Venezuela's COPEI Party Denounces Chavez's International Election Observers Plan(Translation)

El Universal ( Caracas ) ^ | October 9, 2006 | El Universal staff article ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

COPEI¹ denounces CNE for wanting to bring "mute" international observers

Caracas. -- The Secretary General of COPEI, Luis Ignacio Planas, complained strongly that the government, through the National Electoral Council (CNE), wants to bring "mute" international observers for the December presidential elections.

"It does not make sense to make an effort, and that we Venezuelans, with our money, should pay the passage and the per diem expenses of the observers so that they come to engage in electoral tourism in Venezuela."

The question is "how can they impede the watchers from saying that which they observe in the Venezuelan process (...) That [kind of] observation doesn't make sense (...) They must have sufficient freedom to participate in key processes."

In the judgement of Planas, one of the most important aspects which the international missions must observe is the performance of Plan República² and to denounce abuses, in case there are some.

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Translator's Notes:

¹ COPEI is the acronym for the Comité de Organización Política Electoral Independiente, a name which translates literally as "Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee," but which is commonly referred to as the Social Christian Party of Venezuela. They are one of several political parties who have joined the "unitary opposition coalition" supporting Manuel Rosales in his bid to unseat Hugo Chavez in this year's presidential election.

² Plan República refers to the integration of various organs of the Venezuelan state, including civil, police, and military units; into an organized body which has many duties, collectively amounting to "an internal defense strategy." Though the Carter Center has viewed the plan somewhat benevolently, there have been reports of widespread violations of electoral fraud in which Plan República troops participated, as in the 2004 recall referendum.

[StJacques]

I don't have the information on exactly what the Chavez government has announced as its plan for the participation of international election observers for the December 3rd presidential election, but I think we can all logically assume that they are meant to be a "window dressing," presenting merely a façade of legitimacy.

[StJacques]

A Latin American Left Watch ping for you all.

Anyone wishing to be included on the ping list may either ping me from this thread or contact me via Freepmail.

[rock_lobsta]

And I'm sure Jimmah will be there to... 'observe'

[Brilliant]

How come the price of gas goes up everytime a Democrat visits Chavez in Caracas?

[TexasCajun]

"No Worries My Friend! No Worries!"

"I'll certify your re-relection! "

[jrooney]

Not just observe. After the election, if Chavez wins, he will claim the elections were fair with no voter fraud, even if the exit polling showed Chavez losing in a landslide. If Chavez loses the election, Jimmy will run to the first camera and mike and call for another election because of voter fraud.

[StJacques]

I hope the three of you take a look at the two articles linked in the notes to the thread article, and compare the differing versions of Jimmy Carter and others on the election. The second link compares the results to pre-election polls, which are really quite stunning.

[Alia]

Thank you for the ping, StJacques. LOL. Yep, the San Francisco Bay Area had them too in 2000. What a joke.