VENEZUELA DEVELOPMENTS, DECEMBER 2013

Editorial

Unprotected Property Rights in Venezuela 
By Un Estado de Derecho*
The right of every Venezuelan citizen to own private property is guaranteed by the Constitution. It is also defined and protected by several universal and regional human rights instruments ratified by Venezuela. Despite its constitutional and international recognition, in the past 14 years the Venezuelan government, by different means and with the consent of the judiciary, has implemented a systematic policy against property rights.

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The Inter American Commission of Human Rights expressed its concern over the assassination of José Chirinos and the arbitrary detention of Alejandro Silva.
November 30, 2013

Venezuela losing clout in region

November 30, 2013 (by Andres Oppenheimer, Miami Herald)

According to Oppenheimer, Venezuela’s influence in Latin America seems to be diminishing as rapidly as the country’s dwindling foreign reserves.

Latest measures seek to bring illegal forex to an end

November 30, 2013 (by Victor Salmeron, El Universal) 

Nicolás Maduro passed a decree to create the National Center for Foreign Trade and the Foreign Trade Corporation, which will allocate dollars for both the public and private sector and oversee the Currency Administration Commission (CADIVI), the Ancillary Foreign Currency Administration System (SICAD), the Foreign Trade Bank (BANCOEX) and all State-owned financial institutions. Also, the National Foreign Trade Corporation will choose companies from both the private and public sector to coordinate all aspects connected with import and export activities.
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Economic tsunami

November 30, 2013 (by Francisco Olivares, El Universal) 

The course taken by President Maduro heads towards radicalism and further state controls over the economy, on the pretext of an "economic war." In the meantime, indicators keep showing a crisis that seems unstoppable.

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Political Activist Alejandro Silva illegally arrested by Nicolas Maduro's Government

The political activist of Primero Justicia, Alejandro Silva, whom also acts as Henrique Capriles key organization staffer, is one of the detainees announced yesterday by the national president, Nicolas Maduro.

The governor of Miranda and leader of the National Unity Platform, Henrique Capriles, through his Twitter account reported that he was beaten and taken from his Hotel before he could travel to Maracaibo and continue the tour. Similarly, Capriles urged people to join the march scheduled for today all around the country.

This situation shows that the regime has rapidly turned into a more repressive government under Chavez' succesor Nicolas Maduro, as it was explained by CDDA President Leopoldo Martinez this week in Fox News Latino in his piece Who Really Runs Venezuela.

In a letter to all accredited foreign ambassadors in Venezuela, the leader of the MUD, Henrique Capriles Radonski, called on the international community to condemn Mr. Silva's arbitrary arrest and the increased political violence against the opposition in Venezuela. He called for "all necessary mechanisms to be adopted to halt these type of improper aggressions that harm Venezuela's democratic nature." He also demanded that Silva be immediately released by the Government. 

Venezuela Today Newsletter, October 2013

Political Issues

Venezuela's President Maduro seeks to govern by decree October 9, 2013 (The Associated Press) Venezuelan President asked lawmakers to give him special powers that he says he needs to fight corruption and what he called “economic sabotage”. During his 14 years presidency, Chavez was granted the power to rule by decree on four occasions. He used it to enact 200 legal changes that strengthened state control over Venezuela's economy.   Related News: There is no need for an enabling law to fight corruption (By Monitor Legislativo) The possibility that bodies democratically elected to create laws delegate that power to the executive branch is not of itself a violation of the separation of powers. However, delegated legislative powers are exception and, just like any exception, is of strict interpretation and applicability. Legislation-making power can only be delegated in exceptional circumstances. The fight against corruption is not an “extraordinary circumstance”, especially since Venezuela already has anti-corruption laws that must be enforced. TO READ THE VENEZUELA TODAY REPORT CLICK THIS LINK