October 1, 2018

Evo Morales' demand for "access to the sea", Chilean coast denied by the ICJ

Bolivia sea dispute: UN rules in Chile's favour

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled against Bolivia in its dispute with neighbouring Chile over access to the Pacific Ocean- a feud dating back to the late 19th Century.

Landlocked Bolivia lost access to the sea in 1884 after a war with Chile and has tried to regain it ever since.

The court said Chile was not obliged to negotiate granting Bolivia access.

The ruling, which comes after five years of deliberations, is final and binding.

Judges at the United Nations' top court did not rule on whether Chile or Bolivia had the rights to the disputed coastal stretch, it only ruled on whether Chile had an obligation to negotiate with Bolivia.

The borders between the two neighbours date back to the 1904 Treaty of Peace and Friendship, signed after Bolivia lost 400km (250 miles) of coastline to Chile during the War of the Pacific (1879-1884).

Chile insisted that the disputed coastal stretch was sovereign Chilean territory and as such "would not be a part in anyone's negotiations".

Bolivian President Evo Morales traveled to The Hague to attend the announcement of the ruling in person. Before boarding the plane, he said: "Our return to the sea is not only possible, it is inevitable."

-snip-

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45708671

Background to the dispute:
After its defeat by Chile in the War of the Pacific, Bolivia lost 120,000 sq km of land and became a landlocked country
Bolivia said that Chile had an obligation to "negotiate a sovereign access to the sea for Bolivia"
It brought the territorial dispute in 2013 to the International Court of Justice in The Hague
Chile and Bolivia have not had full diplomatic relations since 1978
Source: BBC Monitoring

...Bolivarian Socialist temper tantrum to ensue...

September 29, 2018

Canada joins Colombia, Chile, Paraguay,Argentina and Peru in ICC to sanction Venezuela

Canada joins multilateral move to take Venezuelan government to International Criminal Court
Referring another country to court in The Hague is a 1st for Canada

Evan Dyer · CBC News · Posted: Sep 25, 2018 10:31 PM ET | Last Updated: September 26

Canada will join five South American nations in signing a formal request for the International Criminal Court to investigate the Venezuelan government of Nicolas Maduro.

It marks the first time Canada has tried to take another country before the ICC in its 20 years as a member. Based in the Netherlands, the court prosecutes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Canada joins Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru in signing the referral. Each of those countries has received migrants fleeing the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, with Colombia and Peru receiving the lion's share.

There will be a signing ceremony for the referral on Wednesday morning at United Nations headquarters in New York.

Government sources told CBC that Canada's decision to refer Venezuela is also meant as a show of support for the ICC, an institution this country believes in that is under attack.

-snip-

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canada-joins-effort-sanction-venezuela-1.4838359

September 25, 2018

Maduro: We must increase taxation to "astronomical" levels

Maduro: It is necessary to increase the tax collection of the country
The president said that the necessary standards for socialism must be maintained



By EL NACIONAL WEB
SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 10:15 PM | UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2018 22:16 PM

Nicolás Maduro, president of Venezuela, announced on Monday the increase in the country's tax collection at "astronomical" levels.

"We were reviewing the fiscal balance, we have to improve the tax collection of the country and strengthen it, it is a vital line for the Economic Recovery Program," the president said.

Maduro indicated that the collection of the Venezuelan Institute of Social Security (IVSS) should be improved. "You have to pay the debt of the State and have the private with Social Security and charge monthly to the hair," he said.

"We have to generate wealth to maintain the standards that the revolution has maintained despite the economic war," he said.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/gobierno/maduro-hay-que-aumentar-recaudacion-tributaria-del-pais_253104

This standard of the revolution?



or this standard of the revolution?

?w=580&ssl=1

September 24, 2018

Ortega defiant as pro-democracy protester killed by Nicaraguan police, Sandinista Youth

At least one killed as protests rock Nicaragua; Ortega defiant
Ismael Lopez

MANAGUA (Reuters) - Police and supporters of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega clashed in Managua on Sunday with demonstrators calling for the release of people imprisoned during recent protests, leaving at least one person dead, authorities said.

Hundreds of protesters carrying Nicaragua’s blue and white flag massed in the eastern part of the capital in the morning after squads of police prevented the demonstrators from reaching the city center.

“We are marching for the freedom of our children who are not criminals. They are fighting to have a better country,” said Mercedes Davila, the mother of a student leader, Edwin Carcache, who she said had been jailed on charges of terrorism.

Police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at the crowd, and armed supporters of Ortega opened fire on demonstrators, local media said. At least one woman passing by was hit by a bullet, according to a Reuters witness.

Nicaragua’s National Police said in a statement that one person was killed in the “crossfire” between demonstrators, whom police characterized as “terrorists,” and families who were defending their homes from attacks by “violent groups.”

Local media reported at least six people were wounded.

About 300 people have been jailed since protests erupted in April, according to local human rights activists. More than 300 people were killed during those protests in crackdowns by Nicaraguan police and armed groups backing the government, human rights groups have said.

-snip-

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nicaragua-protests/at-least-one-killed-as-protests-rock-nicaragua-ortega-defiant-idUSKCN1M30WW

September 21, 2018

Chavista thugs (colectivos) threaten journalists covering teacher protest

Colectivos threatened journalists outside the Ministry of Education
The reporters covered the protest that a group of teachers carried out in the surroundings of the ministry



translated from Spanish

By EL NACIONAL WEB
SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 12:22 PM | UPDATED ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2018 12:33 PM

A group of colectivos threatened journalists from VPI and NTN24 who were covering a protest outside the Ministry of Education this Friday.

Through VPItv's Twitter account, it became known that anti-socials scared reporters with knives.

https://twitter.com/VPITV/status/1043168529028210690

"Our team of VPItv and partners of NTN24 were threatened with weapons by groups that were outside the Ministry of Education," said the media.

The journalists were in the protest that made a group of teachers because of the conditions in which the schools are located a week before the start of the school period.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sociedad/colectivos-amenazaron-periodistas-afuera-del-ministerio-educacion_252691

Well, why not? About the only ones that Chavismo hasn't thrown under the bus are its enforcers. Colectivos are armed thugs who do the dirty work that the PNB and GNB cannot be seen doing. After all, it would be very unseemly if the uniformed PNB/GNB went around robbing people and threatening people... oh... wait....

https://www.lapatilla.com/2018/09/19/denuncian-que-efectivos-de-la-gnb-cobran-hasta-10-mil-pesos-para-dejar-surtir-gasolina-en-tachira-video/

(They denounce that GNB troops charge up to 10 thousand pesos to let fill gasoline in Táchira)

Nothing like a little "shakedown" to start your day, after spending 48 hours in line to buy gas...

September 21, 2018

Death of labor rights in Venezuela. No Constitutionally protected collective bargaining

"If I studied, I have the right to earn an ideal salary"
In addition to flattening the salary tables and eliminating benefits, the government ordered to suspend until further notice any negotiation of the collective agreements of the public sector, denounced union sources



By ANA DÍAZ | ANADÍAZ@EL-NACIONA.COM | CARLOS SEIJAS MENESES | CSEIJAS@EL-NACIONAL.COM
SEPTEMBER 20, 2018 01:15 AM

The workers of the public sector expressed their annoyance and indignation for the arbitrary and unilateral measure of the government of Nicolás Maduro to flatten the salary tables and eliminate bonuses and benefits of collective agreements, and the minutes-agreement of all state agencies.


Workers, employees, professionals, retirees and pensioners went to the call of the non-official union movement to participate in the national protest, in order to reject the new salary tabulator that lowered and excluded bonuses and socioeconomic benefits, which puts collective bargaining at risk .

At the entrance of hospitals and public and private schools, workers carried out banners against the government's socioeconomic policy. Others expressed their displeasure in front of state organisms and companies to later march to specific points like the Confederation of Workers of Venezuela in Caracas.

In the concentration of Cantv, Libertador Avenue, Juan Véliz, manager of the telephone union, said that as the rest of the public sector they paid the first two weeks of the minimum wage (1,800 sovereign bolivars per month from September 1) with rebates or elimination of premiums and compensations.

"That is a violation of the Constitution, which enshrines the progressivity and inviolability of labor rights, in addition to endangering collective bargaining," Véliz added.

Freddy Cañas, of the National Trade Union of Health Workers, said that according to the convention of the sector they should charge an integral income of between 6,600 and 12,000 sovereign bolivars, but this month they will cancel only 2,070 bolivars.

Reinaldo Díaz, director of the Electrical Workers Union of Greater Caracas, informed that the director of the Ministry of Labor, Fabiola Zambrano, notified them of the Executive's order to suspend until further notice the negotiations of all collective contracts of the public sector.

-snip-

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/economia/estudie-tengo-derecho-ganar-sueldo-ideal_252443

The problem? The "worker president", like El Líder Galactico before him, doesn't give the least shit about the people. He cares about the Revolution. People come and go. Live and die. The Revolution must endure.

The Constitution? Pfft! Hasn't been a consideration since Chavismo lost in a landslide in 2015!

September 20, 2018

Supermarket managers arrested for not having meat for sale

Sundee orders detention of managers of Excelsior Gama and Central Madeirense for "boycott"
By: Aporrea-Agencias | Wednesday, 09/19/2018 05:04 PM



translated from Spanish

This Wednesday the managers of the supermarket chains Excelsior Gama and Central Madeirense were arrested, after officials of the National Superintendence for the Defense of Socioeconomic Rights (Sundde) supervised the establishments in several branches of the country.

There are at least 11 more detainees. The action obeys to that the shelves were empty.

The detainees were arrested by officers of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) are accused of "boycott" for the shortage in the place.

It should be noted that on August 23, the Sundde began an administrative sanctioning process against Excelsior Gama, Central Madeirense and Luvebras, as well as pharmaceutical chains such as Locatel and Farmahorro.

https://www.aporrea.org/economia/n331653.html

Synopsis: Chavismo has dictated that there is an "agreed price" on various food and hygiene products. (there is no actual agreement with anyone) Pharmacies and markets are required by law to sell these 50 "agreed" items at a low low cost to the public. The problem being, it costs more to buy the markets wholesale than to sell at retail. Hence, all 50 products with "agreed prices" cannot be found anywhere at any price.

Enter SUNDDE, the Gestapo of shopping.

They will enter your business (if it is closed, they will force you to open) and will inspect your wares. If they unilaterally deem your prices "unfair", you will be arrested and sent to the squalid SEBIN (Bolivarian secret police) prison called Helicoide. If you are selling an "agreed item" for more than the "agreed price", you go to prison. And now, if you DON'T sell the item because you don't stock that item, you go to prison.

September 20, 2018

Restraunteur who served Maduro feels the wrath of social media

Banquet served to Maduro passes invoice to 'Salt Bae' with users of the network


(Clearly, Maduro hasn't been on the Maduro Diet. Not seen in this picture is his $100,000 Patek Philippe watch)

translated from Spanish

Jhoan Meléndez / Sep 19 2018.- After the renowned Turkish chef Nusret Gökçe, better known as Salt Bae, attended to President Nicolás Maduro in his restaurant, Internet users have disqualified the renowned chef and his business with negative reviews.

The establishment located in Istanbul has been branded as being an "immoral restaurant" and "supporter of a dictator", in addition to qualifying him with only one point out of five possible, which leaves the business in bad shape, according to the Infobae portal .

One of the reviews indicates that "in this restaurant, your head chef feels very proud to serve dictators like Venezuela without any remorse".

After the innumerable criticisms and insults, Bae eliminated from Instagram the video where he is seen preparing a steak for the President, however the filming had already been viralized generating the annoyance of the users of social networks.

Even the US senator, Marco Rubio, spoke on Twitter about this fact, because in a tweet he published the business number with the phrase "if someone wanted to call".

Given this, the newspaper The New York Times contacted the restaurant to find out if Rubio's tweet had caused calls to increase, and responded that "a lot".

The meat that Salt Bae prepared for Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores are priced at approximately $250 in the US branches, which represents more than twelve (monthly) minimum wages in Venezuela.

Likewise, a contingent of Venezuelans demonstrated on Wednesday in the vicinity of one of their restaurants located in Miami, after the NGO Venezolanos Perseguidos Politicos en el Exilio (Veppex), convened the protest.

http://www.noticierodigital.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=108963

From Miami, where "Salt Bae" owns a restaurant: "The turkish restaurant closed yesterday and did not open today. He meets a supplier of fine wines who serves the restaurant and he told him that among the employees there was young Venezuelans and about 6 Cubans. All resigned today. It does not mean that the business will go bankrupt but it is always a costly setback to spend 5, 6 or 8 days closed since the cancellation of reservations was massive and this place must cost an eye of the face of rent."

Not that this guy cares. He has had his picture taken with Diego Maradona, and took another picture dressed in homage to Castro. A big fan of Erdoğan. Perhaps any publicity is good publicity for him?

September 20, 2018

The purge begins. Group Think the only think allowed in ChavismoLand!

Saab eliminates all MP career charges
September 19, 2018

translated from Spanish

Jhoan Meléndez / Sep 19 2018.- The Attorney General of the Republic, Tarek William Saab, signed a document on Wednesday in which he approved the elimination of all career positions of the Public Ministry.

This was reported on his Twitter account Alberto Rodríguez, after publishing some photographs of the alleged letter signed by Saab, which according to the journalist states that "officials will not have stability in the institution because of his career."

Evio Di Marzo Before this decree, all the officials will be of "free appointment and removal" from now on.



"Behind this decision, it seeks to threaten, pressure and violate the autonomy of MP Prosecutors," said Rodriguez.

Official Gazette No. 41,482 states that "high-level or confidential positions determined in this Personal Statute are considered positions of free appointment and removal."

"The high-level positions are the following: Deputy District Attorney, General Directors, Line Directors, Deputy Directors, Coordinators, Division Chiefs, Department Heads, Unit Heads and Senior Prosecutors," reads the Official Gazette.

http://www.noticierodigital.com/2018/09/saab-autoriza-eliminar-cargos-carrera-del-mp/

Basically, this dictate says that anyone in any position (career technocrats who ensure the machine chugs on) will be employed at the whim of whatever Chavist is in charge that day. To hell with collective bargaining agreements or contracts.

Swear fealty to Chavismo, or you are gone.

September 19, 2018

Maduro starts nationalizing cattle ranches and dairy farms. Wants beef spokesman arrested

They denounce that the government prepares the expropriation of 71 cattle farms
Peasants and hooded and armed officials of the FAES took by force, last Sunday, several hectares of the La Unión property, in Táchira state


By ELEONORA DELGADO | ELDELGADO@EL-NACIONAL.COM | SAN CRISTOBAL
SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 01:20 AM

Carlos Albornoz, president of the Venezuelan Meat and Milk Institute, and Armando Chacin, head of the National Federation of Cattle Ranchers of Venezuela, denounced that the government is preparing the expropriation of 71 farms producing meat and milk.

The directors are based on an event that occurred last Sunday. That day a group of approximately 90 people, accompanied by hooded and armed officers of the Special Actions Force of the Bolivarian National Police, arrived at the La Unión farm, at kilometer 93 on the Orope-La Fría road, in the municipality of García of Hevia, northwest of Táchira, on the border with Colombia. The intention was to invade the back of the property, which in total has an area of ​​183 hectares.

"We have information that the government will do the same to more than 71 farms in Táchira. We do not understand why in a country where people wander looking for food, the government still insists on expropriating and eliminating units that are still useful to produce meat and milk," said Chacín.

-snip-

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/economia/denuncian-que-gobierno-prepara-expropiacion-fincas-ganaderas_252138

"I want to see your face, delinquent": Maduro attacked the president of Fedenaga
The Cooperator | September 18, 2018

Caracas.- In recent days, the president of the National Federation of Cattle Ranchers (Fedenaga), Armando Chacín, assured that the new prices of meat, fixed in a "unilateral and unconsultated" way with the traditional livestock guilds, does not compensate the structure of costs, so he believes that the price of meat could be handled by one free dollar per kilo. In response, President Nicolás Maduro called him a "delinquent" and requested that he be arrested.

In statements to the international press from the Miraflores Palace, Maduro said that all those who want to sell meat in dollars "are criminals", so he asked the vice president of the economic sector, Tareck El Aissami, to do justice. " I want to see your face, delinquent," the head of state told Chacin.

In this sense, he affirmed that he has "a lot of faith" with the special plan of the agreed prices. "I was in China, but I was waiting. Vice President of the economic sector iron hand with speculators, we will not give the opportunity to damage the price program.

Finally, he brandished a threat: "By good and bad. If they do not want to collaborate with the economic recovery program, then they will have to dedicate themselves to something else. They will not be able to continue. I'm saying it smooth. A good listener few words. I ask for the collaboration of the people, do not get robbed, go out to the street to claim your rights. We have to put an end to the hoarders that are out there."

https://elcooperante.com/te-quiero-ver-la-cara-delincuente-maduro-ataco-al-presidente-de-fedenaga/