacional — threatened Venezuela’s mighty and defended its meek. Now the paper has found itself covering perhaps its most crucial story.
Its own fight to stay alive.
A judicial case against the 75-year-old outlet — lodged by one of President Nicolás Maduro’s top lieutenants — coupled with the blocking of its website is threatening the paper’s future. At a time when traditional media is under fire from autocrats around the globe, the intensifying effort against El Nacional illustrates how some governments are going to new lengths to silence dissent.
In Venezuela, the pressure against the paper, experts say, is a sign that the government is ready to effectively shutter what is left of the free press.
“If El Nacional is closed, it would have a grave impact in Venezuelan media,” said Carlos Correa, a university professor and the executive director of Public Space, a Caracas-based nonprofit that tracks press freedoms. “It would signal an escalation of censure and would definitely have a chilling effect on other outlets fearful to go through the same fate.”
Since the rise of leftist firebrand Hugo Chávez, who became president in 1999 and ruled until his death in 2013, press freedoms in Venezuela have been under threat. The state TV channel started airing hours-long presidential speeches and news propaganda. In 2004, Chávez passed a law allowing the official censure of outlets by a state watchdog, CONATEL. A host of television station and newspaper owners were pressured to sell to friends of the government or close their doors.
-snip-
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/as-it-slides-toward-authoritarianism-venezuela-targets-one-of-its-last-independent-newspapers/2018/07/03/9cb5fe22-7a2d-11e8-ac4e-421ef7165923_story.html?utm_term=.784d9680a251
Backstory: Venezuelas all-Chavista TSJ (Supreme Court) recently ruled in favor (without so much as a hearing, let alone a trial) of Diosdado Cabello, PSUV party chief, Chavismos #2 man and new head of the all-Chavista ANC. The reason Diosdado sued El National? They reprinted a Spanish news story about allegations (well founded) that Diosdado had connections to drug trafficking. (Maduro's connections are without dispute) Naturally, the TSJ found for Cabello (they haven't ruled against Chavismo EVER) and awarded him 5 billion Bolivars in damages. (which could amount to about $5O in a week). However... the TSJ hasn't decided yet how best to compensate Diosdado. He wants outright ownership of El National, or at least $500,000,000 in damages (officially, the Bolivar exchanges at 10BsF to the USD)
Pablo Escobar's hitman "Popeye" has named Diosdado as the head of the "Cartel de los Soles".
El National is found in digital form only, and is now "blocked" in Venezuela. They have been unable to get newsprint for over 4 years from the State... which happens to control who gets newsprint. Convenient, eh?
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