Posted on 04/10/2004 2:42:33 PM PDT by marron
There was a time where the mere mention of the Armed Forces [FAN] provoked in the citizenry admiration and trust. The presence of soldiers inspired respect and meant security. Even with the errors and excesses that they were always accused of, the FAN was a kind of all-purpose tool, useful, especially in moments of grave social conflict or natural catastrophes like the Bret storm or the floods in Vargas.
But that feeling has changed. Used today as a repressive arm against the populace, it is seen with blood-splattered uniform, brandishing rifles, suspected of crimes, with its hands implicated in torture and struggling with a national conscience that reproaches them for violations of the rights of compatriots that they swore to preserve and protect.
This FAN is a shame, an affront to what it means to be Venezuelan. Dishonored by the iniquity of some and the silence of others. This FAN which has bent to the will of the Fidelist regime that has subjugated the country, that commits its villainies, that covers up its crimes, that allows indoctrination in its ranks, that shares its barracks with foreign soldiers and tolerates the presence of guerrillas on the border, has been transformed into one of the most discredited institutions. It shares the repudiation of the people alongside the caudillo's lackeys at the electoral commission, at the Supreme Court, at the Prosecutor's office, at Defense, at the Controller's office, and in several courts and public offices.
The incident with the soldiers at Fort Mara was atrocious. It was criminal, no matter who committed it. If the event was condemnable, which left military authority in the region in bad standing, it is even more shameful that no one has yet said how it happened, who is responsible, and that they are not yet before a tribunal facing judgement.
The severity of the burns suffered by the soldiers, one died and another is in grave condition, is astonishing and moves one to reflection. This is not just a simple physical punishment against someone who presumably signed a petition calling for a presidential recall election or who violated some regulation. No crime, and these are not crimes, deserve such cruel reprisals. What happened at Fort Mara must cause worry among officials and set off alarms in the various organizations over what is happening in the barracks to some military personnel.
This is not an isolated incident violating the standard of conduct of one sector of the FAN, especially the National Guard and certain elements of the Army. The violation of human rights of the soldiers in Zulia is comparable to the murder of another soldier, likewise by burning, committed by Lieutenant Alessandro Sicat. Also the beating death of Juan Carlos Zambrano in Lagunillas (forced to eat excrement and rape his female companion); the shooting of citizens at demonstrations, the torture of arrestees, the use of toxic gas, ricocheted bullets fired at point-blank range and so many other kinds of mistreatment of civilians.
All of these abuses are in exchange for what? For money, or advancement? How much is the dignity of a soldier worth today? Maybe the 250 dollars paid to some thug? Or the corruption tolerated for others? Dignity, gallantry, ethics and values, where have they gone? And those who remain silent, why do they do so? Fear, convenience, or do they agree?
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