Friday, August 22, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's round up of news from Venezuela -- August 22, 2008

Following up a series of attacks and complaints from diverse chambers of commerce, the Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) has lent its voice and weight, rejecting the 26 laws decreed by President Chavez under the Enabling Law. Fedecamaras president, Jose Manuel Gonzalez calls the packet of laws "ideological, controlling and centralist." Gonzalez says that the way the new consumer defense organ Indepabis is behaving is to shoot first and ask questions afterwards. The businessman also states that there are few profit margins at the moment with current price controls. "They are not controls but rather price freezes."

President Chavez has hit out against company representatives of Cemex, the Mexican cement company, accusing them of not investing in technology to combat contamination in the surrounds of their plants. Chavez points to the villages of Pertigalete and Guanta in eastern Venezuela as an example where, he maintains, children and old people are suffering asthma from cement particles, because Cemex makes did not invest in technology to eliminate the dust.

Chavez has announced the setting up of the Cement Corporation of Venezuelan, which will run under the Executive Vice Presidency. Commenting on the failure to reach any financial agreement between the government and Cemex, the President contends that the Mexicans have lacked respect, because some of them have a superiority complex because they are from the North and think Venezuelans are macaques monkeys.

President Chavez has revealed that in speaking with Finance Minister, Ali Rodriguez Araque for an update on the nationalization of the Banco de Venezuela, it would appear that both sides are still talking. The transnationals are defending their interests and the government defending the interests of Venezuela regarding the price. The same is the case of Sidor steel & iron where the owners are asking for more than $8 billion.

Replying to a threat from Cemex that they will seek international arbitration and courts, President Chavez says that Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) is ready for any legal action because it has ample experience. The President recalls that PDVSA won a hearing against the powerful Exxon Mobile oil company.

The Venezuelan Agrarian Corporation (CBA) has opened the first Socialist Self-Supply Unit in Venezuela. It is situated in the agricultural zone of Turen (Portuguesa). CVA president, Riblia Rodriquez says the storage centre will promote placement and direct sale of food processed in CVA plants. The new unit will sell fruit, vegetables and other products at (Bs.F) 2.5 bolivares a kilo. Most products will come from members of the Vuelvan Caras employment programme. The unit kicked off with offering around 14 tonnes of food, such as rice, sugar, tomato sauce, coffee, pre-cooked white maize powder, beef, cheese and fish.

Venezuela's Ambassador to the United States, Bernardo Alvarez has confirmed that Venezuela recognizes the existence of Israel as a State. If Venezuela did not recognize Israel's existence, the Ambassador states, it would not have allowed an Israeli ambassador in Caracas. The statement appeared in the Jewish News Agency. Commenting on a meeting between President Chavez and leaders of the Jewish World Congress last week, Alvarez is quoted as saying that the Jewish people has always existed and has the right like any other human group to exist.

US Senator, Arlen Specter is in Venezuela. The Senator has met National Assembly (AN) first deputy president, Saul Ortega and both have agreed to re-launch the parliamentary group of friendship and collaboration Venezuela-USA. The main purpose of the Senator's visit is to re-launch anti-drugs collaboration but so far he has failed in his attempt to get concrete results and meet members of the Executive.

The opposition National Ranchers Federation (Fedenaga) says it will take action against the invasion of nine farms in the Perija Sierra by Yukpa and Motilon indians. 600 producers have announced protest marches with other civil sector groups, claiming that the invasions are blocking 9,000 liters of milk a day destined for the Socialist milk industry.

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


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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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