Chávez, Extending Control, Seizes Assets of Oil Contractors

[FamilyGuy]

I agree, Chavez is out of control and must be stopped. The people he rules with an iron fist need to take note of the signs he is now a dictator.

No he is not. He is the democratically elected leader of Venezuela

[pete2]

Why are you describing a democratically elected head of state as a dictator ?

Its a non-question, its like asking why the DPRK is a dictatorship when it calls itself a "democratic republic". Chavez should be judged on his actions, as described in the links, not taken at his word.

[FamilyGuy]

Its a non-question, its like asking why the DPRK is a dictatorship when it calls itself a "democratic republic". Chavez should be judged on his actions, as described in the links, not taken at his word.

Yes, and his actions show he is the democratically elected leader of Venezuela and is not a dictator

[cactusflower]

I notice that "communism" is tagged to the thread. Chavez is far from being communist. He's a national bourgeois leader. He hasn't nationalised the oil industry in Venezuela - the linked article shows that Total, Halliburton and other private companies are still involved in Venezuela on a large scale. The hysteria over any leader who does anything at all to try to safeguard some national resources to the benefit of the people is unbelievable.

For all the thanks he gets from the likes of Pete, he might as well be a communist

[pete2]

I notice that "communism" is tagged to the thread. Chavez is far from being communist. He's a national bourgeois leader. He hasn't nationalised the oil industry in Venezuela - the linked article shows that Total, Halliburton and other private companies are still involved in Venezuela on a large scale. The hysteria over any leader who does anything at all to try to safeguard some national resources to the benefit of the people is unbelievable.

For all the thanks he gets from the likes of Pete, he might as well be a communist

Hugo Chavez and the Cuban Revolution
Worldandnation: Communism's new champion

[CookieMonster]

He may not be a dictator, yet, but he is quite clearly acting like a dictator, he is consolodating his power at price of Venezuelian democracy. He is consolodation his power and is aiming for total control of the people of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Congress has taken away almost 96% of the budget previously controled by the Mayor of Caracas. They did this after Antonio Ledezma, a critical opponent of Chavez was elected to the position.

He's also planning on passing legislation that will remove the necessity to elect regional governors and replacing them with presidental appointees. He's already taken power over airports and seaports off the regional governors and also the funds they generate, in complete disregard of the country's constitution.

When there are elections held, he has those attempting to stand who oppose him barred from standing, like Leopoldo Lopez in Carcas.

He's also attempting to have any foreign funds given to NGOs in Venezuela pass through the country's Treasury to "increase oversight".

He's been systematically attacking critical media outlets in Venezuela by denying to renew their licences for spurious reasons and opposition groups are denied access to state television and radio.

he's been intimidating any public figure who has been critical of him, he's had protest broken up and protestors arrested. Manuel Rosales, who stood against Chavez in the presidental election 2006 was threatened with arrest if he stood for election to be mayor of Maracaibo.

He's a dictator in waiting.

[cactusflower]

He may not be a dictator, yet, but he is quite clearly acting like a dictator, he is consolodating his power at price of Venezuelian democracy. He is consolodation his power and is aiming for total control of the people of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Congress has taken away almost 96% of the budget previously controled by the Mayor of Caracas. They did this after Antonio Ledezma, a critical opponent of Chavez was elected to the position.

He's also planning on passing legislation that will remove the necessity to elect regional governors and replacing them with presidental appointees. He's already taken power over airports and seaports off the regional governors and also the funds they generate, in complete disregard of the country's constitution.

When there are elections held, he has those attempting to stand who oppose him barred from standing, like Leopoldo Lopez in Carcas.

He's also attempting to have any foreign funds given to NGOs in Venezuela pass through the country's Treasury to "increase oversight".

He's been systematically attacking critical media outlets in Venezuela by denying to renew their licences for spurious reasons and opposition groups are denied access to state television and radio.

he's been intimidating any public figure who has been critical of him, he's had protest broken up and protestors arrested. Manuel Rosales, who stood against Chavez in the presidental election 2006 was threatened with arrest if he stood for election to be mayor of Maracaibo.

He's a dictator in waiting.

He's very wise to do that as USAID/CIA has been flooding Venezuela and Bolivia with NGO workers/agents.

Chavez government has his work cut out to deal with the incessant US interference in his country.

[CookieMonster]

He's very wise to do that as USAID/CIA has been flooding Venezuela and Bolivia with NGO workers/agents.

Chavez government has his work cut out to deal with the incessant US interference in his country.

Yes and the incessant national critics intefering with his damaging, dangerous, ecpensive and unsustainable "Bolivian revolution" too...

[blacbloc]

He may not be a dictator, yet, but he is quite clearly acting like a dictator, he is consolodating his power at price of Venezuelian democracy. He is consolodation his power and is aiming for total control of the people of Venezuela.

The Venezuelan Congress has taken away almost 96% of the budget previously controled by the Mayor of Caracas. They did this after Antonio Ledezma, a critical opponent of Chavez was elected to the position.

He's also planning on passing legislation that will remove the necessity to elect regional governors and replacing them with presidental appointees. He's already taken power over airports and seaports off the regional governors and also the funds they generate, in complete disregard of the country's constitution.

When there are elections held, he has those attempting to stand who oppose him barred from standing, like Leopoldo Lopez in Carcas.

He's also attempting to have any foreign funds given to NGOs in Venezuela pass through the country's Treasury to "increase oversight".

He's been systematically attacking critical media outlets in Venezuela by denying to renew their licences for spurious reasons and opposition groups are denied access to state television and radio.

he's been intimidating any public figure who has been critical of him, he's had protest broken up and protestors arrested. Manuel Rosales, who stood against Chavez in the presidental election 2006 was threatened with arrest if he stood for election to be mayor of Maracaibo.

He's a dictator in waiting.

Cookie, there is so much that is just plain wrong in that post it's hard to know where to begin. To take just one example because I don't have time now - but will come back to the thread later - there is MORE media critical of government in Ven than there is here in Ireland - by a massive margin. Censorship at RTE is endemic. The other morning Liam Calncy was on the radio and he remarked in passing about the corruption in Irish public life. Tubridy slams on a record and when it is finished he says (I'm paraphrasing the exchange) 'in case listeners were given the wrong impression a few minutes ago, Liam Clancy didn't mean to say that there was corruption. Listeners wouldnt have known that he had a smile on his face as he said it, isn't that right Liam?' To which Clancy awkwardly says 'er,yes'. Unreal stuff.

Chavez is the democratically elected leader of Venezuela, he is determined to ensure that the country's resources are used for the benefit of all its people not just greedy oligarchs who would like nothing more than to bomb the country, as they did Iraq, so they can steal the oil there too. Chavez is also facing a viciously undemocratic neo-conservative cabal who are dedicated to regaining the disgustingly undemocratic and unequal control of the country which saw most of the native people languishing in extreme conditions of poverty - a situation that Chavez has been doing his utmost to improve since being elected. With determined capitalist subversion both internally and internationally he is showing remarkable forebearance with people the US would simply chuck into Guantanamo relying on trumped 'terrorist' charges and torture or murder.

[Clanrickard]

Yes and the incessant national critics intefering with his damaging, dangerous, ecpensive and unsustainable "Bolivian revolution" too...

Oh he'll "deal" with them as all thugs do. Doesn't matter what evidence you advance the cappuccino left looooooove Hugo because he cocks a snoop at the US. That is far more important than trivialities like his people's welfare.