Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela

President Chavez has created a new military medal called the National Reserve and Mobilization Cross. The new medal was presented during a civilian-military parade consisting mostly of reservists on Saturday. The first beneficiaries of the medal are: G-i-C and Defense Minister, Gustavo Reyes Rangel Briceno, his predecessor, General (ret.) Jorge Luis Garcia Carneiro and former National Reserve and Mobilization commander, Army General Julio Ramon Quintero Viloria. During the parade to commemorate the anniversary of the restoration of the Bolivarian government to power after the April 11, 2002 coup, the following reservists received promotions to a Second Lt.: Gabriel Jose Escalona, Edgar Alejandro Melo Rodriguez, Wilmer Jose Moreno Nolasco, Jose Manuel Siso Colmenares, Luis Alexander Velasquez Guzman, Felix Jhoan Castellanos Cardenas, Jose Joaquin Nunez Segura and Shamyr Sadat Ali Alvarez.

President Chavez has formally created the National Reserve General Command consisting of seven battalions. During the civilian-military parade of reservists on Saturday celebrating the sixth anniversary of President Chavez' restoration to power on April 13, 2002, the third anniversary of the national reserve and the ninth anniversary of the Proyecto Pais Foundation, the President presented decree number 3,560, bringing into force the general command, which will depend directly on the presidency and enjoy budgetary autonomy. The following are the commands:

Battalion Combate de Curbati led by Lt. Colonel Jose Arevalo Leal

Battalion Combate de El Corozo: Army Lt. Colonel Genadio Leal Castillo

Battalion Combate de Cerrito Blanco: Army Major Rafael Bello

Battalion Batalla de San Diego de Cabrutica: Army Lt. Colonel Luis Guastela
Rojas

Battalion Batalla de Angostura: Major Hugo Benavides Marchan

Battalion Batalla de Calabozo: Major Yonny Correa Bastidas

Battalion Batalla de Ospino: Major Luis Rodriguez Romero.

Venezuela has sent 364 tonnes of food to Haiti as a contribution towards the critical situation produced because of an increase in food prices which in turn caused widespread disturbances and five deaths throughout the country. President Chavez says it is a humanitarian gesture and he brushes aside possible attacks from the opposition about the donation. The President recalls visiting Haiti in March 2007 and seeing the poverty of the people for himself.

Closing the Bravo Pueblo week commemorating the coup and restoration of April, 2002, President Chavez told followers assembled in front of Miraflores Palace that the government cannot afford to lose any more elections like it did in the December 2007 referendum and promises to increase efficiency in his government, admitting inefficiency when it " comes to attending the more practical problems facing people."

The President has launched the April 13 Mission aimed at fighting poverty and misery. The mission will be put into practice in 74 municipalities where "social battle rooms" will be set up to identify and finance projects of communal councils and popular movements in a common quest to solve the most urgent problems such as water, electricity, security, food distribution, medicine and construction materials. The mission will be financed, Chavez reveals, once the National Assembly (AN) approves a law of rapid profit oil tax, which the AN has put on hold.

President Chavez has warned followers that any members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), launching themselves as candidates in regional elections without party approval will be expelled. 2008, Chavez proclaims, will be the year of consolidating the Bolivarian Socialist revolution. Speaking about the security forces, Chavez says that since April 13, 2002, there has been a process of cleansing inside the security forces. "There were changes in the State Political & Security (DISIP) Police and groups of commandos trained by the CIA have been eliminated." Today, the President is visiting Brazil to speak to the Brazilian Defense Minister about creating a Latin American Defense Council without the presence of the USA or Canada.

Primero Justicia (PJ) leader, Julio Borges has called on Zulia State Governor Manuel Rosales not to run for the mayorship of Maracaibo. Borges was in Zulia to support the campaign of PJ member, Juan Pablo Guanipa who is running for the Mayor's Office. Borges says Rosales is the leader of all Venezuelans and must take the steering wheel of country's political destiny and not a back seat, The PJ leader compares the situation of Rosales seeking a mayorship after being State Governor to that of a big-leaguer returning to play in the juvenile division.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com