By Admin Friday, September 3, 2010
CARACAS, Venezuela —The leader of a conservative group opposed to President Hugo Chavez has been charged with hiding explosives in his home - allegations he called a farce in comments sent from his jail cell.
Prosecutors announced conspiracy and arms trafficking charges against Alejandro Pena Esclusa on Friday, more than six weeks after he was arrested on July 12.
By Admin Thursday, September 2, 2010
•Washington should take advantage of the temporary détente between Colombia and Venezuela and relate to Caracas constructively.
•Would-be U.S. Ambassador designate Palmer fails at behaving diplomatically.
•You do not insult your perspective host and then expect to be warmly greeted in the house.
•While Chavez sometimes acts boorishly, he has the right to challenge U.S. charges against him when they are often
driven by propaganda rather than by hard facts.
By Admin Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Next month, on September 26, Venezuelans will vote to elect a new National Assembly. This could prove to be a watershed in the evolution of the country’s highly charged political climate. Ever since the 2005 elections, when the opposition blundered by boycotting them, the Venezuelan parliament has been dominated by President Hugo Chávez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), allowing him to do pretty much as he pleased, with no restraint on his authority to pass revolutionary proposals into law.
By Admin Tuesday, August 31, 2010
CARACAS, Venezuela – A Venezuelan farmer who staged repeated hunger strikes to protest a government-sanctioned takeover of his farm has died in a military hospital in Caracas, his family said.
Franklin Brito’s emaciated figure had become a symbol for opponents of President Hugo Chavez, and they joined the family in accusing the government of violating his rights.
FARC Seeking Rebirth in Venezuela?By Admin Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Now that Colombia’s crackdown on the FARC has significantly weakened the group, there are signs that it is setting up in neighboring Venezuela and preparing for a rebirth of sorts, Samuel Logan writes for ISN Security Watch.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) made an unusual appeal on 23 August to UNASUR, South America’s multilateral security forum, to explain its political and strategic goals in Colombia. Within 24 hours, Colombian Defense Minister Rodrigo Rivera, part of the recently inaugurated administration, announced a clear rebuttal: “[We do not] negotiate with terrorists.”
Venezuelan Ambassador Julio Escalona, explains why US military bases in Colombia are unconstitutionaBy Admin Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Constitutional Court of Colombia has declared as unconstitutional the decision of the Uribe government to install seven US military bases in Colombia, linked to strategic objectives of the centers of world power.
Venezuela’s Adjunct Ambassador to the United Nations, Julio Escalona writes:
Venezuela: Hugo Chávez’s Muzzle – The Washington PostBy Admin Friday, August 20, 2010
One of the principal goals of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez’s foreign policy is preventing governments or international organizations from telling the truth about him.
Shooting the messengerBy Admin Wednesday, August 18, 2010
by The Economist online
CARACAS — RESIDENTS of Caracas, Venezuela’s crime-wracked capital, have become grimly accustomed to shootings. Yet when a stray bullet hit a baseball player from Hong Kong last Friday during a game of the Women’s World Cup—which was being held inside the city’s main military base—it was enough to startle even the violence-weary inhabitants of this dysfunctional metropolis. The player, Cheuk Woon Yee Sinny, was shot in the calf, and has already been released from hospital. Even so, Hong Kong withdrew from the tournament, and the government moved the remaining games to a different city.
By Admin Tuesday, August 17, 2010
VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O’Donoghue reports: During a visit to Venezuela to meet members of the National Assembly (AN), Colombian Congress president, Armando Benedetti met President Chavez in Miraflores Palace. The visit was one of the results of a meeting between President Chavez and new Colombian President, Juan Manuel Santos two weeks ago aimed at restoring diplomatic and trade relations.
As a result of Benedetti’s visit several agreements and bilateral projects were discussed.
Colombia’s Santos, Venezuela’s Chavez restore tiesBy Admin Wednesday, August 11, 2010
SANTA MARTA Colombia (Reuters) - Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos and Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez restored diplomatic ties on Tuesday at talks to end the latest dispute between the ideologically opposed Andean neighbors.
Cross-border tensions have run high for more than a year, with the socialist Venezuelan president imposing what Colombia called a trade embargo and cutting ties completely last month over charges he backs leftist Colombian rebels.
