Venezuela Mayor Orders Private Land Seized

[bemildred]

CARACAS, Venezuela - The mayor of Venezuela's second-largest city ordered the government to seize two swaths of abandoned private lands Tuesday, saying the property would be used for projects to benefit the entire population.

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The mayor said the lands are partly owned by a bank and a hotel, which has been closed for decades.

The city of 1.7 million people plans to build public housing, a center for street children and a public sports center on the lands, Di Martino said.

He said the owners would be paid fair compensation. The owners couldn't immediately be reached for comment.

TheState.com

[David__77]

1. This is a basic democratic reform.

Venezuela must mobilize its armed forces and its people to seize such assets and them into people's assets. The owners can be compensated as appropriate. How is this different than emminent domain? It is good that the revolutionary forces are mobilizing the farming masses to seize power in the rural areas.

[Salomonity]

3. "use the military to take things"

It's a bad sign when a government decides to use the military to take things away from citizens.

[David__77]

5. This is a pernicious class struggle.

The law has to be enforced.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

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

[bemildred]

4. Does not say anything about armed forces or military.

This would primarily be a legal proceeding. Force would only
be employed if the previous owners resorted to it first.

[David__77]

6. The military carries out inspections to assess "idleness."

Indeed, Lord "Spam's" holdings were assessed by the armed forces, with a peasant mobilization nearby and TV coverage. It is a political act as much as an administrative-legal one, in fact, more so.

[bemildred]

8. I didn't say it was not political, it (obviously) is.

I said there would be no use of force unless there was resistance,
and that these actions are being pursued according to law.

Edit: the title piece still says nothing about the military.

[David__77]

2. This is a basic democratic reform.

Venezuela must mobilize its armed forces and its people to seize such assets and them into people's assets. The owners can be compensated as appropriate. How is this different than emminent domain? It is good that the revolutionary forces are mobilizing the farming masses to seize power in the rural areas.