New data recovered from computers once belonging to FARC rebels in Colombia apparently shows how high ranking Venezuelan officials have helped members of the insurgent group get weapons and even obtain identification cards to enter and exit Venezuelan territory, the New York Times is reporting this morning. The computer data is currently being analyzed by “Western intelligence agencies,” and, according to the Times’ Simon Romero [who received a copy of the materials under analysis from an intelligence agency officer], there is evidence that intelligence and military officials from Venezuela could have collaborated with the FARC as recently as a few weeks ago. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez has long denied that he has aided the FARC, but this most recent news comes as the Colombian government continues to maintain that it discovered Swedish made rocket launchers, sold to Venezuela, in the hands of recently captured FARC fighters. “Colombia’s government is trying to build a case in the media against our country that serves its own political agenda,” remarked Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Alvarez, after hearing of the latest allegations against his country. For the specifics of the computer messages being analyzed, the Times says the information consists of communications between seven members of the FARC’s secretariat who discuss, among other things, how former head of Venezuelan police intelligence, Gen. Henry Rangel Silva, and former interior minister, Ramon Rodriguez Chacín were working to facilitate arms deals with the FARC. Both men were singled out last year by the U.S. Treasury Department for allegedly aiding drug traffickers as well, but the Venezuelan government has insisted that the men are innocent.
Meanwhile, domestically in Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal reports that radio broadcasters are preparing to fight a government crackdown on media outlets which could shutter the programming of some 34 stations. The National Assembly controlled by Mr. Chávez’s party is currently pushing through controversial “media crimes” legislation that would punish broadcasters with fines and even jail time for broadcasting “false” information that causes panic or produces “damage to the interests of the state.” Nelson Belfort, director of the Venezuelan Radio Broadcasting Chamber and owner of one station that was closed over the weekend, said he is working to appeal the media legislation. Other broadcasters are quickly trying to continue broadcasting via the Internet. On Saturday, some 200 protestors gathered outside of the building that housed Mr. Belfort’s CNB 102.3 FM station. CNB 102.3 FM cut its over-the-air transmission Saturday morning on orders from the Venezuelan telecommunications regulatory agency.
A media crackdown was also the topic of an LA Times piece on Nicaragua over the weekend. The paper writes on the specific targeting of the famous Chamorro family, well-known media moguls in the country. During the Sandinista Revolution of the 1980s, Carlos Fernando Chamorro became a Sandinista icon, edited the pro-Sandinista paper, Barricada. But today he is one of Ortega’s biggest critics, attacking the president regularly for his authoritarian policies and government corruption. Ortega frequently responds to such criticism by calling Chamorro a member of the Nicaraguan oligarchy who has built a media empire.
Over the weekend, Ortega also warned that the coup government in neighboring Honduras may try to “distract attention” away from efforts to restore deposed President Mel Zelaya to power through military action against his country. Although the Nicaraguan leader did not cite evidence to back up his suspicion, the two countries’ border was the scene of much of the fighting in the 1980s Contra war.
In Honduras, the AP reports that 38 year old high school teacher, Roger Vallejo, died Saturday after being shot in the head during a pro-Zelaya protest last week. The death was the latest in a serious of human rights violations that have occurred since the June coup. De facto president, Roberto Micheletti, meanwhile, said he reserves the right to cancel the visas of U.S. diplomats in his country after the U.S. revoked such documents from at least four Honduran officials last week [in a side note, there are reports that these four officials will still be able to travel to the U.S. on normal “tourist visas.” Only their “diplomatic visas” were suspended.] And the Wall Street Journal has an analysis piece on the relevance of the Organization of American States during the Honduran crisis. It argues that the inter-American body has long struggled to prove its effectiveness and is very critical of its Sec. General, José Miguel Insulza, for his handling of the situation in Honduras.
In Cuba this weekend, plans for a Communist party Congress were suspended by President Raul Castro. The Congress, which would have been the first since 1997, was to take place at the end of the year, but the Party said it would focus energies on the economic crisis instead of holding the gathering. Many analysts believe the event could have decided the country’s political future. Castro also said that the country would have to cut spending on health and education, two of the revolution’s hallmark policies, due to the crisis. However, the Cuban leader vowed to maintain and defend the socialist system that the Castro brothers have built over the last half century. He also said he was willing to meet and talk with the U.S. about everything, expect the country’s “political or social system.”
Finally, two AP reports on violence in the Andes this morning. In Peru, three police officers and two civilians were killed in an attack on a remote police outpost near Ayacucho. Officials suspect the attack was carried out by members of the Shining Path. And in Colombia, 15 Colombian soldiers were sentenced this weekend to as much as 30 years in prison for the murder of two brothers that the military claimed were guerrilla fighters. Judicial authorities continue to investigate 1600 similar cases of “false positives” in the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment