COI60 Correo del Orinoco English Edition April 15 2011. Venezuela

8/7/2019 COI60 Correo del Orinoco English Edition April 15 2011. Venezuela

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olitics

proving agriculturaloduction

viving the countrysicultural industry is a priority for the Chavez

ministration.

olitics

ajor injustice

terrorist trialUS court has freed Cuban-nezuelan terrorist andmer CIA agent Luis Posadarriles.

No FARC presence in Venezuela

President Juan Manuel San-tos told Spanish televisionon Tuesday he is confident thatFARC encampments in Venezu-ela have been dismantled.

We are satisfied that the campsthat we had previously located areno longer there, the head of statesaid, adding that Venezuela hadprovided Colombia with detailson Monday of two FARC guerrillasaccused of killing two Colombianmarines who had escaped acrossthe border. This move, Santos stat-ed, was an unprecedented ges-ture in relations between the neigh-boring countries, Terra reports.

Venezuela has been the focusof accusations in recent years forharboring the terrorist organiza-tion within its border, culminat-ing in the filing of a complaintbefore the Inter-American Courtof Human Rights (IACHR) byformer President Alvaro Uribelast August.

Since Santos came to powerhowever, there has been a signifi-cant thawing in relations betweenthe two countries, something theColombian president praised hisVenezuelan counterpart for onTuesday.

Santos said, We are advancing

each time on the different fronts[security, economy] we agreedupon eight months ago, add-ing that Hugo Chavez has so farcomplied with everything he saidhe would and that he, Santos, ac-knowledges that.

In the same interview, Santosreiterated that peaceful dialoguebetween his government and theFARC is very much an option. Hewarned however that it will bevery difficult to achieve if thegroup does not renounce its ter-rorist activities.

T/Edward Fox

conomy

coverythe horizon

dicators show Venezuelal resume economic growth

d reduce inflation this year.

ster nationsrengthen tiesesident Hugo ChavezVenezuela met with hislombian counterpart, Juan

anuel Santos this weekCartagena, as part of angoing effort to reestablishateral relations and solidifyoperation between bothions. The two countries

ve suffered diplomaticats during ths past fewars, particulary during theevious administration ofvaro Uribe in Colombia.ntos and Chavez signederal new agreementsncrease commerce andurity cooperation betweenir countries.

Venezuelans celebratedemocracy, despite threats

The artillery of ideasENGLISH EDITIONAY |April 15, 2011 |No. 60 |Bs 1|CARACAS

Pg. 7|Analysis Pg. 8|Opinion

Mark Weisbrot on Latin Americasgrowing independence from US power

Venezuela: An example of governing forthe people and prioritizing citizens needs

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Commemorating 9 years since the failed coup detat that briefly ousted PresidentChavez from power, Venezuelans reflected on democratic gains and ongoing threats

The days of April 11, 12 and 13 are remembered each year in Venezuela since the 2002 coup detat that overthrewthe Chavez government and installed a short-lived dictatorship in the South American nation. The events remind

Venezuelans of the continuing threats against their democracy and sovereignty. As the holder of the worlds largestoil reserves, powerful interests are constantly seeking to undermine the will of the Venezuelan people,who 9 years ago rose up against a US-backed coup executed by the nations elite and defeated

the attempt to destroy their democracy and dignity.


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T| 2| Impact NoFriday, April 15, 2011

Venezuelans celebraterescue of democracy as threats continue

s week,nezuelansmmemorated theear anniversary of

failed coup detatt briefly oustedsident Chavez from

wer and dissolvednations democracy,talling a US-backedtatorship. In anraordinary turnevents, a popularising crushed thep just hours later

his Wednesday, April 13,

housands of Venezuelansched on the nations capital,brating what has come tonown as the Day of Civil-ary Strength and Dignity.

as nine years ago on this daymillions of Caracas residents,ther with loyal armed forcesthe Presidential Guard, de-d a US-backed coup detathad forcefully taken power

48 hours prior.e coup, executed by business

ers, corrupt union officials,ate media owners, power-

gry military offi

cers, formerg-party politicians and civilty organizations all finan-

y and politically supportedUS government agencies, the

Department and the Whitese (see The Chavez Code:king US Intervention in Ven-la by Eva Golinger, Olivech Press 2006) succeed-

briefly in ousting Presidentvez and his government fromer on April 11, 2002.ilizing images manipulatedprivate television station,

evision, the coup forces jus-d their actions by blamingviolence and deaths that oc-d that day on the Venezuelan

of state. In reality, as top se-Central Intelligence Agency) documents have revealed,oup was planned in the daysweeks prior to its execu-The objective was to use an

Chavez protest to provokence and unrest in the capital,cas, putting into action a de-d plot using snipers to fire oncrowds, causing deaths and

injuries, which would be blamedon the government, justifying itsouster. As one top secret, nowpartially-declassifed CIA docu-ment from April 6, 2002 (5 daysbefore the coup took place) out-lines, after the violence was pro-voked by coup forces, PresidentChavez and other top members inhis cabinet...would be arrestedand a transitional governmentwould be installed.

Chavez was detained by force

on the evening of April 11, 2002,and kidnapped by dissident mili-tary officers, on the orders of thecoup leaders. Meanwhile, the USambassador in Caracas, CharlesShapiro, was coordinating the ac-tions on the ground with mediaowners, metropolitan police forcesinvolved in the sniper shootings,and of course the business and po-litical leaders that forcefully tookover the government. Documen-tary evidence proves that Shapiroheld several meetings and conver-sations during the events of April11, 2002, with the metropolitan po-lice commissioner, Henry Vivas,as well as with Gustavo Cisneros,owner of Venevision, and PedroCarmona, who subsequently tookover the presidency and declaredhimself head of state.

PEOPLES POWER

As the coup unfolded and Car-mona, then head of Venezuelaschamber of commerce, Fedeca-maras, unilaterally and illegallyswore himself into office as presi-dent, the constitutional president,

Hugo Chavez, was held hostageand incomunicado on a small is-land military base off Venezuelascoast. The only non-private nation-al television station, state-ownedVTV, was taken off the air by thengovernor of the state of Miranda,Enrique Mendoza, in an effort tosilence pro-Chavez forces and con-ceal information and events fromthe people. Private media allinvolved in the coup broadcastcartoons, old movies and soap op-

eras, while print media publishedarticles justifying and supportingthe transition government.

Before an audience of about 400people in the presidential palace,Miraflores, Pedro Carmona issueda decree dissolving all of the na-tions democratic institutions: theSupreme Court, the National As-sembly (Congress), the AttorneyGeneral, Public Defender, Comp-troller, the Executive cabinet, andeven the national Constitution.Police forces, under the control ofthe coup regime, repressed pro-Chavez protestors in the streets,killing and injuring over 100 peo-ple during those hours.

But despite the media blackouton the real events that were takingplace, millions of Venezuelans, un-willing to accept the disappearanceof their constitutionally-electedpresident and the imposition of adictatorship that openly dissolvedtheir democracy, took to the streetsin protest. Armed forces loyal toPresident Chavez began taking overmilitary barracks and urging peopleto come out in the streets to express

their popular will. Within hours,the presidential palace was floodedwith demonstrators, demanding thereturn of President Chavez and theouster of the coup government.

Meanwhile, a low-ranking sol-dier guarding Chavez, urged theVenezuelan chief to write a note say-ing he was alive and still Presidentof Venezuela, pledging he wouldfind a way to get the letter into thepublic light. He succeeded. Thefamous letter, written in Chavezs

unmistakable handwriting, declar-ing the Venezuelan president hadnever renounced the legitimatepower given to him by the people,made it into the hands of militaryforces loyal to their Commander inChief. A rescue mission was imme-diately activated and Chavez wasflown back in a helicopter to thepresidential palace right aroundmidnight on April 13.

The millions that surroundedthe palace, together with the loyalpresidential guard, were able toforce out the coup leaders, whoincredulously emptied the presi-dential safes and stole as muchas they could before escaping.As Chavez descended from thehelicopter, cries and cheers wereheard from the crowd. An ex-traordinary feeling of communitypower, justice and love eminatedfrom those who had risked theirlives to rescue their democracy,their constitution, their president,and most of all, their dignity.

THREATS CONTINUE

During the celebration this

Wednesday, Pspeaking beforcrowd that madential palace gthat Nobody Revolution agawho continue tion plans that taway and nev

As the crowpeople united feated, the Vdent, reflectedyears ago, Thea coup backedterests, the USthe elite, but thsomething evethe people of Vreal soldiers.

Nonetheless,those involved present in Veneday, still aimingovernment anthe Bolivarian ing the 9 years government fution groups anezuela has intially, reaching annually from agencies alone.

Several of ththe coup, who w

ty by Presidentan attempt to dialogue, todayregional governand mayors), aNational Assemlegitimate platfue to conspire aadministration

Ironically, dcoup anniversain the April 20Corina Machadof the National vited by the Deto dictate sevethe US, includtitled 600 DAuthoritarianising VenezuelaMachado celcommunity of selans, many of roles in the couped to be an oppin Venezuelastions in 2012.

T/Eva GolingP/Presidentia


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rtillery of ideas NoFriday, April 15, 2011 Politics | 3|

Victims of 2002 coup in Venezuela seek jusoup detat 9 yearso in Venezuelaked by the US

vernment costlives of dozens

d injured innocent

idents who today arel struggling to bringtruth to light andure justice reignsthose responsible

emanding justice for thefamilies and friends of thosedered during the Venezu-oppositions attempted over-w of President Hugo Chavez

years ago, thousands ofents took to the streets lastday to commemorate lives

and celebrate the popular up-

g that derailed a right-wingtorship in the country.e march began at the Llagu-

ridge where more than a doz-eople were killed on April 11,

by snipers stationed in therise buildings that surround

streets near the presidentialce of Miraflores in the capitalaracas.e deaths, part of a calculatedto fabricate a violent gov-

ment crackdown on peacefulchers, provided the impetushe Venezuelan private media

ncite a rebellion against theocratically elected Chavezinistration and lend legiti-y to the coup leaders.though the opposition suc-ed in occupying the presi-ial palace for some 24 hours,efforts to mislead the publictually failed as thousands ofnary Venezuelans descendedn Miraflores, demandingvezs return to power.rough a combination of streetmilitary action, the ousteddent was re-installed as the

ons head of state on Aprilin a turn of events unparal-in Latin American history.

t, despite the Venezuelanles victory over the repres-and authoritarian opposi-supported and financed by

hington, the deaths that oc-ed on April 11 have yet to seeure.

STICE PREVAILS

e Association of Victims ofCoup DEtat of A-11 (ASO-, has headed up the efforts

of family members and friends ofthose killed and injured to seek

justice for the murders that haveremained unpunished.

Nine years ago we were heredefending the revolutionary pro-cess and today we commemoratethe fallen and ask for justice forthem, said ASOVIC spokesper-son Yessica Fuentes from the Lla-

guna Bridge on Monday.According to some residents,the violence that took place onLlaguna Bridge also extended toother areas of the capital and last-ed for a number of days.

The repression wasnt just the11th of April, but it also went onuntil the 14th in [the Caracas] sec-tors of Catia, Petare, Agua Salud,23 de Enero. The security forcesrepressed demonstrations of citi-zens who were demanding therestitution of President Chavez,said Jorge Rodriguez, resident ofthe 23 de Enero neighborhood.

During Mondays march, orga-nized by the United Socialist Par-ty of Venezuela (PSUV) under thebanner Against Impunity andForgetting, members of ASOVICpresented their demands to theVenezuelan National Assemblywhere they were received by As-sembly President, Fernando SotoRojas.

We are asking that [the Na-tional Assembly] discuss article30 of the constitution so that fam-ily members of the dead can have

a better quality of life, Fuentes,who was also shot during thecoup attempt in 2002, told Rojas.

Article 30 of Venezuelas con-stitution obliges the state to in-demnify victims of human rightsabuses, including payment fordamages and suffering.

AGAINST IMPUNITY

In their fight against impunity,members of ASOVIC have alsodemanded the prosecution of cur-rent opposition legislators whowere involved in the planningand carrying out of the actions ofApril 11th.

The opposition constantlytalks about the violation of hu-man rights in the country whenits they who have violated con-

stitutional order like what hap-pened in 2002 and continues tohappen in the country, said An-tonio Molina, lawyer of the vic-tims association.

As such, an appeal has beenmade to indict National Assem-bly representatives who not onlywalk freely on the streets but arecarrying out the functions of law-makers in the countrys highestlegislative body.

We cant allow for peoplelike [congress members] EnriqueMendoza, Maria Corina Macha-do, Julio Borges, and Miguel An-gel Rodriguez, who actively par-ticipated in the coup detat whereinnocent people lost their lives,not to be in prison. They are en-

joying parliamentary immunity

when they shoFuentes said.

Mondays moffices of the Pugovernment inof investigatingin the courts, wwas presentedGeneral Luisa O

I am receiviwith much loveI will continue wtion. But it has that the state in December othose accused ocoup], Diaz sa

Although thand military aevents of Aprilmained free, 9recently disbanropolitan Polic

in 2009 for theout the massac

MEDIA RESPON

A recent lawof Aragua, whof the Metropoconvicted, mayings carried oumedia outlets tthe Venezuelanliberately mislethe events takiApril 11th 13t

Hamos Ramo

the opposition Action (AD) ain the coup, arecent interviewpaper Ciudad television, prinhad been invoning of the couits execution.

With referenthe lead up to stated that thesingle importanhave the particiers of the [priva

The 4th TribState of Aragelan News Agcontinue with of the mediasand Attorney nounced the ccial commissioprocess comprights violatioas a result ofApril 11th.

T/COIP/Agencies


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The artillery of| 4| Politics NoFriday, April 15, 2011

Venezuelas agricultural industry:from fallow to productive

easing agriculturalduction is a toprity for the Chavez

ministration

enezuelas Land and Agri-ulture Minister Juan Carlosreported last Tuesday an in-e of 49 percent in the amount

nd currently being cultivatedhe nations food production

president Hugo Chavezto office in 1999.of last year, the surface

being utilized for crops hased nearly 2.5 million hectares

million acres) and the amountod being produced has risenercent from 17.1 million tons98 to 24.6 million in 2010.

hese results correspond to aseries of public policies thatpermitted the incrementa-

of national agricultural pro-on, the Minister said, add-hat although the growth isive, we want more and ourtry has a lot more to offer.

W TOPRODUCE

yo cited Venezuelas Landfirst passed by presidential

decree in 2001, for the nations suc-cess in turning once fallow farm-lands into productive communalestates for the countrys people.

The Land Law establishes thelegal basis for the governmentto redistribute unused lands oc-cupied by wealthy elites to small

farmers and represents the corner-stone of Venezuelas wide rang-ing agrarian reform program.

In addition to land, the Ven-ezuelan government is also pro-viding machinery, technical as-sistance, and low credit loans tosmall farmers in efforts to create

employment opportunities andlessen the countrys dependenceon foreign food imports.

A new social program launchedearlier this year, known as Mis-sion Agro Venezuela, seeks tocontinue this trend by accelerat-ing food production strategies in

the wake of lost harvests caby torrential rains in late 201

Thus far, the results of Veelas land reform initiativesbeen measurable.

Loyo reported that use ofcultural machinery has incrby 42 percent and the impletation of irrigation systemalso risen by 39 percent.

Agreements signed with tries such as Iran, ArgentinBrazil have strengthenedtransfer of agricultural techgy and have aided in the prtion and processing of impoVenezuelan staples such asblack beans, and rice.

Loyo also pointed out thterms of animal agriculture, try has risen by 106 percent

last 11 years as has milk prtion, reaching 2.4 billion liteincrease of 68 percent.

The numbers presented bMinister on Tuesday were thcome of Venezuelas agricucensus carried out in collation with the National InstitStatistics.

T/COIP/Agencies

Injustice in Luis Posada Carriles trial in USfter a trial over three monthsong in the Federal Court of ElTexas, the jury took less thanhours to find Luis Posada

les not guilty, in a process inh he was not charged for ter-m, but rather for lying to themmigration authorities.sada Carriles was found noty of the 11 charges of per-fraud and obstruction filed

nst him, according to a ver-of a jury formed by sevenen and five men, most ofof Hispanic heritage.11:57am, El Paso, judge

leen Cardone received a notethe jury which had beenerating in private lettingnow that they had reachednimous verdict: meaning all

ve agreed.a statement through the

e from El Paso, lawyer Joseerra, who represents Ven-as extradition request for

Posada Carriles, commented thatthe judge summoned lawyers andprosecutors, and the members ofthe jury entered the courtroom.

Judge Cardone asked Posada tostand and she read the chargesand each verdict. Eleven timesshe announced Not guilty.

The only charges pending arethe 73 charges of murder filedin Caracas for the bombing of acommercial aircraft on October 6,1976, added Pertierra.

The Bolivarian Republic ofVenezuela will continue fight-ing for justice to be served in this

case, and for the US to fulfi

ll itsinternational obligations and ex-tradite Posada Carriles, assuredPertierra, the lawyer who willcontinue to represent the Venezu-elan government for the extradi-tion of the terrorist.

The verdict in El Paso provesthat the US courts gives more im-portance to the circus than to the

evidence, said the attorney, whohas been publishing a daily diaryof the trial on the websites Coun-terpunch and CubaDebate.

LATIN AMERICAN

OSAMA BIN LADEN

Luis Posada Carriles, accused

of being the author of the worstterrorist action in Latin America,as well as of various terrorist at-tacks against Cuba, the coordina-tor of illegal war actions in Cen-tral America, and an outed agentof the Central Intelligence Agency(CIA), faced charges in a case thatincluded for the first time in theUnited States evidence of his ille-gal activities and terrorist acts.

However, despite the thou-sands of pieces of documentalevidence and several witnesseswho testified about his terroristactivities, in a country that claims

to be a world enemy of terrorism,Posada Carriles has enjoyed lifeas a free man and has even beencelebrated as a hero in Miamiduring the past several years.

Although he is wanted on crimi-nal charges in other countries, hasa pending request for extraditionby Venezuela, is sought by Inter-pol and has been identified as a

dangerous terrorist by severauthorities that even have phim on a list of people whnot allowed to travel by pPosada Carriles was not incated in El Paso, nor did he process similar to those caout against terrorist suspethat country or in Guantana

The charges of perjury he in Texas were centered in legal incursion in the US inand the subsequent lies to seauthorities about his role in cases of terrorism.

Now, the man guilty of plo

and executing bombings in America that have causeddeaths of 74 people and impa reign of terror on the rewill live free in Miami witprotection of the US governhe has served for decades.

T/CubadebateP/Agencies


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The artillery of ideas NoFriday, April 15, 2011 Integration | 5|

Venezuela and Colombia solidify relatioSince last years briefbreak in relations,Venezuela andColombia have beenworking hard tostrengthen cooperationand ease diplomatictensions

Working together to reconciledifferences and increaseeconomic cooperation betweentwo neighboring countries, Ven-ezuelan President Hugo Chavezmet with his counterpart, JuanManuel Santos in the Colombiancity of Cartagena last weekend,signing a range of agreementstargeting different social and eco-nomic interests.

Increasing bi-national com-merce once again is our short

term objective and weve commit-ted ourselves to continue push-ing for this exchange, in order toreach the same level that we had

just a short time ago, PresidentChavez said last Saturday duringthe encounter.

Sixteen accords were signedbetween the two presidents dur-ing their third formal meetingsince Santos took office last Sum-mer amidst tensions provoked byex-Colombian President AlvaroUribe regarding Venezuelas al-leged harboring of Colombianguerillas in its national territory.

Although Uribes allegations

were never proven, the accusa-tions led to a severing of dip-lomatic relations between thecountries and threatened theprosperity of the heavy economicand social ties that bind the twoneighbors.

SHARED INTERESTS

Since Santos swearing-in as thenew head of state last year, rela-tions have been restored as bothparties have worked to ensurecommercial activity, join forces inthe fight against drug-traffickingand respect each others differenc-

es in terms of political orientation.The pacts signed between thetwo presidents last Saturday re-flect this willingness to worktogether and focus on issues oftechnology, infrastructure andsecurity.

Specifically, the new accords in-clude a commitment to strengthenboth agricultural and security in-

vestment in border areas throughdevelopment programs aimed atimproving the quality of life forresidents in both countries.

Two agreements were created tocoordinate the fight against drug-trafficking through the sharing ofinformation and increasing com-munication between Venezuelan

and Colombian security forces.A factory for the manufacture of

steel and aluminum constructionmaterials has also resulted fromthe talks as well as pacts designedto further Venezuelas push to in-crease affordable housing in thecountry through its new socialprogram, Mission Housing.

Three agreements were alsosigned regarding trade of medicalsupplies and discussions were con-tinued on the construction of an oilpipeline that would link Venezuelawith Colombias pacific coast.

ANDEAN COMMUNITY

In addition to the accordssigned last weekend, the twopresidents also discussed creat-ing a new commercial pact whichwould replace current regulationscovering trade between Colombiaand Venezuela as stipulated bythe Andean Community of Na-tions (CAN).

Venezuela decided to leavethe CAN in 2006 after Colombiaand Peru signed free trade agree-ments with the United States,thereby undermining, accordingto President Chavez, the purposeand integrity of the regional orga-nization.

Despite Venezuelas stated

departure, certain commercialactivity continues to be legallybound to the countrys partici-pation in the trade block and isset to expire in little more than aweek.

On Saturday, the two presidentsagreed to extend the current legalarrangements until a new tradeaccord can be defined in the com-ing months.

We have some legal umbrellasunder the CAN, but as of April21, Venezuela will cease to be apart of the CAN. Were studyingthe situation so that there will be

no interruption [of commercialactivity], but as we have not ar-rived at a new agreement, wevedecided to extend the rules ofthe game which today bind com-merce between Venezuela andColombia for three months sothat our teams can continue tonegotiate, Santos informed afterthe talks.

UNASUR

In the continued effort to menddiplomatic relations, Chavez andSantos also spoke last weekend ofstrengthening the Union of SouthAmerican States (UNASUR) as amechanism for integration andpeace on the continent.

UNASUR, previously led

by former Argentine PresidentNestor Kirchner, was fundamen-tal in the overcoming of the recentdiplomatic row between Venezu-ela and Colombia.

Kirchner passed away unex-pectedly last October and for-mer Colombian Foreign Minis-ter Maria Emma Mejia has nowassumed the Secretary Generalposition of the regional alli-ance.

We had a very important meet-ing with the Secretary General ofUNASUR, Maria Emma Mejia,preparing ourselves so that this

supreme mission gets going andthe new South American archi-tecture takes shape. Dr. Mejia hasall of South Americas support,Chavez said.

Ali Rodriguez Araque, Venezu-elas current Energy Minister, willtake over as the organizationshead upon Mejias completion ofher term in 2012.

HONDURAS

A good parheld on Satuwith the quras and the nations rethe OrganizaStates after it

following a cout against elected preslaya.

In attemptlations betwcountry andAmerica, Porof Hondurantions carriedgovernment the talks lastgena at the Santos.

Venezuela, tina, Brazil, B

has refused tpresidential anti-democraunder which held.

This refusabos mandateever, as Coloela discuss anHonduras reOAS and a plbetween the cand the ousteZelaya.

Zelaya, whduras has beethe talks, has

Dominican ReHonor and spleaders via teday.

According days discussitowards a prLatin Americtions.

The resulsation were were sure teven better reweeks and ma great pleasthis process

unity, friendtion. he declThe next g

the OAS will vador on Juneof Honduras dressed.

T/COIP/President


6/8

T| 6| Economy NoFriday, April 15, 2011

Venezuela to resume economic growthand reduce inflation in 2011

s year, Venezuela resume economicwth and reduce

ation, explainednister of Planningd Finances Jorgerdani on Monday.

eorientation ofustries to provideintegral approach toial needs has alsoed in the creation

a more dynamicnomy in the country

iordani attributed the posi-

tive economic perspectivese social policies implement-by the Venezuelan govern-t and the private sectorst to the development of theoil economy and nationaluction.he growth of the construc-sector is important, becauseill advance other sectors,

uding industrial factories,d, cement, aluminum, etc.,dded. Additionally, the min-

highlighted that Venezue-economy will be dynamized

ugh the housing programn Mision Vivienda Venezu-(Venezuelas Great Missionsing), through which 150,000homes will be built this yearabout two million more will

ompleted by 2017.With this increase in construc-

especially in the housing sec-an important social problembe solved and additionally

economic apparatus will beated. We will have growth,ction of inflation rates and

ntenance of unemploymentway below other countries

es, he remarked.e high-level cabinet mem-xplained that there are signs

lmost every sector that theomic growth tendency willnue in the first trimester of according to figures by theral Bank of Venezuela (BCV).goal of 2-percent increase in

GDP estimated in the budgetbe exceeded.dditionally, Giordani high-ed that the country is enter-nto a new phase of inflation

reduction. In the first trimester of2011, according to figures of theNational Consumer Price IndexRate (CPI), which adds 6 percentincluding the 1.4 percent regis-tered in March, inflation reached

its lowestfi

gure in the last sixmonths.Giordani explained that the es-

timated inflation in the 2011 bud-get is between 23 to 25 percent.We were prudent regarding thebudget, expending resources andin estimations of inflation andgrowth, he revealed.

LONG CYCLE GROWTH

Also discussing issues relatingto the nations economic situation,Armando Leon, director of theVenezuelan Central Bank (BCVin Spanish), considers that therecovery of Venezuelas economycould be in the framework of thenew long growth cycle, involvingall productive sectors.

What trends show is that al-most all sectors of the economyshould grow this year, he saidand highlighted that this recov-ery began during the last trimes-ter of 2010.

Venezuelas economy was af-fected by foreign and domesticfactors. As these issues were over-come, the economy began recov-

ering. The connection betweenthe private and public sector hasimproved, he explained.

Leon highlighted that the mainsigns of economic growth can beevidenced in the areas of telecom-

munications, food, chemical, pet-rochemicals, trade, manufactur-ing and services.

There is an industry that hasnot stopped its growing impetus,which is essential because is thekey for our human and social de-velopment: education and healthservices, he underscored.

Likewise, Leon mentioned theprogress achieved in the manu-facturing sector due to an in-crease in the arrival of raw ma-terials and consumables used forproduction.

In this regard, he made refer-ence to the economic recoveryand an increase in production inthe countrys basic companies,particularly the iron and steelindustries.

These heavy metal industrieshave been improving significant-ly. They are placing their prod-ucts at an important level andefficiency in foreign markets andsupplying domestic market with-out any inconveniences. This cre-ates a positive chain of produc-tion, because these companies are

sending their products to the con-struction sector and other heavyindustries that then use them forfurther economic activies, hepointed out.

This year, other industries will

join in the recovery of economicactivities, such as publishinghouses and printing presses.

In the past years, these sectorshave been very dynamic thanksto government policies, whichhave financially subsidized andaided everything related to edi-torials, publishing and the distri-bution of publications, helpingthem grow and expand nation-wide. These industries have nowbecome emerging economic sec-tors with substantial growth po-tential, he stated.

Likewise, Leon said that thefood and beverage industrieshave also registered a significantupturn as a consequence of newproduction plants built by thestate and the joint work of publicand private companies operatingin the country.

In Leons opinion, strengthen-ing the microindustry sector andfamily businesses has been essen-tial in the past five years.

They both generate a goodnumber of jobs and are likely toinclude new technologies and

new education also high consumaterials and duced in the cthey create poeconomic chain

In addition, sector always ehighly skilled, cated, and dynarity, he commen

PUBLIC INDUST

Moreover, thBCV highlighteof goods and spanies that haized over thewhich are now

Venezuelas groWe have to psystem of serviccitizens is bettefore, which is eour improved industries, he

In this regarthe state-ownepany CANTVby the Chavez 2007, as an embing that a publiefficient and imto citizens.

CANTV, whleading telephnications comlow-cost cellulservices, as wInternet to cuspany has dramits outreach anents, as well acoverage durinyears. Previouremote areas onities had littltelephone servcess to Internetionalization, Cit a key policyVenezuelans artelephone and at affordable ra

The state-owregularly hostsevents and proute to culturaldevelopment ipart of the newist companies

T/AVNP/Agencies


7/8

rtillery of ideas NoFriday, April 15, 2011Analysis| 7|

Latin America shakes off the US yokest Thursday, the US expelledhe ambassador from Ecua-in retaliation for last Wednes-s expulsion of the US ambas-r from Ecuador. This now

es the United States withoutassadorial relations in threeh American countries Bo-

and Venezuela being ther two thus surpassing the

h administration in its diplo-c problems in the region.

S Ambassador Heatherges was declared personagrata and asked to leavedor as soon as possible,a diplomatic cable released

Wikileaks showed her sayinge disparaging things aboutdors President, Rafael Cor-In the cable, she alleges thatdent Correa had knowledgerruption by a former head of

national police.though the Bush administra-intervened in the internal af-of countries such as Bolivia

even Brazil, it was somewhatr at keeping its eyes on the

e and avoiding fights thatld distract from its main goal.prize, of course, is Venezuelame to the largest oil reservese world, estimated by the USogical Survey at 500bn bar-Washingtons goal there forast decade has been regimege. The Bush team under-

d that the more they foughtother countries in the region,ess credible would be theiric relations story that Ven-la was the problem.s nothing personal, reallyenezuelan President Hugovez could have chosen tohe perfect diplomat and held still be treated in much thee manner by the US govern-t. And its not the oil itself,e Venezuela still sells the USe than 1m barrels a day ande is a world market for oil, incase. Its just that any countrythat much oil is going to have

onal influence; and Washing-ust doesnt want to deal witheone who has regional influ-and doesnt line up with itsgoals for the region not if

n get rid of them. And theycome closet o getting rid

havez, in the 2002 coup soare not giving up.t Washington is losingnd there, too. A big blow washange in Colombias foreigny last summer, when Presi-

dent Juan Manuel Santos took of-fice. An important part of Wash-ingtons strategy in Venezuela isto maintain tension between Co-lombia and Venezuela. They havea head start on this project sincethe 2,000km border between thetwo countries has been plaguedby paramilitary and guerrillaviolence for decades. Conflict be-tween Venezuela and Colombia is

also important to Washingtonselectoral strategy in Venezuela.When there is trouble between thetwo countries, as in 2009, whenVenezuela cut off bilateral tradein response to the US effort to ex-pand its military presence in Co-lombia, it has a negative impacton a lot of Venezuelans in borderstates. This helps garner some an-ti-Chavez votes in border states,as in last years congressionalelection in Venezuela. And accu-sations of Venezuelan support forthe FARC for the Farc guerrillas inColombia despite Washingtonsfailure to offer any evidence area key element of bringing its anti-Venezuela efforts under the waron terror umbrella.

Although Colombias previ-ous president, lvaro Uribe, was in recent years very much al-lied with the US strategy towardVenezuela, Santos immediatelyrejected it and decided to makepeace with Chavez. This turnedout to be quite easy to do, despitetheir past fights when Santoswas Uribes defence minister. As

anyone who follows Venezuelaknows, Chavez is friendly to anyhead of state or government thatis friendly to Venezuela.

Santoss U-turn towards Ven-ezuela is very interesting for sev-eral reasons. First, it shows howimportant regional economic in-tegration is as a force for peaceand stability in the area. The at-tempt by Washington and Santos

predecessor to expand the USmilitary presence in Colombia ledto a cutoff of $2.3bn of Colombiasexports to what had recently be-come their second most importanttrading partner, Venezuela. Thiswas more than 11% of Colombiasexports, and the bulk of it was inlivestock and textile products forwhich replacement markets werenot so readily available. Venezu-ela also has very close relationswith Brazil and most of the restof South America, and they allfelt the same way about Colom-bias foreign policy. They were es-pecially concerned about the USmilitary expansion in Colombia and even more opposed afterUS Air Force documents made itclear that this expansion was formobility operations on theSouth American continent andagainst the constant threat fromanti-US governments.

Santos was basically facedwith a choice of continuing to doWashingtons bidding or beingpart of South America. He choseSouth America. The key role of

commerce here, as South Americacontinues to integrate economi-cally, illustrates some of the mostimportant gains from trade.These are far greater than the neo-classical efficiency gains, oftenexaggerated by advocates of freetrade agreements.

Also, Santos choice to rejoinSouth America shows how geo-political changes led by the left

governments of the region havenow encompassed even right-wing governments. This is a re-sult of changes in institutions(foreign ministries, multilateralorganizations such as UNASUR,the Rio Group), ideas, and normsthat have taken place over the lastdecade.

Now comes Washington, de-manding that Colombia extraditeone Walid Makled, an accusedVenezuelan drug-trafficker ar-rested in Colombia, to the US.No, thank you, says PresidentSantos this guy goes to Venezu-ela. Santos cites Colombian law,stating that, first, Colombia hasan extradition treaty with Ven-ezuela, not with the US; second,Venezuela got their extraditionrequest in first; and third, Makledis wanted for more serious crimes(including murder) in Venezuelathan in the US (drug-trafficking).All of these are facts that legallyrequire extradition of Makled toVenezuela.

This is most infuriating to Wash-ington. To understand why this

is so importanpartment, one hofficial pronouMakled gettingVenezuela and peated with chby the major has a presidenyear. For evertion or referend and there aremore importanthan this one tional media caparticipation oment. Makled hto sing about aof Venezuelan if he is extraditthey could onlythey could havtrial that wouldinternational

that the state organise.If all that se

worth the trowhat happenedthorities used aof a Venezuelanbious failing teign agent bespionage in allegations of highest levelselan governmemade headlinehemisphere an

a mainstay of thposition-dominthink what the do: no one wowitnesses weretestimony, or wany corroboratheir allegationbig free-for-allreporters gobbl

But Santos isdespite enormoof course, the free trade agthe US and CWashington wamore than he d

In any caseministration sor is fightinPresident ObamLatin America successful thangets better presdent and foreican see that Uchanged one bi

T/Mark Weis- The Guardian


8/8

The artillery of ideasENGLISH EDITIONA publication of the Fundacion Correo del Orinoco Editor-in-Chief | Eva Golinger Graphic Design | Alexander Uzctegui, Jameson Jimnez Press | Fundacin Imprenta de la Cultura

OPINION

AY |April 15, 2011 |No. 60 |Bs 1|CARACAS

Venezuela: Putting people firste deep global recession ofecent years has been used aslitical excuse by the current

ernment in Britain, supportedarge sections of the media, toessly and heartlessly drive

ugh savage cuts to public ser-and welfare spending. Such

it is argued, is 100% necessary,similar arguments can be heardally from those again proposingsolutions of neo-liberalism.t the actions of many go-ments in Latin America of

tries considerably poorer -uding Venezuela - show thatfferent choice can be made.y have instead chosen the

of building a fairer and morel society through investing inle and public services. In theof Venezuela this is despiteact the economy has, prima-

as a result of falling oil prices,d recession for two years.r those of us campaigningocial justice and against in-lity and poverty, 2 key things

d out. First, that poverty fell

ng both years of recession,second, that the governmentprotected and in some areas

expanded social spending,uding on key areas such as

h and education.

CATION

e charge sheet against the Bri-Governments record on edu-n in less than a year is stark.all education expenditure is

g cut by an average of 11%;e universities are facing ancut in public funding and hig-education students will now

to pay up to 9000 a year.ladder for the poorest is alsog kicked away - the Educationntenance Allowance and Aimher have been scrapped. Ins-

the Governments sentimentars to be to aim lower.contrast, despite the reces-

Chavezs government inzuela has continued to reacho include the poorest in edu-n, for example by providingschool meals and discounts

Indeed, in Venezuela today freeeducation is now a constitutionalright, illiteracy has been eradi-cated and support for the disad-

vantaged now institutionalized.This has included educationalprovision for adults without aneducational background, indi-genous communities, disabledpeople, and many others throughsocial programs known as mis-sions, such as Mission Robinsonand Mission Ribas which allowpeople who fell out of educationto complete it at any age.

Additionally, the country nowboasts 83% enrollment in HigherEducation, second only to Cuba,and the fifth highest in the world.

HEALTH AND NUTRITION

As we fight against cuts andprivatization in the UK, we cantake inspiration from the Vene-zuelan advances in health, whichinclude the provision- for the firsttime in the countys history - ofuniversal public health coverage.This has led to new communitydoctors in most neighborhoods;a drop in the infant mortalityrate from 19 per 1,000 live birthsin 1999 to 13.9 per 1,000 in 2008;

pectancy in just 9 years (from 72.4years in 2000 to 73.9 in 2009).

Alongside the amazing achieve-ment of creating a national health

service, the food and nutritionalintake of Venezuelans has vastlyimproved, meaning the most im-portant human right the rightto life is being respected morethan ever.

The governments support forpeoples right to food is anotherinspiring example of puttingpeoples needs ahead of those ofprivate profit. State-subsidizedfood networks and stores acrossthe country have been developedand since 1999, agricultural pro-duction has surged by 44 percentin the country. This has dramatica-lly improved the quantity and costof food. The combination of theseproduction efforts, with the sub-sidized food measures and initia-tives such as free school and nur-sery meals, have meant that theaverage yearly calorie intake hasincreased by nearly 1 thousand ki-localories over the past 12 years.

This, combined with otherhealth and social measures, hasmeant that Venezuelan childrenhave grown taller, as well as now

From 1998 to 2009, there was anincrease of 1.8 cm in the height ofchildren aged 7 years. In contrastthe increase in the 8 years prece-

ding the Chavez-led governmentwas only 8 mm; a remarkablechange attributed to the huge in-creases in access to clean water,food and healthcare, and anotherexample of how progressive choi-ces can make a real difference topeoples lives.

WOMEN

As women face the brunt of thecuts here, including in health, it isan inspiration to see women at theforefront of leading progressivechange in Venezuela, supported bynumerous specific social policies.

Banmujer, Venezuelas WomensDevelopment Bank, for example,is the only state development bankof its kind in the world. Recentlycelebrating its 10th Anniversaryit has helped more than 2.4 mi-llion women through offering lowinterest loans to set up small en-terprises and co-operatives withnearly half a million jobs havingbeen directly or indirectly created.

Other social programs also fo-cus specifically on women, such as

addresses the faced by womehome whilst caSince its launch 225,000 women sic wage from th

Additionally,children aged now receiving care, includingchecks, thanks ters, while chilthe UK which to give up work

Furthermore,as Banmujer anrrio are now rMinistry for WEquality, withtionary approaVenezuela has most positive gdex in the regio

SOLIDARITY

Of course, thhas many enworld and in Vethose worried a

a good examplepopular suppormandate, as evning14 out of Venezuelas gounder constantformer ruling elran the countryand their allies in the US whoelectoral gains, fidence in callinand regime cha

Additionally,nezuelan Oppternational mepropagate disiattempt to isolainternationally truth about socreaching a wide

It is thereforein the run-up ttial elections in continue to sprethese enormoucounter media m

T/Jennie Brem

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