Regarding the land reform program, for example, he left the false impression that acreage distributed to landless people belongs to the state. In Venezuela, land redistribution generally results from invasions of private property by squatters backed by the regime.
Businesses shut down
By imposing foreign exchange controls on the heels of the general strike that took place earlier this year, Chávez blocked businesses from obtaining dollars, forcing many to shut down. The government's own statistics show the economy has shrunk by 18 percent this year, and unemployment has climbed to more than 18 percent as a result.
Do ''complete freedom of press, speech, assembly and association'' exist in Venezuela? I doubt it. Six months after his inauguration, the thin-skinned Chávez began picking a fight with the Venezuelan media, which largely had supported him, over their criticism of his decree closing down the Venezuelan Congress and the Supreme Court prior to the adoption of his new constitution in December 1999.
Avoiding outright censorship, Chávez instigated a campaign of intimidation. Media installations have been bombed and vandalized; journalists have been assaulted and shot, and at least one has been killed. Chávez has
Government agents seized caches of firearms, ammunition, plastic explosives, uniforms and cash in three cities, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said.
Chavez said two people were arrested, but he gave no details. The president repeated allegations that the opposition, which is seeking a recall vote next year, is preparing another attempt to overthrow his elected government.
Radicals are trying "to create problems inside the military," Chavez told soldiers at a central Venezuela military air base. He urged the armed forces "to respond with dignity, unity, conscience and leadership."
Chavez was briefly overthrown by dissident military officers in 2002.
Venezuela's opposition will stage a petition drive Nov. 28-Dec. 1 to demand a recall referendum next year on Chavez's term, which ends in 2007.
Government agents seized more than 144,000 assault-rifle bullets at a warehouse in Catia La Mar, near the Caracas international airport, on Friday, said Miguel Rodriguez, director of Venezuela's secret police. Agents also seized weapons in the central cities of Maracay and La Victoria, officials said. [end]