Russia Is Not Alone: Venezuela’s Homophobic Tirade Against Capriles By Patricia Rey Mallén 19 August 2013
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro may keep his private life surrounded in mystery, but his close allies have no problem attacking that of the opposition's leader. Congress member Pedro Carreño, a loyal government supporter, said, in reference to a dispute with former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles: “Answer, you homo. Accept the debate, you fag.” During a session in parliament, Carreño launched into a tirade against Capriles in which he lobbed other incendiary, homophobic insults -- but then tried to assure that the government is not concerned with people's sexual orientation, because "what they do with their a-- is not a problem." (read more)
Venezuela politics soiled by sordid claims, gay slurs By Daniel Wallis 15 August 2013
(Reuters) - From allegations of gay and transvestite prostitution rings to homophobic slurs flying in the National Assembly, Venezuela's polarized politics has taken a distasteful turn.
With tempers fraying as President Nicolas Maduro vows to crack down on corruption, pro-government lawmakers demanded this week that their opposition rivals be investigated for, among other things, money laundering and cocaine trafficking. (read more)
Homophobic attack by Venezuela gov party lawmaker By Sowetan LIVE 1 5 August 2013
Venomous political attacks have become the norm in Venezuela, and now a governing party legislator has unleashed a homophobic-laced tirade in the country's legislature aimed at discrediting the opposition.
The lawmaker displayed photos in the National Assembly on Tuesday showing a top aide to opposition leader Henrique Capriles dressed, along with other men, in women's clothing, apparently at a party. He suggested, without elaboration, that the photos proved the aide's involvement with drug traffickers and male and female prostitution. (read more)
Venezuela, the bane of human rights
By Editorial Board, The Washington Post
11 November 2012
ON MONDAY, new members will be selected for the United Nations Human Rights Council, the top-level group for the protection and promotion of human rights. Its members have not always been paragons of respect for human dignity. Those leaving the 47-member council at the end of this year include China, Cuba and Russia. But up for a seat this time is a truly unqualified candidate, Venezuela. Its strongman president, Hugo Chávez, has brazenly trampled human rights in his quest for power and political control. (read more)
2 killed as Venezuelan campaign turns violent
CNN Wire Staff 29 September, 2012
(CNN) -- Two local opposition leaders were killed Saturday in the western Venezuelan state of Barinas, according to the opposition First Justice party. A caravan was stopped at a blockade, the party said in a statement. When the two leaders got out to ask permission to pass, gunmen opened fire, First Justice said. Two other people were wounded and at least six were arrested, according to the party. "This tragedy gives us more strength and more faith to fight for a Venezuela where justice reigns, not violence," it said. (read more)
Venezuela crime out of control, imperiling Chavez re-election
Peter WilsonSpecial, USA TODAY 20 September, 2012
Venezuela under President Hugo Chávez has the fourth-highest murder rate in the world and an abysmal crime-solving rate. Police in Venezuela make arrests for only eight of every 100 murders committed in the country of 28 million. Crime is an issue that has enabled challenger Henrique Capriles Radonski to pull closer to upsetting Chávez in his attempt to win a third term Oct. 7. Some experts blame Chávez for allowing the country to become a transit point for the South American drug trade. (read more)
Venezuelan opposition: Conflicts possible at some voting centers due to armed groups, rebels
The Washington Post, Associated Press 18 September, 2012
CARACAS, Venezuela — The campaign of Venezuelan presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said Tuesday that it has detected risks of trouble at dozens of polling centers in areas where Colombian rebels or other armed groups are known to operate. (read more)
Venezuela's Capriles ousts Ally for Alleged Bribe
CBS Money Watch September 14, 2012
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's opposition leader fired a top aide on Thursday after a video surfaced showing the deputy accepting a purported bribe in a scandal that has injected new controversy into the heated presidential campaign. Henrique Capriles, who has vowed to root out Venezuela's long-rampant corruption if elected, expelled lawmaker Juan Carlos Caldera from his campaign saying the politician had apparently used the candidate's name for financial gain. (read more)
Venezuela: Analysts Sound the Alarms
Benedict Mander, Financial Times September 14, 2012
Hugo Chávez has got quite a lot of mileage lately out of apocalyptic warnings about his opponent’s secret plans for shock economic reforms if they win the fast-approaching elections. “Civil war” would ensue, he assures. Meanwhile, Wall Street analysts have been making predictions of their own about what will happen if Chávez wins – it sounds like Venezuela is in for some economic shocks whatever happens. (read more)
Hugo Chavez and the his opposition Henrique Capriles
Advierten del peligro de las milicias bolivarianas
Por ANTONIO MARIA DELGADO
28 de Marzo del 2011
El presidente Hugo Chávez se dispone a crear el equivalente venezolano de una Guardia Revolucionaria, organización armada que estaría adscrita al proyecto político que él adelanta y no al Estado, advirtieron analistas al comentar sobre la introducción de un ‘‘peligroso'' decreto que otorga vastos poderes a la Milicia Bolivariana (Lea mas).
Miembros de la Milicia Bolivariana, cuerpo especial de las Fuerzas Armadas Venezolanas, escuchan un discurso del presidente Hugo Chávez, en un parque de Caracas, en febrero de 2010.
Venezuela padece más asesinatos que México o Irak
Por La prensa
Agosto 2010
Bajo el mandato de Hugo Chávez se han producido más de 118 mil homicidios, y su propio gobierno es una de las causas de la ola de violencia en Venezuela.
Venezuela registró en 2009 la muerte violenta de más de 16,000 civiles, una cifra que supera las registradas en países como Irak y México, y que hace que Caracas sea la capital con el índice de asesinatos más alto en el continente americano, publicó ayer el diario The New York Times (lea mas).
In Venezuela, armed groups that pledge allegiance to Hugo Chavez rule over slum fiefdoms
By Associated Press
30th April 2012
CARACAS, Venezuela — Closed-circuit cameras stare down from lampposts, allowing a heavily armed gang to keep watch over those who dare to enter one of Caracas’ most violent slums. At night, the gunmen cover their faces with ski masks and set up checkpoints, brandishing pistols and ordering residents to identify themselves as they enter the neighborhood.
Here in the 23 de Enero slum, several gangs that pledge allegiance to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are effectively the law, ruling over fiefdoms where police seldom venture. Chavez has occasionally criticized the groups, but the authorities have largely left them alone, stoking accusations by critics that the government is tolerating an armed wing that could prove dangerous in a critical election year in Venezuela (read more).
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