Free Republic

Reports that the Venezuelan intelligence agency is targeting and spying on the Venezuelan Jewish community as well as on Venezuelan companies and organizations with ties to Israel is deeply troubling, asserted the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). “We are deeply troubled by a recent news report alleging that the Venezuelan Intelligence Service (SEBIN) is spying on the Venezuelan Jewish community,” said ADL National Director Abraham H. Foxman. “Venezuela under the regime of Hugo Chavez has a history of harassing the Jewish community in that country,” he said. “It is chilling to read reports that the SEBIN received instructions to carry out clandestine...

CARACAS - The many bizarre aspects of the recent arrests of some 80 alleged Colombian mercenaries accused of plotting to kill President Hugo Chávez have sparked deep skepticism and worry among many Venezuelans and foreign diplomats. The concern is that the leftist Chávez will use the case as an excuse to crack down on his nonviolent opponents or block an ongoing attempt to force a recall referendum on his rule. ''I have no doubt at all that this is an invention of the government,'' said former Foreign Minister Simón Alberto Consalvi, part of the opposition that accuses Chávez of leading...

London 10.01.05 | The house of former PDVSA executive Juan Santana has just been raided by the police (DISIP). They are now raiding that of Horacio Medina, another oil executive accused by the Chavez regime of treason. Sources report that they are headed for yet another raid in Edgar Paredes' house. Lawyers of Mireya Panti, another manager accused, have been prevented from reading and accesing the files regarding this case, even though they were appointed as defence more than a year ago. Judge Jose Ramon Flores maintains that the appointment only contemplates acts of assistance whilst in the company and...

There is so much information floating around that it is really hard to make sense of it all. But I will give it a try, because there are a lot of confusion and complex facts surrounding the murder of Danilo Anderson and its aftermath. Writing them helps understand things. The Murder: The bomb that blew up Anderson’s car was made out of 250 grams of C-4, reportedly the smallest size in which that explosive is available. Even if C-4 is not commonly available, it is mostly used by the military; sufficient amounts of it are missing from Venezuelan military facilities...