Saturday, December 02, 2006

Venezuela's Political Disaster - December 2, 2006

Dear Journalists,

There is at least one report of an opposition candidate Manuel Rosales' official who had her computer hacked today, and an e-mail went out using her account cursing everyone. The cursing e-mail has been sent to thousands of people.

One of the opposition offices in the State of Apure was broken into by Chavez's officers as reported by Globovision:

http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=44334

In Human Rights matters, the wife of Francisco Uson is asking everyone to please read her website about her husband's wrongful imprisonment.

http://www.thehrf.org/

Aleksander Boyd, editor of vcrisis.com will be blogging live all day tomorrow reporting the election process as it happens. I will post messages on my blog as I get them.

The following website will post election results as they are learnt:

http://www.elecciones2006.com.ve/

Please know that the editing tools on my server blogspot are not available at this time, thus my postings may not have the usual look.

I invite you to please read commentary "How the Opposition will Win (or Lose) written by Alexandra Beech as posted this evening on my blog.

Cordially,

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/

How the Opposition Could Win (or Lose) - by Alexandra Beech

December 2, 2006 - by Alexandra Beech

While the international media and some polls have predicted an easy victory for Hugo Chavez on Sunday, many respected analysts believe that Manuel Rosales has a chance of winning, given certain conditions. These would include:

- The abstention rate is high. Rosales has more "hardcore" voters
than Chavez. If the hardcore voters who support Chavez abstain, their
abstention would favor Rosales;

- Chavez supporters feel over-confident. The PDVSA-financed polls
which gave Chavez a double-digit lead over Rosales may have a
"backlash effect,"; leading Chavez supporters to believe he's going to
win, and that they don't need to vote;

- Fairness prevails and fear of reprisals diminishes. The "witnesses"
at the polling stations serve as a deterrent against fraud, allowing
them to report problems promptly. Enough voters trust that the vote is
secret, opting for the candidate of their choice.

Subtle Kinds of Fraud

The most looming issue in the election is fraud. The Chavez government
has so efficiently denounced in the international media that the
opposition will claim fraud that any actual and legitimate claims of
fraud will now be scrutinized under pre-established filters of
skepticism and politics.

Because the Chavez government controls the electoral authorities, (as
has been reported by the international media), problems which have
also been documented by international observers in past elections
could re-surface. These include:

- The "relocation" of voters from one voting center to another, as
took place in the 2004 referendum, when voters discovered they had
been re-registered to vote hundreds of miles away;

- Voting centers may open late at centers located within opposition strongholds;

- Voting materials may arrive late at centers within opposition strongholds;

- The "cotillion" or voting materials may be incomplete. These would
include "cuadernos electorales" or the lists of registered voters for
each center, as well as indelible ink, (without it voting cannot take
place), and other materials;

- Technical glitches which would slow down voting at centers located
within opposition strongholds, such as malfunctioning fingerprint
detection technology. (During the referendum, Chavez himself tried to
use the fdt several times before placing his vote. Eventually, he was
allowed to vote without it, but this may not happen at all centers.);

- Thugs, (well described and photographed in the most recent New York
Times article, "As Crime Soars, Chavez Coasts") could intimidate and
scare voters outside centers located within opposition strongholds;

- State media, which violated electoral laws in favor of Chavez during
the campaign, may transmit "exit polls" conducted by Chavez
supporters, (such as one planned by a Tupamaros group and reported by
the same NYT article); these polls would inevitably give Chavez a
strong lead, discouraging opposition voters from bothering to vote;

- Chavez supporters, once they've voted, could stand in line again to
slow down voting; (Chavez supporters are encouraging this practice in
at least one region);

- Mass public transportation could become unavailable; (in Anaco,
PDVSA contracted over two hundred buses to transport only Chavistas to
voting centers);

- Soldiers of the so-called "Plan Republica," whose function is to
guarantee order, intimidate voters;

- The use of wireless devices to receive and send vital information
from the voting PC's or machines to illegal "parallel servers" to show
voting trends. On Saturday morning, an elections council official
exhorted voters not to use cell phones in areas surrounding voting
centers, while claiming their use was not prohibited. Why?

As Venezuelans decide on their political future on Sunday, the
conditions prevail for a fair election. While the international media
has already given Chavez an easy victory, reputable pollsters, such as
Penn, Schoen and Berland, who polled for Bill Clinton and Tony Blair,
have claimed that the candidates are in a tight race.

Only Venezuelans will choose their president on Sunday, but the
international community may need to support their choice. This support
will begin by denouncing any irregularities observed on Sunday.


Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/02/world/americas/02venezuela.html?_r=1&th&emc=th&oref=slogin
http://www.endi.com/noticia/politica/noticias/colabora_el_minh_con_chavez/120442

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Venezuela's Political Disaster - November 30, 2006

Dear Journalists,

Similar to when there are blizzard warnings or a terrorist attack, Venezuelans are gathering a lot of food and medicine supplies just in case the outcome of the presidential election scheduled for December 3 were to turn violent. Citizens are reporting basic items that are totally sold out such as milk, wheat flour, sugar, and certain medications. The level of nervousness for the fate of Venezuelan citizens is at its peak deciding from freedom promised by opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, or a Cuba like regime certain with Hugo Chavez (a.k.a. Thugo Chavez).

Please read list of victims to Chavez's infamous regime as reported in Venezuela Real blog:

Listado de venezolanos víctimas de este gobierno written by Raul Leoni.

http://venezuelareal.zoomblog.com/cat/9145

Next is article written by Ambassador Adolfo Taylhardat complaining about Brazil President Lula's intromission in Venezuelan internal affairs.

http://opinion.eluniversal.com/2006/11/29/opi_685_art_29A809073.shtml

Sumate is reporting Chavez having political advertisement advantage over the opposition candidate.

http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=44035

I invite you to please read other postings in my blog including "Questioning Reuters."

Cordially,


Maru Angarita
My blog is:
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200611301831
www.vcrisis.com
http://venezuelareal.zoomblog.com/cat/8743
http://english.eluniversal.com/
http://www.v-brazil.com/government/executive-branch/lula.html
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=44164
www.sumate.org

Questioning Reuters

Dear Journalists,

Is Reuters seeing another extreme point of view concerning Venezuela's current political situation? What are Reuters motives if the information provided were to fall in the disinformation category? Following please find link to recent Reuters' articles reporting Chavez ahead in the polls:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/29/AR2006112901181.html


http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200611291032

Cordially,

Maru Angarita My blog is:
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/

Monday, November 27, 2006

Venezuela's Political Disaster - November 27, 2006

Dear Journalists,

Is Chavez's secret weapon to possibly cheat the outcome of the upcoming December 3rd's presidential election results by coercing the media, and/or using questionable polls?

The following is link to article written by Alexandra Beech published on
www.vcrisis.com "Wires Pre-Elect Candidate in Venezuela."

http://www.vcrisis.com/index.php?content=letters/200611262236

I have added another article from Miss Beech on my blog titled "Venezuela and Freedom of Expression." Please do read these articles as what Miss Beech reports is one of the anguish of most people voting for the Opposition candidate in Venezuela in order to restore democracy in this hostage nation.

Cordially,


Maru Angarita
My blog is:
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
www.vcrisis.com
http://venezuelareal.zoomblog.com/
http://daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/
http://english.eluniversal.com/

Venezuela and Freedom of Expression by Alexandra Beech

Venezuela and Freedom of Expression
By Alex Beech

During these unusual times, any measure threatening the freedom of expression in Venezuela induces a yawn. When journalists were assaulted by military officers outside of the presidential palace a few days ago, no one really clamored for justice. In a government dominated by one man, bruises are part of the game.

Every time anyone questions press freedom in Venezuela, including very reputable organizations such as Reporters Without Borders, someone stands up and points at the opposition pundits who cackle all day long on television and radio. "There's never been more freedom of expression in Venezuela," they cry. Look at the private channels!

But is there really freedom of expression in Venezuela?

Are journalists free to express themselves when reporters and their crews are attacked while covering events, often after Chavez has threatened their networks?

Are journalists free to express themselves when Chavez says during a campaign rally, "don't be surprised when the private media's concessions aren't renewed"?

Are journalists free to express themselves when Chavez interrupts their regular programming and forces them to broadcast one of his inaugurations or speeches?

Are journalists free to express themselves when they must attend workshops to understand how criticizing the president violates the law?

Are journalists free to express themselves when their coverage could be deemed, "inciteful to violence," which would violate the law and bring repercussions?

Are journalists free to express themselves when government officials belittle them during press conferences, often ignoring them or answering them with disdain?

Are journalists free to express themselves when they are not allowed the same access to an event as journalists who work for state-controlled media?

Are journalists free to express themselves when many of their colleagues have been shot and killed while covering political events?

During the next week, freedom of expression will be a critical element of democracy in Venezuela. If Chavez is a democratic president, as he claims, he must allow the private media to cover the presidential elections with no interruptions or censorship. International observers, staying in hotels throughout Caracas, must monitor and report whether the private media is allowed access to voting centers and the National Elections Council. How the elections are covered before and after the elections will have an enormous impact on the future of Venezuela. Venezuelans have a fundamental right to information, and journalists have a right to provide it, without the threat of bruises, and even death.

Maru Angarita My blog is:
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
http://www.alexbeech.blogspot.com/

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Difference between Chavez and Rosales' Campaign Closing Day

Dear Journalists,

The following link is to report from Globovision with pictures of Chavez's supporters arriving in Caracas by hundreds of buses. Please know that the highways are running today toll-free, and other traffic restrictions were removed to allow Chavez's supporters to gather in Caracas:

http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=43781

There are rumors that Chavez's supporters have been paid in the past the sum of approximately US$60.00 each to attend Chavez's rallies.

Please visit my blog and compare pictures of the Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales' march that took place on November 25, 2006, with Chavez's march on this date.

Cordially,

Maru Angarita
My blog is:
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
http://www.unionradio.com.ve/
www.vcrisis.com
http://www.elsiglo.com.ve/
http://www.elsiglo.com.ve/primera.pdf
http://lamamadelasavalanchas.blogspot.com/
http://venezuelareal.zoomblog.com/cat/8288