May 09, 2017

Logistics & Transport

CONVIASA flights reportedly have been suspended

Journalist Elyangelica Gonzalez has reported that Venezuelan airline CONVIASA has suspended national and international flights due to “a matter involving the payment of aircraft insurance”. More in Spanish: (NOTIMINUTO: http://www.notiminuto.com/noticia/reportan-suspension-de-vuelos-de-conviasa/)

 

Oil & Energy

Venezuela braces for double whammy if U.S. imposes oil sanctions

Venezuela would be hit from two directions if the U.S. were ever to impose oil-related sanctions against this nation where at least 30 have died in anti-government protests in the past month. American drivers may pay more at the pump as well. Speculation about possible new U.S. sanctions has increased because of President Nicolas Maduro’s announced plan to rewrite the constitution. America is the biggest buyer of Venezuelan crude, and CITGO Petroleum Corp., the U.S.-based refiner controlled by Petroleos de Venezuela SA, takes the largest share of those imports, according to analysis of U.S. government data compiled by Bloomberg. If CITGO can’t buy from its parent company because of sanctions, it would be forced to pay more on the spot market, said Mara Roberts, a New York-based analyst for BMI Research. “PDVSA’s reliance on the U.S. market has put it in an extraordinarily difficult position,” Roberts said. “An embargo would cripple its revenues to an even greater extent, which would be terrible news in the run-up to another large debt payment in the fourth quarter.” (Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-08/venezuela-braces-for-double-whammy-if-u-s-imposes-oil-sanctions)

 

Venezuela oil price falls for 2nd consecutive week
The price Venezuela receives for its mix of medium and heavy oil fell as U.S. production continued increasing among supply builds in the U.S. According to figures released by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mining, the average price of Venezuelan crude sold by Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA) during the week ending May 5 fell to US$ 41.27, down US$ 1.19 from the previous week's US$ 42.46. According to Venezuelan government figures, the average price in 2017 for Venezuela's mix of heavy and medium crude has fallen to US$ 44.46.(Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2435931&CategoryId=10717)

 

Economy & Finance

Hidden numbers reveal scale of Venezuela’s economic crisis

Most statistics tracking Venezuela’s economy are either unreliable or have been discontinued, after national account data were suspended in 2015. Even the IMF has only partial information, as its latest interaction with Venezuela’s authorities dates back to 2004. But figures relating to Venezuela’s relations with the rest of the world offer clear insights into the scale of its problems. Venezuelans are leaving the country, heading mostly for Spain and the US. Foreign investment has dried up. es. US data show that in 2016 US net foreign direct investment in Venezuela turned negative for the first time since the series began in the early 1990s. Last year, Venezuela was the only country with which the US had negative net income flow among the 58 countries for which data are available. Overall foreign investment and acquisitions have stalled, and there have been no deals to date this year. Venezuela’s oil exports — which account for about 90% of its total exports in value terms — have collapsed, not just because of the drop in prices but also in volume terms as production has folded. The country is running out of cash to fund bond repayments Venezuela has been raiding its foreign reserves, which have dropped to about US$ 10billion, from US$ 30 billion before Maduro was elected in 2013. Economic contraction is coupled with hyperinflation. Venezuelans are seeing the value of their money shrink at the fastest pace in the world. The IMF estimates an inflation rate of 720% for this year, skyrocketing even further in the coming years. “Price controls, limitations on access to foreign currency and the collapse of the private sector in the provision of basic goods, have cumulatively led to one of the world’s highest inflation rates,” the World Bank wrote in a recent report. This means that Venezuelans see the value of their money and the ability to buy goods and services massively shrink day by day. According to IMF data, Venezuela’s GDP will contract by 7.4% in 2017, meaning the economy will have shrunk about 30% since 2013 — one of the largest peacetime economic contractions since the second world war. (Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/a6f7bdae-2f46-11e7-9555-23ef563ecf9a)

 

Politics and International Affairs

Venezuela opposition boycotts meeting on Maduro assembly, as civilians subjected to military courts

Venezuela's opposition boycotted a meeting on Monday to discuss President Nicolas Maduro's plan for a new popular assembly, preferring to protest in the streets where they were again blocked by security forces firing tear gas. Opposition Governor Henrique Capriles said that Maduro’s constitutional assembly goes against the Venezuela’s charter, which requires approval of the nation’s voters to alter the constitution. Capriles said that if the government “continues with this madness,” Venezuela will be ungovernable, he said. In familiar scenes from five weeks of unrest, youths with gas masks and makeshift shields faced off with police and National Guard troops in Caracas, after hundreds of demonstrators were stopped from reaching government offices. Venezuela's opposition is demanding elections to resolve the country's grave political crisis. The 54-year-old successor to Hugo Chavez is setting up a "constituent assembly" super body with power to rewrite the constitution and shake up public powers. But no representatives of the opposition Democratic Unity coalition went to the Miraflores presidential palace on Monday despite an invitation from Education Minister Elias Jaua who is leading the constituent assembly process.  "It's a trick to keep themselves in power," said Julio Borges, leader of the National Assembly legislature where the opposition won a majority in 2015. "The only way to resolve this crisis is with a free vote." The unrest has killed at least 37 people since early April, including protesters, government sympathizers, bystanders, and security forces. Hundreds have also been hurt and arrested.  Local rights group Penal Forum said 1,845 people had been detained since April 1 over the protests, with 591 still behind bars. Opposition leaders said 200 of those were being processed by military tribunals in Carabobo state. Perhaps to justify the use of those military tribunals, officials say they are now facing an "armed insurrection". Red-shirted Maduro supporters also rallied in Caracas on Monday. (Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN18424I; Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-05-07/venezuela-opposition-boycotts-maduro-s-constitution-rewrite; Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2435923&CategoryId=10717; (NBC News: http://www.nbcnews.com/slideshow/venezuela-upheaval-shows-no-signs-slowing-down-n755606

 

Hundreds evacuated in Maracaibo as tear gas seeps into homes

Hundreds of people were evacuated from buildings in Maracaibo, the nation’s second largest city, after security forces fired tear gas during a clash with protesters and the gas spilled into homes, schools and a hospital. The protest turned violent when demonstrators were blocked by national guardsmen while trying to deliver a letter expressing their disdain for socialist President Nicolas Maduro's push to rewrite the nation's constitution. Protesters tried to get around the officers by finding another route but were pushed back by heavy clouds of tear gas in a raucous exchange that continued for more than an hour, witnesses said. Juan Diego Amado, an anti-government activist, said he entered one building housing a foundation housing about 300 children and elderly residents and found many coughing and in tears after inhaling the fumes. Volunteers rushed children still in diapers, others in strollers and the elderly in wheelchairs out of the building to hospitals for treatment. Continued protests in Venezuela's capital Monday resulted in 60 people being injured, said Ramon Muchacho, a Caracas-area mayor. (ABC News: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hundreds-evacuated-venezuela-tear-gas-seeps-homes-47286900)

 

Hugo Chávez statue torn down as death toll rises in Venezuela protests

The demonstration began with a group of schoolboys, who gathered – still dressed in their school uniforms – in the palm-lined square outside the town hall of the prairie town of Villa del Rosario in western Venezuela. Before long, some kind of flammable liquid was thrown at a life-sized statue of the late president Hugo Chávez and set alight. And then, to cheers from onlookers, the figurine itself – which appeared to be made of fiberglass or plastic – was pulled down and dragged into the street. In terms of historical significance, the incident is unlikely to rank alongside the toppling of Saddam Hussein’s 12-meter statue in Baghdad, shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. But the destruction of the statue last Friday did not go unnoticed in a country where many public buildings are still adorned with images of Chávez, four years after his death. Over the weekend, cellphone pictures and footage of the incident went viral in Venezuela, where amid widespread discontent with president Nicolás Maduro, Chávez’s handpicked successor, has erupted into near-daily protests. Since then, the gesture has been repeated elsewhere: in Ureña, a town in western Venezuela, a bust of Chávez disappeared from a public square, and in the late leader’s home state of Barinas, a mural with the leader’s face reproduced in the style of Warhol was defaced. Some argue that such incidents demonstrate that after years of economic chaos, food shortages and government repression, Venezuelans have finally reached the breaking point.  But others warn that, as Maduro moves forward with plans to rewrite the country’s constitution despite six weeks of anti-government protests – talk of a tipping point still seems premature. According to Luís Vicente Leon, a leading pollster, the collapse of authoritarian regimes is more often caused by internal splits than outside pressure.  Although pressure on Maduro may be mounting, it is still not coming from two key areas, Leon said. “The electoral authorities validated the constituent assembly, and perhaps most important, we haven’t seen the military express dissent,” he said. For now, the war of attrition between government and opposition looks set to continue, and the death toll seems certain to rise. Monica Pérez, who lives close to the square where the Chávez monument once stood said that the toppling of the statue had galvanized the opposition in the town. “It was the first time I saw this happen here,” she said. “We all feel the moment is now, and we must continue in the streets until the end”. (The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/may/09/hugo-chavez-statue-toppled-venezuela-breaking-point)

 

Roses in hand, Venezuelan women protesters face security forces

Dressed in white and chanting "Liberty!", tens of thousands of women opposed to Venezuela's socialist President Nicolas Maduro marched on Saturday, proffering roses to security forces who blocked their way. The women's marches took place in most major cities around the nation. In Caracas, marchers sang the national anthem and shouted: "We want elections!" They were halted at various points by lines of policewomen and National Guard troops with armored cars. (Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN1820NM; Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2435899&CategoryId=10718)

 

Press union reports over 200 acts of aggression against journalists

Marco Ruiz, Secretary General of the National Press Workers Union, has asked the Attorney General’s office to investigate over 200 acts of aggression against journalists and media workers to date this year. He reports “most” of the attacks were by government security forces, and victims say their equipment was either stolen or destroyed. He said there are 18 arrests registered. More in Spanish: (Notiminuto: http://www.notiminuto.com/noticia/sindicato-de-la-prensa-denuncia-200-agresiones-a-trabajadores/)

 

Venezuela crisis: What is behind the turmoil?

Venezuela is split into Chavistas, the name given to the followers of the socialist policies of the late President Hugo Chavez, and those who cannot wait to see an end to the 18 years in power of his United Socialist Party (PSUV). After the socialist leader died in 2013, Maduro has not been able to inspire Chavistas in the same way his predecessor did. His government has furthermore been hampered by falling oil prices. The lack of oil revenue has forced the government to curtail its social programs, leading to an erosion of support among its core backers. A series of events has further heightened tensions between the government and the opposition and led to renewed street protests. Key was the surprise announcement by the Supreme Court on 29 March that it was taking over the powers of the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The opposition said that the ruling undermined the country's separation of powers and took Venezuela a step closer to one-man rule under Nicolas Maduro. The court argued that the National Assembly had disregarded previous Supreme Court rulings and was therefore in contempt. While the Supreme Court reversed its ruling just three days later, distrust of the court did not subside. Anti-government protesters have been calling for fresh general elections. They have four key demands: Removal from office of the Supreme Court justices who issued the 29 March ruling; general elections in 2017; creation of a "humanitarian channel" to allow medication to be imported to counter the severe shortages in Venezuela; release of all the "political prisoners". Faced with almost daily protests, Maduro probably felt he needed to make a move. Not willing to give in to the opposition's demand for early presidential elections, he chose to announce the creation of a constituent assembly. Opposition leaders have denounced the move as an attempt by President Maduro to maximize his power and cling on to it for longer. They argue that the process of setting up a constituent assembly and drawing up a new constitution would almost certainly mean that regional elections due to be held this year and presidential polls scheduled for December 2018 would be delayed. (BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36319877)

 

In Venezuela’s chaos, elites play a high-stakes game for survival

Even as Venezuela sinks into chaos, with clashes between protesters and the police escalating, why have its powerful political and military elites stuck by President Nicolás Maduro? The country would seem to be a prime candidate for something scholars call an “elite fracture,” in which enough powerful officials break away to force a change in leadership. Still, splits are beginning to emerge, as a few figures in major institutions signal opposition to Maduro, hinting at growing dissatisfaction and the government’s inability to silence it. Recent actions by both elites and the government suggest they take the possibility of fracture seriously — maneuvering in a high-stakes contest that is potentially decisive but whose outcome remains uncertain. Elite fracture operates as a kind of game in which each player tries to figure out what the others are about to do. Stay loyal to a failing government too long and you risk going down with it. But if you break with the government and others don’t, you’ll pay a high price for disloyalty. Members of the elite, in this game, try to test one another over where they stand, as well as the government’s strength, to decide whether to remain loyal. If enough believe they have achieved critical mass to force a leadership change, they will all push at once. Luisa Ortega, the attorney general, conducted such a test, whether she intended to or not, in late March. When the pro-Maduro Supreme Court moved to seize many of the legislature’s powers, Ortega condemned the ruling as a “rupture of the constitutional order.” The government faced a dilemma. Tolerating Ortega’s dissent would signal that elites could more freely break with Maduro, making action against him easier. But punishing her would risk backlash from any elites who shared her view. Ortega went unpunished, and the ruling was reversed. Rapid policy changes can open such fissures by forcing elites to decide whether to go along. This is why periods of crisis can heighten risks of elite fracture, as governments make rapid changes to keep up. The deciding vote in these situations is often cast by the military, which has the power to break a deadlock among elites and, often, the popular legitimacy to lead a transition. In Venezuela, some are already calling on the military to step in. By conferring pre-emptive legitimacy, they signal to potential coup leaders that they would enjoy at least some elite support. Even a loyal military, when forced to resolve a political crisis, might decide against the leader who called it in. The impossibility of fully predicting how the military might decide in another crisis, along with growing unrest that could again test it, has left the government nervous. Loyalty was once purchased with oil revenue, but as the economy worsens, elites compete over a smaller pie. Venezuela is also growing internationally isolated, forcing elites to fear they could face foreign sanctions or even criminal charges if they remain loyal and the government falls. This is part of what makes the lack of widespread defection, amid Venezuela’s economic collapse, so unusual. Chavez’s hyper-charged populism succeeded in so dividing society that crossing over remains, for many, unthinkable. And so ideological dedication remains widespread, including among elites. That same fervor could create an opportunity for dissidents, however. Venezuela’s few defecting elites have tended to portray themselves as the true guardians of Chávez’s cause and Maduro as the traitor. And younger, second-tier Chávistas may worry about Maduro’s damage to the cause and its longevity. This is why coups are often led by colonels or civilians of equivalent rank, who also enjoy fewer fruits of patronage and so face less downside in defecting. But movement can come only when elites, junior or senior, are sure they have the numbers to win. And any contest over ideological loyalty will tilt toward the status quo. The rules of the game still favor Maduro, even if the state of play does not. (The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/06/world/americas/venezuela-unrest-protests.html?smprod=nytcore-iphone&smid=nytcore-iphone-share)

 

Venezuela's ex-spy chief promotes possible presidential bid

Nationwide protests are spreading beyond President Nicolás Maduro’s control and risk morphing into civil war, said the retired Venezuelan general in charge of suppressing the last wave of unrest three years ago. “We’re seeing much larger masses protesting across all major cities, including the working-class neighborhoods” once firmly supporting the government, said Major Gen. (Ret.) Miguel Rodríguez Torres, who adds that the government is losing control amid growing protests nationwide and should move now to call elections. A former spy chief under the late Hugo Chavez, Rodríguez Torres is emerging as a political player in turbulent Venezuela, mistrusted by the opposition and despised by the government as he travels the country in a possible bid for the presidency. He is a longshot who hopes to offer a third way for Venezuelans weary of the country's violence and economic woes. Reviled among President Nicolas Maduro's opponents for leading a crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2014, Rodriguez Torres has also alienated government loyalists with his sharp criticism of the socialist administration. But he nevertheless is finding an audience among Venezuelans who have abandoned support for a government that has failed to resolve the economic crisis but still distrust the opposition. In a recent interview, the 53-year-old Rodriguez Torres blamed Maduro for destroying Venezuela's oil-rich economy, failing to rein in violence from pro-government militias and silencing critics. He said he is wary of the street protests launched by the president's foes and instead preaches a message of reconciliation grounded in his evangelical Christian faith. Pollsters haven't included Rodriguez Torres in their surveys yet, but his criticism of Maduro hasn't gone unnoticed. High-ranking officials in recent weeks have accused him of treason or playing into the opposition's hands. His aides say Venezuelan media are under pressure not to interview him and social media is filled with speculation he could be jailed for speaking out like other once loyal military bigwigs. Others trying to occupy Venezuela's almost invisible middle ground include another Chavez army acolyte, Lara state Gov. Henri Falcon, and chief prosecutor Luisa Ortega, who shocked the nation by saying constitutional order had been violated when the Supreme Court briefly gutted the opposition-controlled congress of its powers a few weeks ago. Rodriguez Torres' close ties to Chavismo's military wing are what distinguish him from a growing cadre of administration critics on the left. While outwardly loyal to Maduro, many in the armed forces are believed to be unhappy with the government but fearful that if the opposition takes power they'll lose privileges and influence accumulated during 17 years of socialist rule. Rodriguez Torres' proposals seem taken straight from the opposition's playbook. He sees Venezuela's economic problems rooted in decade-old foreign currency controls and says he would go to the International Monetary Fund, which Chavez railed against, for help it if put food on Venezuelans' table. He said he'd also like to patch up relations with Chavez's old nemesis, the United States. (The Times Colonist: http://www.timescolonist.com/venezuela-s-ex-spy-chief-promotes-possible-presidential-bid-1.18890700#sthash.IWk3L2IB.dpuf; The Wall Street Journal: https://www.wsj.com/articles/former-minister-warns-of-civil-war-in-venezuela-1494263279)

 

Defense Minister says no armed groups outside the military are acceptable

Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino López has said the term “colectivos” (pro government paramilitary) has been misused. “Any armed group, that are not the Armed Forces, police organizations, security organizations, that are operating out there, whatever they call themselves, are outside the law and must be treated as such. We accept no armed group outside the Armed Forces, the only armed institution here are the Armed Forces”. He added: “The Venezuelan people are being told that we are training civilians, that we support ‘colectivos’, and there is something we reject whatever name they take: guerrilla, paramilitary, criminal bands, whatever they call themselves, outside the law, they will receive a Constitutional response”. He denied there were any military officers under detention for “discontent” – a charge made by opposition leader Henrique Capriles; but added that 3 officers that deserted and sought asylum in Colombia are under investigation. In another statement the following day, Padrino said that out of 37 dead in demonstrations, 22 were murdered with firearms, which he says that current protests “are in line with subversion and armed insurrection”. He defended actions by the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) during the demonstrations, and claimed they have “contained” violence, adding that this new wave of protests is “far more violent” than those held 3 years ago, and blamed opposition leaders based on what he called “very serious” investigations. Padrino concluded by saying the Armed Forces unconditionally support a Constitutional assembly process through “universal, direct, secret and free” voting; and added that it is “premature” to talk of the way representatives would be selected. Padrino called the recent Supreme Tribunal ruling against the Legislature an “excess” that “cannot be termed a coup d’etat”. He says the Armed Forces will conduct “a great internal debate, at all levels”, to determine the military institution they envision for the next years. He referred to the so-called Bolivarian Militia, which became the center of attention after Maduro increased their number 50 500,000 and allocated resources to provide them with rifles. He said the militia is currently around 400,000 and should not be viewed simply as armed civilians because “they are trained in all senses, not just combat”. He added that although there are weapons available for all, all weapons are controlled by the Armed Forces and are only given to them when the task assigned requires. More in Spanish: (Notiminuto: http://www.notiminuto.com/noticia/padrino-lopez-no-admitimos-ningun-grupo-armado-distinto-a-la-fanb/; http://www.notiminuto.com/noticia/vladimir-padrino-asumo-la-responsabilidad-del-bienestar-de-lopez/)

 

Maduro to convene a military constitutional assembly

President Nicolas Maduro now says he will call for a military constitutional assembly to strengthen all branches of Venezuela’s armed forces. He also called on the business community to select representatives. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/politica/presidente-maduro-activara-una-constituyente-militar)

 

Jaua says no vote can be called to call for a Constitutional Assembly

Educations Minister Elías Jaua, who heads the Constitutional Presidential Committee, has told opposition leaders within the Democratic Unity coalition that there is no part of the Constitution that requires a vote to call for a Constitutional Assembly. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/politica/jaua-asegura-que-no-se-puede-realizar-un-referendo-consultivo-para-convocar-la-constituyente; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/carta-mud-jaua-constituyente-ilegitima-inconstitucional_651719)

 

Wife says Venezuela's jailed Lopez is well, urges more protests

Jailed opposition Venezuelan politician Leopoldo Lopez is well and is urging street demonstrators to keep up massive anti-government protests, his wife said on Sunday after her first visit with the former presidential hopeful in over a month, putting to rest rumors of his ill health. With tension already high after over a month of street action, many Venezuelans were shocked on Wednesday when a journalist tweeted that Lopez had been taken to hospital without vital signs. The government accused the Lopez clan of whipping up a media frenzy to gain attention. Lopez is indeed alive and well, Tintori told reporters after a visit at the Ramo Verde military prison with Lopez's mother and two children. (Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-politics-idUSKBN184009; Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2435937&CategoryId=10717)

 

Almagro says Venezuela needs a new leader, blasts use of military courts for civilians

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro says Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has gone too far to bring the country back from the brink, and that the crisis-ridden nation needs elections and a peaceful transition of power -- not the new constitution that Maduro has promised. “Venezuela is drowning in an economic, financial, social and humanitarian crisis of gigantic proportions,” he said, adding that: “There is a dictatorship in Venezuela, and Venezuela needs elections. The only institutional exit for the country is a general election.” (Bloomberg, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-05-08/venezuela-needs-a-new-leader-not-new-constitution-almagro-says)

 

Pope urges Venezuelans to "build bridges"

The Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference (CEV) has released a letter to them from Pope Francis, expressing “awareness of the challenges you face” and thanking bishops for their “continued appeal to prevent any form of violence, observe citizens’ rights and foster human dignity and fundamental rights and liberties”. Pope Francis encouraged Venezuelan bishops to work on the building of bridges between the government and the opposition to resolve the domestic predicament. He said he was following “with concern the situation of the Venezuelan people in view of the serious problems they suffer,” and expressed “deep sorrow for clashes and violence these days,” in the middle of a wave of protests resulting so far in at least 37 killings and over 700 injured people. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/pope-emboldens-venezuelans-build-bridges_651650)

 

U.S. National Security head McMaster meets with Venezuela opposition leader Borges

National Security Advisor McMaster met with Venezuela's National Assembly President Julio Borges at the White House. They discussed the ongoing crisis in Venezuela and the need for the government to adhere to the Venezuelan Constitution, release political prisoners, respect the National Assembly, and hold free and democratic elections.  They agreed that there is a strong need to bring the crisis to a quick and peaceful conclusion. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2435935&CategoryId=10717)

 

…and Borges met with OAS Secretary General Almagro, who condemns use of military tribunals against civilians.

Borges also met with OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro and consigned with him a letter to the organization’s Permanent Council designed to halt Venezuela’s withdrawal from the OAS, which requires legislative approval. He also sent a video deploring actions by military prosecutors against civilians. He compared the Maduro regime to past Latin American military dictatorships. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/politica/julio-borges-entrego-documento-a-la-oea-para-frenar-salida-de-venezuela; El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/noticias/julio-borges-entrego-documento-a-la-oea-para-evita.aspx; (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/almagro-condena-que-civiles-venezolanos-sean-condenados-tribunal-militar_651759)

 

US Congressmen ask Trump to take Venezuela’s case to the UN

A group of 15 US Congressmen have asked President Trump to take the case of Venezuela to the UN Security Council, seeking support in providing humanitarian aid to Venezuela. They also asked the President to sanction Venezuelan officials and paramilitary that are responsible for violating human rights during ongoing protests. More in Spanish: (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/congresistas-eeuu-piden-trump-llevar-crisis-venezuela-ante-onu_651226)

8 nations deplore “worsened” violence here.

Eight Latin American nations have issued a statement deploring “worsening violence” in Venezuela. Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico and Paraguay signed the declaration saying: “We condemn the excessive use of force by Venezuelan authorities against civilians marching to protest government actions that hurt democratic stability, polarize Venezuelan society even further, and lead to the loss of lives, most of them young”. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/ocho-paises-deploran-recrudecimiento-violencia-pais_651227)

 

Colombia’s Santos calls for release of political prisoners, slams Constitutional Assembly

Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos says a Constitutional Assembly is not an “adequate way out” for Venezuela. He says: “what is necessary first is an elections timetable, respect for the National Assembly, return its power to it, comply with the Constitution, and within that spirit to start releasing political prisoners”.  More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/internacional/santos-afirma-que-una-constituyente-no-es-la-salida-adecuada-para-venezuela)

 

Samper: Casualties are all Venezuelans

Ernesto Samper, former Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper has advised the political shareholders in Venezuela to resume talks. In his opinion, it is the only way to solve the current state of affairs in Venezuela. “Violence leads nowhere,” he warned.  “Dead people are neither from the opposition nor from the government, they are simply Venezuelans, victims of violence; it is time to stop,” added the mediator in the government-opposition talks commenced last year in an effort to settle the standoff in Venezuela. (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/samper-casualties-are-just-venezuelans_651654)

 

Costa Rica seeks political dialogue and democratic solution to Venezuelan crisis

Costa Rica’s President Luis Guillermo Solís says “the only way out that one should expect is political”, and a “self-coup would be a tragedy” and could be the “prelude to a civil war”. Costa Rica recently called back its Ambassador to Venezuela for consultations. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/internacional/costa-rica-pide-un-dialogo-politico-y-una-salida-democratica-ante-la-crisis-de-venezuela; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/costa-rica-pide-dialogo-venezuela-salida-democratica-crisis_651656; http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/costa-rica-llama-consultas-representante-diplomatica-venezuela_651228)

 

CARICOM urged to send fact finding mission to Venezuela

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders have been urged to send a fact-finding mission to Venezuela to make an informed analysis of the situation in that country. Saint Lucia’s External Affairs Minister, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, said last month that there is legitimate concern about the situation in Venezuela both in terms of loss of life, human rights and the hardships that the people there endure. (Saint Lucia Times: https://stluciatimes.com/2017/05/08/caricom-urged-send-fact-finding-mission-venezuela)

 

Uruguayan legislators seek investigation of Mujica era deals with Venezuela

Two legislators from Uruguay’s National Party and an independent member of the nation’s congress, have brought criminal charges over irregular business transactions between Uruguay and Venezuela during the government of President Jose Mujica (2010-2015). They charge the use of private middlemen that were arbitrarily appointed to carry out business in several fields, through the National Development Fund. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/noticias/internacional/diputados-presentan-denuncia-penal-por-negocios-entre-uruguay-y-venezuela; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/venezuela/denuncian-gobierno-jose-mujica-por-negocios-con-venezuela_651224)

 

Dudamel dedicates concert to a slain student in Venezuela

Gustavo Dudamel, the Venezuelan music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, walked on stage, looked at the orchestra for a moment and then turned to the audience. He mentioned the killing, two days earlier in an antigovernment protest, of a 17-year-old violist in Venezuela’s El Sistema music education program. Dudamel said the violence in Venezuela is unacceptable, and he dedicated the concert to the slain student and to all the victims of violence. “We play for all our children,” he concluded, “to build a better future for them with peace and love.” The audience rose to give him a standing ovation. A group in the orchestra benches behind the stage unfurled a large Venezuelan flag, and shouts of “viva Venezuela” came from the balcony. Dudamel then proceeded to conduct Schubert’s inconsequential first symphony — written when the composer was a 16-year-old student taking his cues (and stealing themes) from Beethoven — as though every measure mattered momentously. With ferocious attention to detail, and with plain ferocity, he revealed a teen’s potential for greatness. Dudamel’s rise to this occasion, at a time when he is being involuntarily drawn into Venezuela’s current turmoil, is a startling new chapter. After long being constrained by the Venezuelan government’s control of El Sistema, Dudamel has begun to speak out. Much of the violence he condemns is being perpetrated by pro-government forces. But many in Venezuela are not placated, calling Dudamel’s actions too little, too late. Some have gone so far as to accuse the conductor of being complicit in the violence, for not biting the autocratic hand that feeds the hundreds of thousands of El Sistema students for whom Dudamel feels responsibility. (The Los Angeles Times: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-gustavo-dudamel-venezuela-schubert-20170507-story.html)

 

Maduro talks to cows during official ceremony

An official act meant to show how Venezuela is working to put an end to the severe food crisis in the country showed instead a side of President Nicolas Maduro that, while not new, doesn’t cease to amaze. In a video shot last week during a visit to an agricultural fair in Caracas, the 54-year-old former bus driver is seen talking to a group of cows … about politics. "I want representatives, leaders and producers of the farming sector to be members of the Constituent Assembly. Are you going to accompany me?" he asks, speaking directly to the animals. "Are you going to support me in the Constituent Assembly or do you want guarimba [a term used by the government to define opposition protests]?” "Do you want violence? Do you want death? Those of us who want peace and life go to the Constituent Assembly," he then says. The video has caused quite a stir in social media, where Maduro has been accused of not being right in the head. But Maduro's main aim may be to get people talking about something besides the five weeks of anti-government protests that have left 38 people dead, including protesters, government sympathizers, bystanders, and security forces. (Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/05/08/venezuelas-maduro-talks-to-cows-during-official-act-will-support-me.html)

 

Venezuela indigenous group flees crisis for Brazil

Around 400 indigenous Warao people from the Orinoco Delta in Venezuela have arrived in the Brazilian city of Manaus in the Amazon. The authorities have declared a social emergency to seek government funds to help with the influx. The Warao say they travelled around 2,000 km (1,250 miles) and are fleeing hunger and Venezuela's worsening economic and political crisis. (BBC News: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-39852877)

 

The following brief is a synthesis of the news as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and The Selinger Group.

November 24, 2016

International Trade

Maduro, Foreign Minister claims Venezuela remains in MERCOSUR

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez says Venezuela will continue to preside pro tempore over the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR). “Venezuela is neither leaving nor being expelled from MERCOSUR. We will never accept this kind of aggression against our Fatherland”, she tweeted in rejection of an announcement by Uruguay’s President Tabaré Vásquez and Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Eladio Loizaga, saying that Venezuela will be suspended from MERCOSUR if it has not complied with all the organization’s rules by December 1^st. President Nicolas Maduro said the group of MERCOSUR founding nations was applying “a sanction that does not exist”. Experts, however, report that the other 4 nations within MERCOSUR are applying the Vienna Convention on Treaty Rights in this case under the “pacta sunct servanda” clause that states that any treaty in force requires the parties to comply in good faith, which applies to international organizations. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/economia/2016/noviembre/22/176386=presidente-maduro-expreso-que-nadie-podra-sacar-a-venezuela-del-mercosur; El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/politica/maduro--nadie-podra-sacar-a-venezuela-del-mercosur.aspx; El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/economia/politica/aplican-convencion-de-viena-para-suspender-a-venez.aspx#ixzz4QpN3G8Ql; AVN; http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/venezuela-ni-se-va-ni-expulsan-mercosur; El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/actualidad/noticias/rodriguez--venezuela-ni-se-va--ni-la-expulsan-de-m.aspx)

 

ECLAC estimates 26.1% drop in Venezuela’s exports in 2016

The UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) estimates a 5% drop in Latin American exports during 2016, and expects a slight recovery in 2017. Venezuela has experienced the worst contraction in the region: at 26.1% this year. More in Spanish: (El Carabobeño: http://www.el-carabobeno.com/cepal-exportaciones-america-latina-se-contraera-5-2016/)

 

Burnt petcoke cargo sets sail from Venezuela, exports resume

A vessel carrying Venezuelan petroleum coke whose load caught fire set sail late on Tuesday for Colombia, allowing exports from the terminal to resume after a three-week halt while authorities decided what to do with the ship. The PETROSANFELIX terminal where the vessel was stuck accounts for more than a third of the around 150,000 tons of petroleum coke that Venezuela can export per month. Utilities buy the product and mix it with coal to burn at power plants. The Top Trader, chartered by U.S. Koch Industries and carrying 22,000 metric tons of petroleum coke, sailed on Tuesday, according to Thomson Reuters vessel tracking data. The cargo was sailing for Cartagena, Colombia, a change from the original destination in Europe. Petroleum coke is a product derived from upgrading Venezuelan Orinoco belt's extra heavy oil into a crude more valuable for refiners. The coke is typically transported from production facilities to the terminals at a high temperature, but many customers do not accept loading the cargoes if they detect fire. Frequent outages and logistics problems have created an accumulation of millions of tons of petroleum coke at PDVSA's eastern terminals in recent years. Exports have also been affected in the past. After the Top Trader left the Petrosanfelix terminal, loading operations resumed at that facility, while other PDVSA ports were also loading petroleum coke this week, according to an independent report. (Reuters: http://www.cnbc.com/2016/11/23/reuters-america-burnt-petcoke-cargo-sets-sail-from-venezuela-exports-resume.html)

 

Customs impounds humanitarian shipment sent to CARITAS here

SENIAT customs authorities reported they have impounded 525 boxes of medicine and 92 boxes of nutrition supplement consigned to CARITAS Venezuela. They declared the cargo abandoned because it lacked permits, and consigned it to the Social Security Institute. More in Spanish: (El Mundo, http://www.elmundo.com.ve/noticias/economia/politica/seniat-declara-en-abandono-legal-cargamento-de-car.aspx#ixzz4Qv7xNPhP)

 

New currency bills reportedly have arrived at La Guaira port

Cipriana Ramos, President of the National Trade Association (CONSECOMERCIO) says the current currency scarcity could improve with the arrival of newly minted bills at La Guaira port. She said: “We were able to see a cargo that arrived at La Guaira on Tuesday and was strongly guarded by national security” More in Spanish: (El Nacional; http://www.el-nacional.com/economia/Presumen-billetes-denominacion-llegado-Guaira_0_963503883.html)

 

Venezuela's iron and steel complex plans to raise US$ 54 million in exports in 2017

Venezuela's iron and steel complex expects to raise US$ 54 million next year for exports of industry and building materials, said Carlos Padilla, Planning Director of the complex. He told the government news agency that about 30,000 tons of finished products −including steel bars, beams, angles and fences, and more than 80,000 tons of base steel for billets. He said that Panama and Brazil, as well as other Caribbean nations, are the main destinations for the export of steel material. (AVN, http://www.avn.info.ve/contenido/venezuela039s-iron-and-steel-complex-plans-raise-54-million-exports-2017)

 

Oil & Energy

Maduro orders an “absolute restructuring” of PDVSA

President Nicolas Maduro has issued a decree ordering an “absolute restructuring” and “change of course” at state oil company PDVSA, to “defeat corruption and bureaucracy” within. He claimed there are “infiltrators” inside the Venezuelan oil industry, and that he will have “zero tolerance with corruption and treason”. He called on PDVSA President Eulogio Del Pino, who is also Oil and Mining Minister, work with the company workers in a group for “specific change policies” to “strengthen” the industry, and ordered an increase in production. Venezuela’s National Assembly last week voted to censure former PDVSA President Rafael Ramírez, currently Venezuela’s UN ambassador, whom they accused of being a part of a US$ 11 billion corruption case. Maduro said Ramírez was being targeted in a defamation campaign by imperialists, and Ramírez said he would sue the legislature. More in Spanish: (EFE: http://www.economiaynegocios.cl/noticias/noticias.asp?id=311421)

 

Venezuela refinery network operating at roughly a third

Venezuela's refinery network was operating at about a third of capacity, according to union sources and workers, as state oil company PDVSA struggles with equipment issues after years of underinvestment. Venezuela's biggest refinery, 645,000-barrel-per-day Amuay refinery, was operating at only 260,000 bpd with two of its five crude distillation units out of service, union leader Ivan Freites told Reuters, citing an internal report. Its flexicoker remains down, Freites added.  Adjacent Cardon, with capacity of 310,000 bpd, was at 120,000 bpd, added Freites, a fierce critic of PDVSA and the government of socialist President Nicolas Maduro.  Meanwhile, the smaller refineries of El Palito and Puerto La Cruz, with capacities of 146,000 barrels per day and 187,000 bpd respectively, were barely refining any crude, according to a separate union leader and a worker. The El Palito refinery was halted in October for scheduled maintenance, according to PDVSA. Union leader Freddy Alvarado said on Wednesday that the complex remained shut. The catalytic cracking and alkylation units at Puerto la Cruz have been inoperative since the start of November, union leader Jose Bodas said earlier this month. Over the weekend, the refinery's reformer unit for octane 95 gasoline stopped operating, Bodas added. Venezuela's refineries have been plagued with blackouts, equipment issues and stoppages for years. PDVSA often blames problems on "saboteurs" intent on bringing down socialist rule in Venezuela, and says its foes and hostile media try to exaggerate refinery issues. Critics say years of underinvestment and poor maintenance are the cause. U.S. refining firm CITGO Petroleum is sending more products to its parent company, PDVSA, to compensate for problems in the domestic network, according to sources and Reuters data. (Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-refinery-idUSKBN13I2MA)

 

Economy & Finance

Maduro threatens legal action against JPMorgan

President Nicolas Maduro has ordered state oil company PDVSA to look into legal action against JPMorgan after the U.S. investment bank reported delays in US$ 404 million in bond interest payments. PDVSA said on Monday it was using a 30-day grace period for coupon payments on its 2035 bond but that reports of other payment delays were wrong. It suggested paying agent CITIBANK was creating a backlog that had spooked markets. "JPMorgan's attitude is of a criminal nature," Maduro said. He claimed local and foreign opponents were conspiring to give a false impression that Venezuela is on the verge of a debt default. Maduro accused JPMorgan of falsely reporting that PDVSA was in default. In fact, the report in question said payments on three bonds were not made on time and that the company had a "30-day grace period to make payments on the coupons before (the situation) becomes an event of default." Maduro said he had asked PDVSA head Eulogio Del Pino to study legal options. "The least JPMorgan can do is apologize to the Venezuelan people," Maduro said. Maduro also said the U.S. Treasury Department was behind a campaign against PDVSA. PDVSA said it had "punctually" paid this month's obligations for 2021, 2024 and 2026 paper but had activated the grace period for the 2035 bond. "I'd tell the bondholders to call CITIBANK and ask why they are delaying payment of money that is already in their accounts," Del Pino said on state television. He suggested CITIBANK was participating in "attacks" on Venezuela's socialist government and implied that it had reneged on its contract, but later said the bank confirmed it was making payments. CITIGROUP told bondholders in a letter in July that PDVSA would need to name a new paying agent for seven outstanding dollar-denominated bonds, but will stay on as paying agent until PDVSA finds a new one. (Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pdvsa-debt-idUSKBN13H24G?il=0; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/venezuelan-oil-authority-blames-citibank-for-bond-payment-delay_628216; http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/venezuelan-govt-ponders-lawsuit-against-morgan_628283)

 

Faría says economic crisis is not over

Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Jesús Faria say Venezuela has not yet overcome its economic crisis, calling it deep and structural. He claims economic activity has improved substantially and expects slight growth in 2017. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevisión, http://www.noticierovenevision.net/economia/2016/noviembre/22/176374=ministro-jesus-faria-afirmo-que-la-crisis-economica-no-ha-sido-superada)

 

Venezuelan top court rules that the extension of state of emergency is constitutional

Venezuela’s Supreme Tribunal has declared that the extension for more 60 days of the state of exception and economic emergency, decreed by President Nicolás Maduro is constitutional and said he is authorized to continue “adopting urgent, conclusive, and exceptional measures required to ensure full enjoyment of their rights by the population, to preserve domestic order, and to ensure timely access to goods, services, food, medicines and other products which are essential for everyday life.” (El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/venezuelan-top-court-rules-constitutional-extension-state-exception_628328)

 

 

Politics and International Affairs

Opposition says Vatican-brokered talks are 'frozen'

Venezuela’s opposition said that talks with the government were “frozen” after officials failed to attend meetings, throwing cold water on Vatican-brokered attempts to bridge the country’s deep political crisis. Though the formal talks, which began last month, appeared to have led to the release of a handful of detained activists, hopes for real rapprochement were always slim. The two sides are fundamentally at loggerheads, with the opposition seeking to oust the socialist president, Nicolás Maduro, while authorities vow he will not leave office before his term ends in 2019. “The government, in an irresponsible manner, froze the dialogue process by not showing up to two technical meetings last night,” said opposition coalition leader Jesús Torrealba. Opposition activists said authorities backed away after the national assembly on Tuesday held a heated session in which they slammed Maduro over a drug scandal. Two nephews of Maduro’s wife were found guilty this month on charges in the US that they tried to carry out a multimillion-dollar drug deal to help their family stay in power. “The government is using the debate as an excuse,” said two-time presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, accusing authorities of not being committed to talks. “The government has not complied with any of its promises. They promised to free political prisoners; there are more than 100 imprisoned. They promised [to open] a humanitarian channel; not a single medicine has come in.” “They [the government] don’t want to fulfill any commitments”, he said. During the talks, the opposition and the government have agreed to hold parliamentary elections in the contested state of Amazonas, which could give Maduro’s opponents a supermajority in congress to enact sweeping new laws and fire ministers. It is unclear whether the elections will take place if the talks don’t resume. It was not clear if the talks could be revived or if the opposition would resume a more militant agenda, which before the talks included protests and putting Maduro on trial before the national assembly. Spain’s ex-prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and US diplomat Thomas Shannon were holding or seeking meetings with both sides. Dialogue had divided the diverse opposition coalition, with some activists feeling the government was duping the opposition to buy time. Previous sit-downs also showed little progress. Chavista lawmaker Elias Jaua, the government negotiator in talks with the opposition, claimed that an early election as an attempt to remove President Nicolas Maduro from power was never on the table, never mind what the opposition says. Carlos Ocariz, an opposition representative in government-opposition talks, said the government “lies” when claiming that the removal of President Nicolás Maduro from office was never addressed in the negotiating table. In that connection, Ocariz said that “since the very first day” they proposed early elections or the activation of a recall referendum against Maduro. He pointed to in-house strife within pro-regime forces, tweeting that: “honoring agreements has become a nightmare for them and has made their in-house warfare worse. That’s why any excuse is good enough to back away”. He asked mediators to pressure the government to comply on agreements. (The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/23/venezuela-nicolas-maduro-opposition-vatican-talks-frozen; The Wall Street Journal: http://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuela-talks-break-down-opposition-claims-1479934607; Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2425748&CategoryId=10717; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/daily-news/elections-recall-vote-proposed-since-the-launch-dialogue-venezuela_628320; and more in Spanish: Globovision: http://globovision.com/article/ocariz-solicitamos-a-los-mediadores-que-exijan-al-gobierno-cumplir-con-los-acuerdos)

 

…. then Maduro backs down, meets with Zapatero and says government has not withdrawn from talks

President Nicolas Maduro denied the government was withdrawing from the talks. After a meeting with Spain’s Rodríguez Zapatero, he said: “The dialogue table continues to move forward, is consolidating”, he said, expressing optimism over a process sponsored by the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Vatican. He demanded that the National Assembly exclude three legislators from Amazonas state that were incorporated in defiance of a Supreme Tribunal ruling. He claimed his regime has completely complied with all agreements. The mediators also met with representatives of the Democratic Unity (MUD) opposition alliance and said both sides were willing to continue. More in Spanish: (Infolatam: http://www.infolatam.com/2016/11/23/gobierno-venezolano-niega-haber-abandonado-la-mesa-dialogo-oposicion/; Noticiero Venevision: http://www.noticierovenevision.net/politica/2016/noviembre/23/176579=mediadores-del-dialogo-reiteran-)

 

Supreme Tribunal urges National Assembly to formally separate contested legislators

The Supreme Tribunal’s Constitutional Chamber has urged the National Assembly to take formal action to separate three contested legislators from Amazonas state, as it did on January 11^th this year, since the three legislators said they were willing to withdraw. The Tribunal again held that all acts of parliament in defiance of Tribunal orders are null and void. Hector Rodríguez, head of the pro-government minority caucus at the National Assembly said that new pro Maduro legislators and a new “revolutionary” governor would soon be elected in Amazonas state. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevision: http://www.noticierovenevision.net/politica/2016/noviembre/23/176546=tsj-exhorto-a-la-an-a-desincorporar-formalmente-a-diputados-impugnadosM http://www.noticierovenevision.net/politica/2016/noviembre/23/176581=hector-rodriguez-afirmo-que-en-amazonas-elegiran-a-diputados-del-psuv-en-apoyo-al-presidente-maduro)

 

Foreign Minister, Capriles, trade accusations over diplomatic passports held by convicted drug dealers

Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez has brought charges with the Prosecutor General against Miranda state governor and opposition leader Henrique Capriles, accusing him of “presumably” forging official documents. She denied a charge that Efrain Campo Flores and Francisco Flores de Freitas, the nephews of First Lady Cilia Flores that were recently convicted for drug trafficking in NY, were holding Diplomatic Passports when they were arrested. Capriles quickly retorted: “Now the issue is over the passports they themselves issued and not with the drugs that went through from the Presidential airport ramp. They have no shame!”. More in Spanish: (Noticiero Venevision: http://www.noticierovenevision.net/politica/2016/noviembre/23/176517=delcy-rodriguez-denuncio-a-capriles-por-falsificacion-de-documentos; El Nacional, http://www.el-nacional.com/politica/Capriles-respondio-acusaciones-Delcy-Rodriguez_0_963503797.html; El Universal, http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/politica/canciller-desmiente-emision-pasaportes-implicados-caso-campo-flores_628147)

 

Opposition lawmaker jailed for 2 years joins legislature

The National Assembly welcomed opposition lawmaker Rosmit Mantilla, the country’s first openly gay legislator, who was released from jail last week after being imprisoned for two-and-a-half years as a new member. Mantilla was received with applause and was sworn-in before the leadership of the legislature headed by speaker Henry Ramos Allup, who invited him to take a seat and participate in the debate. “Outside (in the street) there’s hunger, there’s insecurity, I was imprisoned by the SEBIN (national intelligence service), but Venezuela is imprisoned by hunger and insecurity,” Mantilla told reporters after being sworn-in. (Latin American Herald Tribune, http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2425768&CategoryId=10717)

 

What it's like being a political prisoner in Venezuela under Maduro

Since Nicolas Maduro became president in 2013, the Venezuelan government has arrested and detained thousands of citizens. Most but not all are let go within a few days. One who remains incarcerated is opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. Another is Joshua Holt, an American from Utah. Francisco Marquez wants the international community to understand something about the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro: "You are dealing with a government that currently engages in having political prisoners and systematic torture within their prison system." Marquez says he's seen it himself. He was released from a Venezuelan prison in late October after spending four months as a political prisoner.  Marquez says he witnessed the torture of political prisoners as well as common inmates. Marquez is 30 and a dual citizen of the United States and Venezuela, lawyer by training and a political activist by choice. He graduated from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government in 2012. He was arrested in June while working for the political opposition and campaigning for a referendum to remove Maduro from office. He was in jail for a month before being charged with money laundering and conspiracy to incite violence. He says the prison conditions were dungeon-like. "Almost no sunlight, very dark, very humid. Full of mosquitoes. I actually got dengue fever," he says. Marquez says the brutal treatment he witnessed is systematic. "It's not like a one-off prison guard doing this. The warden in my prison, I saw him as he beat other prisoners with what all the prison guards had: this bat with a flat surface," he recalls. Alfredo Romero, a human rights lawyer in Caracas who works on behalf of political prisoners, says since student protests rocked Venezuela in 2014, there have been hundreds of political prisoners, but the actual number in jail at any one time rarely rises above 100 to avoid international scrutiny. Romero says that's a perfect example of the Venezuelan government's revolving-door method of dealing with political prisoners. "They keep people for four months, one year, 20 days," Romero says. "Then they release them and put new people into prison. It's never the same people. It's never the same number." Romero says as of Nov. 22, there are 108 political prisoners in Venezuela. Some are incarcerated. Others have restrictions on their freedom. They can't leave the country. They must present themselves to court. They're prohibited from talking to the media or attending public meetings. "Most of them are protesters, students. Some have been persecuted for tweeting," he says. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela controls the judicial system, which intimidates the political opposition through arrests and detentions, a point echoed in a 2015 report by Human Rights Watch. Romero says since January 2014 there have been nearly 7,000 political arrests and detentions. (PRI: http://www.pri.org/stories/2016-11-23/what-its-being-political-prisoner-venezuela-under-maduro)

 

President dances salsa while Venezuela churns

Venezuelans are running short of food, medicine and patience, but fear not: President Nicolas Maduro is here to cheer them up -- by dancing salsa. Grinning under his black mustache, the burly, towering socialist swivels his hips and twirls his wife Cilia Flores in front of the cameras. With hunger and violent crime gripping the country and the opposition calling for his head, this is Maduro's new strategy for winning hearts and minds. That is an uphill battle; most Venezuelans would like him to leave power. Wednesday was a case in point as Maduro celebrated his 54th birthday with a live performance by old-school salsa greats El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico. But his continued capering amid the crisis, and his recent launch of a dedicated salsa radio show, seem like bad taste to some weary citizens. Spoof photo "memes" of Maduro online have shown him dancing in various inappropriate settings: at the scene of a crime or in a long queue for food. Maduro launched his radio show "Salsa Hour" late last month on the same day that opposition lawmakers called for a political trial against him. Now Maduro is using salsa's popular beats to reach out to ordinary Venezuelans who deserted him in that vote, says social psychologist Ricardo Sucre. "He wants to show himself to be confident and relaxed, not as though his government is about to fall." With his long broadcasts, Maduro is carrying on a tradition of his late mentor and predecessor Hugo Chavez. But Maduro lacks Chavez's charisma, Sucre says, but all the same "Chavez chose him as his successor because he could get through difficult times without looking nervous." Maduro weathered a scandal last week when a US jury convicted two of his wife's nephews of plotting to smuggle cocaine. But the following Sunday, the presidential couples were on television dancing for the nation. "Are you still dancing now?" said senior opposition leader Henrique Capriles. "The country is waiting for you to face up to things." (Agence France Presse: http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/11/24/16/president-dances-salsa-while-venezuela-churns)

 

The following brief is a synthesis of the news as reported by a variety of media sources. As such, the views and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of Duarte Vivas & Asociados and The Selinger Group.