December 31, 2017

The Cubanization of Venezuela

Maduro cubanizes Venezuela at forced marches
The National Constituent Assembly, the release of political prisoners "at convenience" and the appointment of a military man in charge of the state oil company PDVSA are the last steps in that direction

Madrid 12/31/2017 02: 22h

"The stability of the Government of Venezuela depends on the guidelines of the Cuban dictatorship , whom Maduro continues to consult often" stress ABC two experts on closer bilateral relations throughout Latin America, which is leading the oil power to the greatest political, economic, social and human crisis in its history . Nicolás Maduro has accelerated the Cubanization of Venezuela that Hugo Chávez began 19 years ago. A decision that has served to keep him in power despite the weakness in which he left the protests of the first half of this year and the triumph of the opposition in the legislative of 2015.

"Maduro has shown that politically he is a dangerous adversary, he has managed to sustain himself in a very weak situation," says former Venezuelan Defense Minister Fernando Ochoa Antich . The last episodes of the copy of the Castro model have been the creation of a National Constituent Assembly to the Cuban (not pluralist), the appointment of a military man in charge of the state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela (Pdvsa) or the recent release of political prisoners « at your convenience ». "Nicolás Maduro liberates political prisoners in the style of Castroism, little by little, without haste, using them as a political instrument in the face of the international community and internal forces," says human rights activist Elizardo Sánchez. The former Cuban prisoner of conscience believes that "the release to the convenience of the government is a manipulation."

-snip-

http://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-maduro-cubaniza-venezuela-marchas-forzadas-201712310222_noticia.html

It's clear the Chavistas are concerned about only one thing... retaining power. If a few million people have to flee, or a few hundred thousand have to slowly starve, or a couple of hundred people have to die each day because there is no antibiotics, immunizations, insulin or even aspirin... its a small price to pay for the glorious Bolivarian revolucion!

“If only one man dies of hunger, that is a tragedy. If millions die, that’s only statistics.” Joseph Stalin

December 31, 2017

Maduro increases the minimum wage by another 40%... by dictate. Again.

Nicolás Maduro, President of the Republic, announced on Sunday from the Miraflores Palace on national chain a 40% increase in both the minimum wage and pensions.

Maduro indicated that the base salary goes from 177,507 bolivars to 248,510 bolivars. The Cestaticket also rose from 279,000 bolivars to 549,000 bolivares, which gives a total of Bs 797,510 for the integral minimum wage.

https://dolartoday.com/ultima-hora-maduro-aumento-40-el-salario-minimo/

A +250% increase in the minimum wage in one year. Not bad... but only about a +2000% increase in the cost of living. He really ought to just match it to the hyperinflation Venezuelans are so enjoying and then he wouldn't have to bother with these speeches every other month... he'd just have to print larger and larger denomination of worthless currency fewer and fewer people and businesses are accepting.

BTW... in the last 24 days, the price of 2 liters of milk has tripled... 59,500 bolivars to 165,000 Bs... just under the (previous) monthly minimum wage.

http://www.caraotadigital.net/economia/el-precio-de-la-leche-liquida-de-dos-litros-se-triplico-en-tan-solo-24-dias/

December 29, 2017

Maduro's new scam. The Petro to the rescue!

Bolivarian government wants to use Petro to pay international suppliers
Dec 29, 2017 6:27 am

The Venezuelan government wants to use the virtual currency "Petro" as a payment mechanism for international suppliers and thus avoid difficulties for imports, a government minister of Nicolás Maduro said Thursday after problems with a shipment of food during the end of the holidays. of year.

The socialist government has proposed a cryptocurrency backed by oil reserves as a solution to what it denounces as "a sabotage" in the international financial system that delays food imports.

President Maduro had denounced hours earlier that shipments of pork from Portugal, which they promised to distribute through social programs at Christmas, did not arrive by ship because the banks prevented payments due to the sanctions imposed this year by the US government.

-snip-

https://www.lapatilla.com/site/2017/12/29/gobierno-bolivariano-quiere-usar-el-petro-para-pagar-a-proveedores-internacionales/

Uh... false. Maduro would have everyone believe that he had paid for his perniles (Christmas hams) and the shiploads of meat were on the way, when the Portuguese stiffed him at Uncle Sam's behest. Quite to the contrary, Maduro hadn't even paid for LAST YEARS hams (before US sanctions against his henchmen) and there were no shiploads of pork to turn around because NOBODY ACCEPTS VENEZUELAN CASH (Bolivars = worthless) and NOBODY ACCEPTS VENEZUELAN CREDIT (more than worthless).

Venezuela used to export food. Until Chavez nationalized nearly every aspect of Venezuelan agriculture. Now, nothing grows, as there is no cash to buy seed, fertilizer, farm equipment, parts for said farm equipment, gasoline/diesel for farm equipment, and that doesn't even include the protein end of the equation... no feed for chickens/hogs/cattle = no chickens/hogs/cattle, no vaccines/antibiotics, and the population is stealing anything edible, including zoo animals.

December 28, 2017

Maduro blames... Portugal (!) for no Christmas hams!

Portugal says it has no power to sabotage legs in Venezuela
Dec 28, 2017 12:03 pm

translated from Spanish

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, Augusto Santos Silva, said Thursday that his country has no responsibility for the failure of the distribution of pork in Venezuela, as reported by Nicolás Maduro yesterday .

"The Portuguese government does not have, with security, that power to sabotage pernils", assured the Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Augusto Santos Silva, in an interview with the Portuguese radio station TSF , in which he recalled that Portugal lives "in a market economy". And "exports are the responsibility of companies."

Maduro accused Portugal on Wednesday of sabotaging the importation of Christmas hams by the Venezuelan government, which has broken its promise to distribute this traditional Christmas food to the people.

"But what happened to the pernil? They sabotaged us. I can say it of a country, Portugal. It was ready, because we bought all the pork that was in Venezuela. We buy everything. But we had to import and so I gave the order and signed the payments. But bank accounts pursued us," Maduro said in a televised speech.

-snip-

https://www.lapatilla.com/site/2017/12/28/portugal-dice-que-no-tiene-ninguna-responsabilidad-en-fallas-de-distribucion-de-pernil-en-venezuela/

Venezuela has credit so bad, even payday lenders wouldn't loan the Chavistas a dime. Nobody takes credit from Maduro. Only cash. No cash, no imports. Venezuelan currency is worthless... people wipe their ass with it, as its cheaper than toilet paper. If there were no hams for Christmas, it was because Maduro refused to pay for them with a currency that is recognized as having value.

December 28, 2017

Protests spread in poor neighborhoods in Venezuela. No food. No medicine. No gasoline. No currency

translated from Spanish

Protests for the pernil spread in Caracas until dawn #28Dic
DolarToday / Dec 28, 2017 @ 12:00 pm

Hundreds of Venezuelans protested in Caracas on Wednesday night because they did not receive pork from the government, the main dish of the Christmas and New Year's dinner, whose shortage President Nicolás Maduro attributed to "international sabotage".

The protests were registered in the poor neighborhoods of Antímano and La Vega, in western Caracas, local media reported. Members of the National Guard, with anti-riot equipment, watched the demonstrations.

Pictures of blocked roads and burned garbage bags were disseminated on social networks, where several users irked calling the protests as the "revolution of the pernil".

Other minor protests have been recorded in recent days in Caracas and other cities for the absence of the pork promised by the government for the Christmas holidays, through a system of sale at subsidized prices in poor areas.

Maduro referred to this situation earlier in an act broadcast on the radio and television. "What happened to the (pernil)? They sabotaged us! I can say it of a country: Portugal!" he said.

He added that his government bought "all the pork that was in Venezuela" and, in addition, ordered the import of more pieces from Portugal. "But the bank accounts pursued us, the two giant ships that came to us left us," he added.

"The Portuguese committed themselves, they scared the gringos and they did not send the pernil (pork legs)," said Diosdado Cabello, number two of Chavismo, on his program on state television VTV.

-snip-

https://dolartoday.com/videos-protestas-por-el-pernil-se-extendieron-en-caracas-hasta-la-madrugada-28dic/

Backstory: Maduro promised "good Chavistas" toys and food for Christmas, if they voted "correctly" in the recent mayoral elections. If they did, they got a voucher for these government freebies to be delivered before Christmas.

December 27, 2017

Former VZ military officer releases another video, asks public to retake their liberty

El Nuevo Herald: Oscar Pérez reappeared with a message to Venezuelans
The former inspector of the Corps of Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations (CICPC) appeared in a video with a group of officials
By EL NACIONAL WEB
DECEMBER 27, 2017 11:53 AM | UPDATED ON DECEMBER 27, 2017 11:57 AM

Óscar Pérez, former inspector of the Scientific, Criminal and Forensic Investigations Corps (CICPC) revolted against the government of Nicolás Maduro, sent a new message on Wednesday in which he calls on the population and security agencies to join the fight .

Pérez reappeared with a group of officials to urge the population to take to the streets to activate articles 333 and 350 of the Constitution. The video was broadcast by the newspaper El Nuevo Herald .

One of the comrades of the former inspector of the Cicpc sent the message to the Bolivarian National Armed Force so that they stop fearing and go out in defense of the citizens.

"The administration and custody of weapons can not be granted for extortion, we can not grant it for corruption, they did not grant it to keep a small dome of criminals in power, much less to end the future of our country murdering their young people, "he said.

The other comrades also included the CICPC, the Police, the officials of the Disip, the Dgcim, as well as the resistance and civil society in their call.

For his part, Oscar Pérez made a call to take to the streets starting today to seek freedom.

"Let's get out of this moment to the streets to seek our freedom. We remind the state security forces of a reminder: if they suppress the Venezuelan people in legitimate protest, we will also be there to defend Venezuela," he concluded.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/politica/nuevo-herald-oscar-perez-reaparecio-con-mensaje-los-venezolanos_216891

Good luck getting the Cuban... err... "Bolivarian" Armed Forces to go against Delcy and Diosdado. The Venezuelan Army has over 4000 Generals, each of them die-hard Chavistas that earn their income courtesy of the Venezuelan oil they control. (Compare to the 231 "flag officers" for the ENTIRE US Army.) The non-Chavistas in the military hierarchy have long since been rooted out over the last 18 years. Their loyalty is to Cuba and Stalinism, not Venezuela.

December 27, 2017

No food, medicine, sewer/water, electricity, gas... the looting starts in Venezuela.

Ciudad Bolívar militarized by looting attempts
Inhabitants of the region protested the shortage of food in the area and the delay in delivery of CLAP boxes
For THE NATIONAL
DECEMBER 27, 2017 07:26 AM | UPDATED ON DECEMBER 27, 2017 07:42 AM

With patrols of tanks, abundant deployment of state security forces, closed settlements and rumors of looting, Ciudad Bolivar awoke yesterday, after Christmas, as a result, at least, of a confirmed looting and two other attempts on Monday in the night in which there were at least 22 detainees.

"After 1:00 in the afternoon, most of the businesses located in the municipality of Heres closed their doors to rumors of looting. In the case of Paseo Orinoco, the presence of the Bolívar State Police was maintained," said journalist Pableysa Ostos.

Precisely a year after the looting episodes, what happened again repeated in several locations in the city. The abnormal situation of disturbances was registered in the sectors Los Coquitos and Las Moreas, reported regional media.

The event began in the Licores El Sordo trade with an irregular distribution of alcoholic beverages to prevent looting; however, the disturbance also happened hours later, Ostos reported.

"People opened gaps and looted what was on the site. Today December 26 the warehouse was guarded by the GNB a few meters there were people waiting for them to retire to enter again. After 1:00 in the afternoon, the officials left the place and once more people entered the shed to see what they rescued between the broken bottles and the damage that was left. ", He said.

Between the attempts opened a gap to the wall of an Asian supply located in the redoma of the psychiatric, where also were destroyed. To the wholesale distribution market, Makro, in addition to the gap, knocked down the fence of the premises. Both attempts were frustrated by the Bolivarian National Guard, regional media reported.

Inhabitants of the region also protested the intense shortage of food in the area and the delay in the delivery of food boxes subsidized by the government, CLAP.

http://www.el-nacional.com/noticias/sucesos/ciudad-bolivar-militarizada-por-intentos-saqueo_216858

They were promised Christmas toys and pernil (pork legs), if they voted in the recent elections. Instead, they got dog chew toys and excuses for why their votes were not paid for as promised.

Merry Christmas, Chavismo style!

December 27, 2017

Cuba: Venezuela out, Russia in

Goodbye Venezuela, hello Russia. Can Vladimir Putin save Cuba?
BY NORA GÁMEZ TORRES AND ANTONIO MARIA DELGADO
DECEMBER 27, 2017 07:20 AM

When Cuban ruler Raúl Castro met recently with Igor Sechin, head of Russia's state-owned Rosneft oil company, it was an intimate gathering, held in the same office from where Castro announced the death of his brother Fidel last year.

No details of the Dec. 16 meeting have emerged so far, but it is now expected that Rosneft will take over Venezuela's stake in the Cuban-Venezuelan refinery in Cienfuegos, in Central Cuba, under an agreement that will favor the island.

Just a few hours before his meeting with Castro, Sechin had met with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who awarded two gas exploration contracts to the Russian company.

Castro later announced that he was delaying his retirement from February to April, which would give him enough time to sign an agreement with Rosneft that would help the Cuban economy.

Venezuela's political and economic crisis, plus Cuba's need for foreign investment, have opened the door to a stronger Russian presence in Latin America as part of a geopolitical game that smacks of the Cold War.

“Russia is a much less important economic player in the hemisphere than China. Russia has fewer interests in the Americas, but likes to meddle in what they perceive as our backyard,” said Mark Feierstein, director of Latin American policy in the Obama White House.

-snip-

http://amp.bradenton.com/news/nation-world/world/article191734229.html

December 27, 2017

Chavista imposed ANC scraps Chavez' own 1999 Constitution, will now rule by dictate

ANC repeals the 1999 Constitution at drop-rates and without consulting the people
By Maru Morales P. @morapin December 26, 2017

In addition to deleting 18 articles of the Magna Carta, the constituents of Maduro have repealed two laws and annulled at least 79 articles from 13 other laws and regulations. Among them the Organic Law of Electoral Power, the Organic Tax Code and the Law of Citizen Power. Meanwhile, the new Constitution is a mystery.

Caracas. The new Constitution is secretly cooked. The press does not have free access to the offices where the commissions of the presidential constituent meet, as defined by the prosecutor Luisa Ortega. To the old La Francia building, between the Plaza Bolívar and the National Assembly, now the headquarters of the ANC, independent journalists do not enter.

The entity created on July 30 after a questioned election does not have a web page where you can know the agenda of the plenaries or the schedule of meetings of the committees. The television channel available only broadcasts the plenary sessions, but does not report on the debates of the committees that should be drafting the new fundamental charter.

Unlike the constituents of 1999 who wrote the Magna Carta in 4 months, those of now not only gave themselves 2 years to write and approve the Constitution, but so far have not shown greater progress or haste. Since its installation on August 4, there has been only loose and diffuse information from some constituents about the details inherent in such a large issue.

-snip-

http://cronica.uno/anc-deroga-la-constitucion-de-1999-a-cuenta-gotas-y-sin-consultar-al-pueblo-i/

Clearly, their mandate (to create a new Constitution) is now moot. The rule of law is so... 20th century Socialism!

December 27, 2017

Maduro promises Christmas gifts for kids... they get dog chew toys.

They refused to accept toys delivered by the CLAP for being of poor quality
Brian Vidal December 24, 2017

A few hours after the arrival of the Baby Jesus, many children in all of Venezuela are far from receiving a gift at 12 midnight. Many Venezuelans at the national level thought that through the toys offered by the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP) they could occupy that gift expected by the smallest of the house.

However, in social networks were shared some pictures of the toys delivered by the CLAP that left stupefied more than one.

The poor quality of the products disappointed the Venezuelans who anxiously awaited the brand toys as well as the Christmas bags and the pernil that never arrived.

A follower of the government dared to write to Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello and Érika Farías complaining about the poor quality of the toys that arrived on January 23 through the CLAP. @tanialasco said "We decided not to accept them", referring to the poor quality toys that the government gave away.

http://www.elimpulso.com/noticias/nacionales/fotos-se-negaron-a-aceptar-juguetes-entregados-por-los-clap-por-ser-de-mala-calidad

What was promised vs. what was delivered. Sort of like how Maduro promised Swedish style Socialism but delivered Cuban style authoritarianism.