Blaze scorches Venezuela land agency office; authorities investigate possible arson

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

From The Associated Press, January 8, 2011 - 3:52 PM
Blaze scorches Venezuela land agency office; authorities investigate possible arson

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - A Venezuelan government office belonging to the agency that handles land takeovers has been severely damaged by a fire, and officials say they suspect arson.

Agriculture and Land Minister Juan Carlos Loyo says the blaze damaged 70 percent of the regional headquarters of the National Land Institute.

Loyo tells state television there is "very strong evidence" suggesting it may have been set deliberately by "a group of individuals."

He did not elaborate.

Saturday's blaze took place in the western state of Zulia, where President Hugo Chavez's government began seizing 47 private ranches totaling more than 59,000 acres (24,000 hectares) last month.

Read more: http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9KKCT500

[DumpDavisHogg]

1. The teagaggers have come to Venezuela now too? n/t

[Judi Lynn]

6. Their wealthier Venezuelan counterparts always controlled Venezuela until February, 1999

when Hugo Chavez was inaugurated.

It does sound like a familiar pattern, doesn't it?

[The abyss]

2. How convenient!

I am willing to bet dollars for dough-nuts that the Venezuelan government has not only the originals on file but also digital copies.

This strikes me as a rather stone age attack.

Of course it did work in Arkansas - or so they say.

[Judi Lynn]

8. You bet the government has backups for everything.

What doesn't seem to get nearly as much attention is the fact a lot of that land was simply TAKEN from the original landowners, (the original small farmers and their families driven off their land, just as it still happens in Colombia) and claimed by the big latifundo owners who have all kinds of hired mercenary "help" to enforce their claims. Questionable ownership was called out long ago by the democratically elected government of the people of Venezuela.

It IS primitive, but then the interested parties gave it a shot, anyway.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[The abyss]

4. Judi Lynn reports and posts most excellently

Her thoughts and background to stories are legend.

She is, as we all, are allowed to bring anything to the table.

Are you looking for an agenda? This is a political bulletin board and none of us came here without one.

[GreenTea]

5. Judi Lynn is a big girl-I know much more than what you posted-She can surely speak for herself, no?

The abyss, I'm sure Judi Lynn is more than flattered and truly appreciates your loyal kind words.

But that's NOT what I posted about.....forget it, sincerely, I don't really expect nor want a response Judi Lynn makes herself very clear!

However, agenda?

Yes indeed, the most liberal, progressive democratic socialistic ideology & agenda possible for ALL. - I despise ANYTHING less (especially moderates)!

[The abyss]

7. Green Tea you appear to have taken this OP to a personal level

We all engage in debate and we all promote our own voice.

[Judi Lynn]

9. Was looking through past DU discussions on land reform, found an interesting one

posted by: Viva_La_Revolution (1000+ posts) Tue Mar-27-07 01:17 AM
Response to Reply #99
105. info on the land...

In Venezuela right now, 5% of land owners own 80% of the private land in Venezuela. This huge inequity was created under earlier regimes that were working largely with foreign oil companies. A few people who made fortunes in oil bought up vast tracts of land in the early 20th century and also the 1970s. This would be the equivalent in America of something like several individual families owning entire states such as Arkansas or Colorado, and then making these entire states gated and privately controlled and policed with private militias.

Something has to be done to correct the situation. The situation has now caused agricultural problems in Venezuela because so little of the Venezuelan land is being farmed because these large land owners are not using all of their land because they have so much. At the same time there are millions of Venezuelan citizens who have no means to buy property, but who do want to work and who are ready, willing, and able to farm the land.

The first step of the Chavez government was to issue land grants from government owned land.

Under Hugo Chavez, the government has issued, and is issuing, a large number of land grants to propertyless peasants for use in farming, which is exactly what the United States of America did from its inception on through the early 20th century. In this way, President Chavez's land reforms are very similar to the Homestead Act of 1862, signed by Abraham Lincoln.

Additionally though, President Chavez's reforms call for the government acquisition of privately owned land where either ownership of the land cannot be proven, or where there is a very large land holding and a portion of the land is sitting idle.

First of all, in Venezuela, a lot of land has simply been claimed, by no right recognized by any government. Some of this land was never lawfully purchased. This is because Venezuela has a troubled history already. Over the past 100 years some powerful families and regional bosses have simply gated off sections of land and "claimed it".

http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x511161#511690

Taken from thread started by:
BayCityProgressive (1000+ posts) Mon Mar-26-07 11:41 PM
Original message
Chavez Announces Takeover of 16 Estates for Venezuela’s Land Reform
http://demopedia.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x511161#511161

~~~~~
If some of these people took the time to know more than headlines and cable tv pot shots at leftists, their perception of world events would be wildly altered, wouldn't it?

Opening the door out of childhood political conditioning is a step no one can ever reverse. Even a little knowledge leads us all out of confusion, in time.

Thank you for your kindness, you can't imagine how much encouragement you have lended. Hope it makes its way back to you.

[The abyss]

10. Pay it forward

Those that come after us will need everything we can provide.