Venezuela Analysis

[news] Autonomy Proposed in State Legislature of Venezuelan Oil State Zulia

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:23:54 -0430

On Tuesday, state legislators from the opposition political party A New Time (Un Nuevo Tiempo) in the oil-rich state of Zulia, Venezuela, proposed a feasibility study for potential autonomy from the federal government, which they compared to the autonomy efforts in Bolivia’s wealthiest province. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Uribe Would Be Involved in the “Final Offensive” Against Venezuela

Últimas Noticias — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:10:47 -0430

According to former Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez, the so-called “final offensive” against Venezuela is being planned presumably from Colombia, and would be executed by that country’s army, according to agreements between Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and US Ambassador William Brownfield. By Últimas Noticias

[news] Venezuela Calls for Oil Profits to Fund Food in Latin America

Venezuelanalysis.com/RNV Web — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:05:40 -0430

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro proposed that Latin American countries create a food bank to counter food supply problems and that oil profits of the region go towards a new food fund. Maduro made the proposal during the Food summit held in Nicaragua on Wednesday. By Venezuelanalysis.com/RNV Web

[audio] Venezuela News Summary #54

Michael Fox - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 08 May 2008 11:44:32 -0430

Venezuela News Summary #54 By Michael Fox - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuelan Inflation Holds Steady at 1.7% in April

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:49:29 -0430

Venezuelan Planning and Development Minister Haiman El Troudi announced on Tuesday that inflation closed at 1.7 percent for April, unchanged from the previous month.
By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Leaders Warn of Autonomy Attempts in Venezuela, Ecuador

Humberto Marquez - IPS — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:31:38 -0430

Presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Rafael Correa of Ecuador warned of possible "contagion" in their countries by the autonomy movement in the eastern Bolivian province of Santa Cruz. By Humberto Marquez - IPS

[newsbrief] Venezuelan Workers Halt Hecla Gold Mine Operations

Reuters — Wed, 07 May 2008 13:24:10 -0430

By Reuters

[analysis] U.S. is Promoting Secession in Bolivia, Repeating Venezuela Effort

Nikolas Kozloff - CounterPunch — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:33:50 -0430

In an effort to rollback social and political change in Bolivia, the U.S has funneled millions of dollars to opposition groups through USAID and the NED. What’s more, USAID explicitly supports demands of the right wing for greater regional autonomy in the east. It’s not the first time, however, that the U.S. has sought to encourage secessionist sentiment within South American regions possessing rich natural resources. Venezuela came first. By Nikolas Kozloff - CounterPunch

[news] United Socialist Party of Venezuela to Determine Nomination Process Democratically

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 17:15:56 -0430

The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will hold a national assembly of party delegates on Friday to determine the methodology of selecting candidates for the upcoming state and local election party vice-president Alberto Müller Rojas said on Monday. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Labor Contract Signed, Nationalization Process Continues at Venezuelan Steel Plant

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:47:37 -0430

The United Steel Industry Workers Union at the recently nationalized SIDOR steel plant and the Venezuelan government finalized a collective labor contract early Sunday morning. Meanwhile, Sidor's former owner says it is still willing to negotiate the indemnity for the nationalization.

By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] The Albert Einstein Institute and Venezuela

George Cicariello-Maher - CounterPunch — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:44:52 -0430

Masquerading under the banner of "nonviolent action," the Albert Einstein Institution has come to play a central role in a new generation of warfare, one which has incorporated the heroic examples of past nonviolent resistance into a strategy of obfuscation and misdirection that does the work of empire. By George Cicariello-Maher - CounterPunch

[news] Venezuela Rejects Bolivian Province’s Autonomy Vote

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 05 May 2008 21:21:21 -0430

Venezuela will not recognize the results of an autonomy referendum, marred by fraud, abstention, and violence in Bolivia’s richest state, Santa Cruz on Sunday, Venezuelan representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Jorge Valero assured Sunday night. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuela Declares Solidarity with Bolivia’s Government in Face of Separatist Effort

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 03 May 2008 14:48:18 -0430

The Venezuelan government reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity of Bolivia and the government of Evo Morales in the face of moves by rightwing oppositionists in the state of Santa Cruz, to hold an unconstitutional referendum on autonomy this Sunday, May 4. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment Puts Breaks on Gold Mining Permits

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Sat, 03 May 2008 13:56:19 -0430

Toronto-based Crystallex Corporation announced Wednesday that the Venezuelan Ministry of the Environment denied a key gold mining permit for the company’s operation of the Las Cristinas mine, one of the largest gold deposits in Latin America. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuelan Labor Day Rally Attracts Hundreds of Thousands, Wages Raised by 30%

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Fri, 02 May 2008 17:41:54 -0430

Waving red flags, more than 300,000 workers marched in Caracas to celebrate May 1, the International Day of Workers Struggle. The rally also celebrated a decree by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez increasing the minimum wage by 30%. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuela Dismisses U.S. State Department Report on Terrorism as “Political”

Venezuelanalysis.com/CNN — Thu, 01 May 2008 23:40:13 -0430

Venezuela’s Ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, told CNN yesterday that the just released U.S. State Department report on terrorism is "mostly motivated by political disagreements" with Venezuela. By Venezuelanalysis.com/CNN

[letter] Bush: $770 million in food aid

Steven Bates — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:55:36 -0430

There is no lack of money or resources to feed everyone in the world, there is only a lack of integrity and intent. By Steven Bates

[news] United Socialist Party of Venezuela Expels 4 for Launching Regional Candidacies

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 01 May 2008 20:18:58 -0430

The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) expelled four prominent members who launched their candidacies for the upcoming state and local elections without being selected according to party rules, PSUV Vice President Alberto Müller Rojas announced Tuesday. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Electricity Restored After Massive Blackout in Half of Venezuela

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:35:29 -0430

A forest fire near a major power distributor in Venezuela’s Guarico state was the principal cause of a massive power outage that affected 17 of Venezuela’s 23 states for a day, the Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez, announced Wednesday afternoon. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] "This Year May Day is Very Special"

Stalin Perez and Marcos Garcia — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 21:56:10 -0430

As May Day approaches once again, Federico Fuentes from www.greenleft.org.au interviews Stalin Pérez Borges (SPB), national coordinator of the National Union of Workers (UNT) and member of the editorial board of the newspaper Marea Socialista and Marcos Garcia (MG), national coordinator of the public sector federation, FENTRASEP and member also of Marea Socialista. By Stalin Perez and Marcos Garcia

[newsbrief] Venezuela’s Justice Minister Launches New “Humanist” Prisons

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:19:11 -0430

By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[newsbrief] Venezuelan Military Destroys Colombian Paramilitary Camp in Venezuela

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:09:49 -0430

By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Venezuela to Expropriate Steelmaker if Indemnity Not Resolved

James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:48:33 -0430

If a “just” price is not agreed upon this Tuesday for the nationalization of the Sidor steel plant, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez will sign a presidential decree expropriating the company, Chávez declared on his weekly Sunday talk show Aló Presidente. By James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Venezuela’s Labor Movement at the Crossroads

Kiraz Janicke & Federico Fuentes - Venezuelanalysis.com — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:31:54 -0430

The recent replacement of the labor minister and the nationalization of Sidor have once again brought to the fore the question of the role of workers in Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution, whose participation as an organized class has been sporadic at best, in this process aimed at constructing ‘Socialism of the 21st Century.’ By Kiraz Janicke & Federico Fuentes - Venezuelanalysis.com

[newsbrief] Don't Sanction Venezuela US Senate Report Urges

Pablo Bachelet - Reuters — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:53:46 -0430

By Pablo Bachelet - Reuters

[newsbrief] Venezuela to Sell $4 Billion in Bonds

AP — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:16:06 -0430

By AP

[letter] "Venezuelanalysis" and Imperialist Spin

Chulo — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:25:40 -0430

The editorial staff/writers are in need of some protracted and serious ideolgical struggle!! By Chulo

[news] Venezuela Will Not be Affected by Food Crisis Says Chavez

Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:07:42 -0430

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez assured that Venezuela will not be affected by the world food crisis on his weekly talk show Aló Presidente on Sunday. Chavez discussed the current food crisis and explained his government’s agricultural polices that have increased Venezuelan food production. By Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com

[news] Governor Bill Richardson Meets Chavez in Venezuela

Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 21:18:16 -0430

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to discuss a proposal for the release of three U.S. citizens held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), at Miraflores President Palace on Saturday. By Kiraz Janicke - Venezuelanalysis.com

[analysis] Takes Two to Tango: Why Washington Can’t Win in South America

Nikolas Kozloff — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:36:22 -0430

Perhaps one of the more unlikely but compelling stories to come out of South America has to do with the budding strategic relationship between Venezuela and Argentina. Together, the two countries constitute a formidable bloc that could make all the difference in defining South America’s future geopolitical trajectory. By Nikolas Kozloff