Hugo Chavez threatens private television stations for behavior in electoral campaign (Translation)

El Universal ( Caracas ) ^ | November 17, 2006 | Staff article ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

Chavez threatens private television stations with closure

Caracas. - President Hugo Chavez warned Friday that he is disposed to close those television channels who lend themselves to spreading messages of "hate" and non-recognition of the authorities during the December 3 election campaign, AP reported.

"A television channel which lends itself to the spreading of the messages of terrorism, of hate, of war, or calling for the non-recognition of the authorities, it has to be closed," Chavez declared during an event held with sympathizers on the Island of Margarita.

Chavez denounced that "new destabilizing plans" existed for the next elections in which he will seek re-election.

The Chief Executive indicated, without citing names or proof, that there were some media and business sectors who would be in favor of destabilizing plans.

He urged on civil employees, prosecutors, and the National Armed Forces that "we are taking the lead and we must fulfill the laws," and take action against those sectors who would be supporting these acts.

"We are not going to permit Venezuela to run with blood again," the President indicated after recounting the events of April 2002 which removed him from government for two days.

"I am not myself obliged to take drastic actions because I have no thoughts of any type except safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of the country," Chavez added.

Chavez reiterated that the Venezuelan military has to be identified with his political project. "The Venezuelan armed forces has to be "red/light red," patriotic to the marrow, he made clear.

[StJacques]

First pay attention to what Chavez is doing and forget the explanation he gives for a moment. Entering the last two weeks of his campaign for re-election and without naming names, Hugo Chavez is threatening to take action against the news media in his own country. It is a perfect threat to implement state control of the media as the election approaches. And once you realize what Chavez is doing, then read more carefully and examine his explanation in light of his objective. Chavez has now postulated a threat to the elections and the country originating in the business and media sectors and he is attempting to mobilize the Venezuelan state, including the military, to act to prevent it. Whether the threat is made good or not, the implications are obvious.

In at least some way Hugo Chavez is recognizing that he could possibly lose the upcoming election to Manuel Rosales.

Forget all the opinion polls and prognostication about Rosales's chances to unseat Chavez. Pay attention to what Chavez is doing and see the truth.

[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.

[marron]

The rumors are that he will launch an "auto-golpe", which will only be possible if the military is on board, and this will require that the press be firmly muzzled or shut-down.

Rosales is looking good in the polls, but beyond that people know that Chavez isn't leaving whatever the polls say. He controls the vote-counting machine, and everyone knows it. But when he steals this election people know they either accept him as president for life, or prepare a more definitive response.

There is no question whether Chavez will become "president for life". He already is. The only question, once this election has been engineered, is do you let him do a Castro and die of old age still living in the presidential palace, or do you force him out. You can't vote him out. All that is left is to learn to love Big Brother or pull the plug on him yourself.

[mylife]

Will Jimmah Carter be on hand next month to bless the electoral process once again?

[norton]

"Chavez denounced that "new destabilizing plans" existed for the next elections in which he will seek re-election.
...some media and business sectors who would be in favor of destabilizing plans.
He urged on civil employees, prosecutors, and the National Armed Forces that...(we must)...take action against those sectors who would be supporting these acts.
...after recounting the events of April 2002 which removed him from government for two days.
"I am not myself obliged to take drastic actions because I have no thoughts of any type except safeguarding the sovereignty and stability of the country," Chavez added.
"The Venezuelan armed forces has to be "red/light red," patriotic to the marrow, he made clear.

Sounds to me like he is telling the mobs and the military that he isn't going to order repression (too angelic for that) but they have a green light to beat the crap out of anyone possessing a different political view.

[supremedoctrine]

All this puts Hugo smack dab in the mainstream of the Democrat Party from '92-'00. He'd be right at home.

[SmoothTalker]

And yet Bush is the real threat to freedom in Venezuela. ;)

[StJacques]

"Sounds to me like he is telling the mobs and the military that he isn't going to order repression (too angelic for that) but they have a green light to beat the crap out of anyone possessing a different political view."

I agree with norton's above-quoted assessment completely.

What we are really witnessing here is a unique kind of machine politician. He's not bound by the legal democratic process and he's making sure his followers understand that they're not bound by it either. And to give orders in the almost subtle manner that he uses may be the clearest statement of all.

The context in which all of this is taking place in Venezuela goes back at least two weeks with the statements of the head of the Venezuelan Oil Workers (Pdvsa) practically warning Pdvsa employees that if they were not with Chavez they would be replaced by a Bolivariano, which means that Chavez's remarks here are an extension of the reach of the Chavez-controlled state beyond the oil monopoly to include the military and the rest of the civilian government sector as well.

The significance of all of the aforementioned events is that this is what the international observers should be monitoring. Both the OAS and that Inter-American Press organization whose name escapes me now have cited Chavez's Venezuela for abusing the press in their country to their own political advantage. This has to be something the international observers make clear.

[Rurudyne]

What we are really witnessing here is a unique kind of machine politician. He's not bound by the legal democratic process and he's making sure his followers understand that they're not bound by it either. And to give orders in the almost subtle manner that he uses may be the clearest statement of all.

Two unrelated thoughts:

Crystal Night in Germany, 1938.

This guy makes Al Gore look honorable.

[StJacques]

Continuing previous post ...

It's almost like Chavez is telling his followers "Guys; you know my hands have to stay clean on this. Just make sure you go out there and get it done."

I think that's my take on it too norton.

[StJacques]

Kristallnacht is an interesting comparison Rurudyne, because the whole affair does seem to have an air of "we're going to have to take our opponents out into the streets to make them known" kind of air about it. The underlying conspiracy theory needed to justify that kind of action is clearly present in Chavez's remarks.

[popdonnelly]

Up yours, Hugo.

[Rome2000]

Sounds like a plan for victory to me.

Why let your enemies in the media have a free ride to destroy you politically.

The socialists in this country have the media so in their pocket they don't even have to call themselves socialists.

If W and the RNC had flexed some muscle instead of acting like milquetoasts the socialists would not be in control of Congress.

Fight fire with fire.

Lead or get the hell out of the way.

[Rurudyne]

I wish it were otherwise, but the man stinks of the fetid aroma of a Stalin or a Hitler.

If I were Colombian I'd be very nervous right now ... he might choose to try to replay the Spanish Civil War scenario in the coming years.

[MaineVoter2002]

More info about Chavez and the elections

http://vcrisis.com/index.php?content=home

[StJacques]

A second Latin American Left Watch ping here with a follow-up translation of a new article today in which Hugo Chavez is continuing, and evidently in a somewhat more open fashion given the length of the article, his call to "all powers of the state" to confront "Destabilization." What is unusual about this translation is that, unlike his comments quoted in the article at the beginning of this thread, for the first time Chavez mentions "constituted power" as part of the "destabilization conspiracy," which may suggest he is about to move against duly-empowered government officials and agencies since the use of the Spanish word constituido (constituted) implies representation, as the word itself is sometimes used. You will see that Chavez does in fact name "Governors and Mayors" as part of this "constituted power."

We could be seeing the prequel to a very hard crackdown on democratic freedoms, such as they remain, in Venezuela.

This is up at:  http://politica.eluniversal.com/2006/11/18/elecc_art_73001.shtml

And I really think it is worth reading.

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Chavez demands government functionaries confront destabilization

President denounces a conspiracy of the media, businessmen, and "constituted power."

Pedro Pablo Peñaloza

El Universal (Caracas)

After warning of the existence of "new destabilizing plans which are the order of the day," President Hugo Chavez reminded public functionaries and the citizenry in general, that "they have the unrelinquishable duty to defend Bolivarian democracy and the institutions of the Republic."

"I call upon all government functionaries from all branches of the State for us to take the lead and and make the law respected," Chavez expressed, annoyed at what he perceived as something he called "a timidness among the civil and military authorities in enforcing the law."

The Chief Executive spoke these words yesterday in the Antonio Diaz municipality, in Nueva Esparta state, where he lauched the Revolution in Energy Mission.

Of special note, the dignitary sent a message to the Ministers of Interior, Jesse Chacon, and Defense, Raul Isaias Baduel. "Mr. Minister of the Interior, Mr. Minister of Defense, we're going, 24 hours. Military and civil prosecutors, 24 hours pending, in a small way I am showing that any attempt at destabilization will have to pass from view with forcefulness, firmness, in ways which are foreseen in the Constitution and the laws."

Chavez denounced that hiding behind the conspirator's plans are representatives of the communications media, business sectors, and "above all those who, products of the neoliberal era, occupy strategic spaces like the telephone company and the electricity [company]," and members of the "constituted power such as governors and mayors." To them he asked "don't make me demonstrate that what I have said is true, that the permissive Chavez stayed behind in 2002."¹

The head of state revealed that he met with the directors of DISIP² and the DIM³ Thursday night, to know the details under which the intelligence bodies of the country are operating.

"Anyone who goes to a television station to call upon the military to overthrow the government, when leaving the station should go to prison. A TV channel which lends itself to the spreading of messages of terrorism, of hate, of war or calls for the non-recognition of the authorities, must necessarily be closed. We are not going to permit Venezuela to run with blood again!" the President warned.

After giving this speech, and converted back into a candidate, Chavez traveled to the Mariño municipality aboard his coach.⁴
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Translator's Notes:
¹ 2002 was the year of an unsuccessful coup against Chavez. This is his way of saying "I'm not the nice guy I used to be."
² Acronym for the Dirección de los Servicios de Inteligencia y Prevención (Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services), Venezuela's premier intelligence agency which has "an extensive record of human rights violations." (read more here)
³ Venezuelan military intelligence.
⁴ Apparently Chavez is traveling by train.
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I still say it looks like Chavez is preparing to take some very forceful action against his opposition.

Will stay tuned ...

[Founding Father]

An overly aggresive and intolerant President, shows increasing unease with the results of Dec. 3d.
I am absolutely confounded by the numbers coming out of the pollsters. Over the years I had developed a list of the "good" and the "bad" pollsters and results tended to bunch up for those that had passed the test of time.

Not this time. Without delving too much on the specific numbers, there is a 21% difference between what I consider the good pollsters, which is truly unexplainable on the basis of techniques, no matter whether you want to argue fear, sloppy sampling and the like. To top it all of, we find ourselves in the midst of a poll war where obscure, unknown and non-existent pollsters are now supposed to be experts on Venezuela.

Add to this that in the past the one variable that even the good pollsters could not get right was abstention and I do not believe anyone has handle on who is ahead and by how much. I do try to remind myself of what pollster Segundo Cazalis, now deceased, used to tell me: Watch the slopes and the trends, not the levels.

Finally, I also have to wonder where Chavez' favorite pollster Seijas is? Why his silence" Where is he? Why no numbers from him this time around, if everyone knows he is working hard looking at this election?

All of this comes to mind because while Rosales seems to want to emphasize that he will win, the Government seems to be the one launching the largest number of obscure numbers, while being very aggressive about not allowing protests on Dec. 3d.I mean, if you want a fake number, how about Diosdado Cabello saying tonight that the floor for Chavez in this election will be the 70% level reached in the 2004 recall referendum.

Hello? It's OK to lie about the polls, but why does he have to come and lie about the past, faking a number that did not reach 60%, let alone 70%? Is this simple an attempt at manipulation? Driving away voters? Discouraging the opposition? Or is it simply trying to create an aura of invincibility so that no matter what happens on Dec. 3d., they can convincingly argue that Chavez won?

I just don't know, but I do have to take offense at Chavez' words He. Both Chavez and his VP Jose Vicente Rangel, keep talking about conspiracies and destabilizations, while the only ones that are calling for institutions to back only one side are precisely Chavez and his cohorts. All I have heard Rosales say is that if he wins he will make sure he collects his victory by making sure the audit is preformed, all votes are counted and no tricks are made. And he has asked the military to be neutral and institutional, making sure the will of the people and democracy are respected.

Chavez does not seem to be saying the same thing, forgetting about his brief love posture and once again being divisive and intolerant. Chavez threatens to shut down TV stations that allow messages of hate to be broadcast. Then the first thing all TV stations should do is to stop broadcasting his speeches full of hate, vile and disrespect for the citizens of Venezuela that do not agree with him. And when he says that the "Bolivarian democracy" is to be defended I have to wonder if that is some special class of democracy, different that the one in which I live in. Because, if on Dec. 3d. there is an attempt not to audit the 54% of votes promised, or to connect the voting machines before the tally sheet has been printed, I will be the first one to go out and defend democracy and the rights of those that voted that day.

And Chavez broadcasts his hate when he says the Armed Forces are "roja, rojita" and that anyone that is not is not a patriot, as if he had the monopoly on patriotism, while all he has done since 1992 is destroy people, lives and the democratic structure of this country only to satisfy his own personal ambitions.

And he goes as far as defending the repressive military plans he wanted to activate on April 11th. 2002 and which the military high command refused to obey. The infamous Plan Avila, which has been cataloged by human right groups as in violation of basic human rights principles. That is what Chavez defends today. Had Plan Avila been activated, we would be talking about hundreds of dead people that day, rather than the 22 that Chavez is directly responsible for and should one day be tried for his role in those deaths. And much like that April, Chavez seems ready to try again.

And while Chavez calls on his people to be vigilant, to fight for their revolution, Rosales' campaign coordinator Omar Barboza asks his supporters not be provoked, to be respectful and friendly to the Armed Forces and to act in a democratic and peaceful way. Contrast this with the statements by a General talking about "violent change" or Chavez supporter Lina Ron, calling for people to be ready and armed, which as far as I know has never been confr9onted by Chavez, Rangel or any other Government figure.

As I said at the beginning, I can't rationally say Rosales is ahead today, the evidence is murky, simply messed up, but Chavez renewed intolerance and aggressiveness indicates to me he is concerned that his mandate will be over on Dec. 4th. or that he may have to pull another dirty trick to keep it.

One thing is clear, no one that believes in democracy and what it implies in terms of respect for others and the peace and dialogue that Chavez asked for the other day, would even consider saying what the obscene autocrat said today.

His performance is enough to justify getting rid of him on Dec. 3d.


http://blogs.salon.com/0001330/

Why are U.S. soldiers willing to go to other countries and loose their lives helping the people of those countries obtain some form of democratic government?On the other hand,there are countries in South America that are being converted to communism against their will with almost no one willing to step up and say ...This has gone far enough and it is going to stop now...If this next election doesn't get the results necessary to allow the moderates to regain stability and some sanity in Venz.,I hope there are some Venz. people that love their country enough that they are willing to do more than talk about what needs to be done.There is a time to talk and a time to act.I think the talk time is almost over don't you?
Ron • 11/17/06; 9:17:40 PM #

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http://www.noticierodigital.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=130249

Rosales 47, Chávez 43
Por primera vez en la campaña, el candidato unitario rebasa al Presidente en el tracking de intención de votos.



Este viernes, Rosales aventaja a Chávez por 5 puntos. El mandatario nacional cayó de 46% a 42%, mientras que el aspirante subió de 43% a 47%.

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StJacques--you may want to translate the poll link immediately above.

[StJacques]

Ping to this response to Founding Father's #17 above.

"StJacques--you may want to translate the poll link immediately above."

Here's the translation of the body of the text of the post at this link:

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Rosales 47, Chávez 43
For the first time in the campaign, the unitary candidate exceeds the President in the tracking of the intention of voters.

This Friday, Rosales has an advantage over Chavez by 5 points. The national Chief Executive fell from 46% to 42%, while the aspirant climbed from 43% to 47%.

The celebrations of the La Chinita fair coincide with the first week of Rosales over the 40% barrier. This is the first important ascent over Chavez.

The undecideds fell, also for the first time to single digits and the result shows that the tendency of this sector inclines for a "change."

Since the 1st of November, Chavez fell 0.1% per day, while Rosales climbed 1% daily.

It is very difficult to prognosticate a result in a contest so polarized. Analysts consulted indicated that having a close contest is the most probable scenario.

Nevertheless, if the tendency of the tracking poll were to sustain itself for the next two weeks, Rosales could obtain a 53% to 57% [portion] of the vote, against one of 43% to 47% of the aspirant for reelection [Chavez]; which implies a distance of 6 points in the worst of the two cases.

But, as we have made clear, the tracking is a very sensible measurement of daily events. The numbers of this type of measurement, we continue to insist, are not suitable for cardiac patients. No specialist can assure that Chavez's stagnation or Rosales's growth will be maintained.

The explanations for today's behavior are several. Among those must be included that Chavez is paying by voter punishment, the effect of the recent corruption scandals. But it is the President himself who contributes most to this tendency: Friday he crowned the week with a speech given in [Isla] Maragarita in which he returned to underlining the dangers which are circling about the peace of the country and then turned around and set out against freedom of expression.

For their part, the Rosales propagandists seem to have fallen on account of being left with only a few days to win the undecideds and they have begun a race of great intensity towards the closing of the campaign. . . .

Note: Three paragraphs of untranslated campaign news follows in original . . .
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That reads like good news to me, so far as the campaign goes.

Do I need to mention that recognition of just this sort of possible outcome could be what motivates a Chavez crackdown?

[StJacques]

SAJ;

Are the oddsmakers saying anything about Chavez and Rosales yet?

[SAJ]

Nope, not a word yet. From a trading standpoint, you'll have to take Chavez and the short line, because this ain't gonna be an honest election at all (you'll know that for certain when the Pink Peanut certifies it...). I expect they'll have a mkt on Chavez-Rosales next week sometime. The rules are that someone who's a market maker has to suggest opening a mkt.

They do have a quirky little mkt open on Cuba, though. Fidel to reassume power on or before 31 Dec 2006: 7.3 bid @ 9.6, 3 by 1, 412 volume. Pays your money, takes your choice. Not my kind of mkt.