Venezuela Brief: Countdown to Tyranny IV
by the Menges Hemispheric Security Project
Violence levels in Venezuela worry Amnesty International
Due to the escalation of violence and protests against the Constitutional Referendum proposed by Chvez, Amnesty International has urged the Venezuelan government to take into account these incidents. Amnesty says the government needs to guarantee appropriate conduct by members of the security forces, who should keep their weapons in check without attacking the students who protest daily in the streets.
In the last few days, the police and the National Guard have breached the autonomy of universities in the cities of Caracas, Barinas, Mrida and Barquisimeto, and the confrontations have left two people dead and many injured. The atmosphere in Venezuela is extremely tense and many fear that the violence might get out of control.
Former Candidate Manuel Rosales and the Vice-President of the Venezuelan Episcopalian Conference, call people to vote against the Reform
In a campaign that has extended throughout the whole country to out-win nonparticipation in the Referendum, Manuel Rosales and Monsignor Lckert are trying to convince people to vote against the Referendum, since they believe the Constitutional Reforms deprive people of their freedom, impose a socialist model on society and give unlimited powers to the President.
They are doing this because Venezuelans are skeptical that their votes will not be respected since they believe the National Electoral Council is controlled by the government. In addition, they are suspicious about the voter’s list for the national elections and, in general, distrust the whole electoral process which lacks transparency.
Niveles de violencia en Venezuela alarman a Amnista Internacional
La violencia que ha escalado en las ltimas semanas en Venezuela ante el Referndum Constitucional planteado por Chvez para el 2 de diciembre, ha llevado a Amnista Internacional a instar al gobierno a tomar en cuenta estos incidentes y garantizar que las fuerzas de seguridad acten de forma adecuada, controlando el porte de armas y sin agredir a los estudiantes que protestan diariamente en las calles.
En los ltimos das, la polica y la Guardia Nacional han violado la autonoma universitaria en ciudades como Caracas, Barinas, Mrida y Barquisimeto, y de los enfrentamientos han resultado dos muertos y varios heridos. Los das en Venezuela transcurren con gran tensin y temor de que se desborde la violencia.
Ex candidato Manuel Rosales y Vicepresidente de la Conferencia Episcopal venezolana, llaman a votar por el No a la reforma
En una campaa que se ha extendido en el pas para vencer el abstencionismo en el Referndum de diciembre, Manuel Rosales y Monseor Lckert, llaman a votar por el No en el Referndum por considerar que la Reforma Constitucional va en contra de las libertades del pueblo, impone un modelo socialista y otorga poderes ilimitados al Presidente.
Este llamado se hace ante la falta de confianza de los venezolanos de que su voto se respete, dadas las dudas que genera un Consejo Nacional Electoral en manos del gobierno, un padrn electoral poco claro y un mecanismo electoral que no garantiza la transparencia.
Mr. Gaffney is the host of Secure Freedom Radio, a nationally-syndicated radio program heard weeknights throughout the country. He is an associate author of highly acclaimed Shariah: The Threat to America and the publisher of over a dozen other books and monographs from the Center for Security Policy Press.
In April 1987, Mr. Gaffney was nominated by President Reagan to become the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, the senior position in the Defense Department with responsibility for policies involving U.S.-USSR relations, nuclear forces, arms control, missile defense policy and U.S.-European defense ties. He acted in that capacity for seven months during which time, he was the Chairman of the prestigious High Level Group, NATO’s senior politico-military committee. He also represented the Secretary of Defense in key U.S.-Soviet negotiations and ministerial meetings.
From August 1983 until November 1987, Mr. Gaffney was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear Forces and Arms Control Policy under Assistant Secretary Richard Perle.
From February 1981 to August 1983, Mr. Gaffney was a Professional Staff Member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, chaired by the late Senator John Tower (R-Texas). And, in the latter 1970’s, Mr. Gaffney served as an aide to the late Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson (D-Washington) in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Mr. Gaffney holds a Master of Arts degree in International Studies from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service.
Mr. Gaffney’s leadership has been recognized by numerous organizations including: the Department of Defense Distinguished Public Service Award (1987), the U.S. Business and Industry Council’s Defender of the National Interest Award (1994), the Navy League of the United States’ Alfred Thayer Mahan Literary Achievement Award (1999), and the Zionist Organization of America’s “Louis Brandeis Award” (2003), the Western Conservative Summit’s Stephen H. Long Award (2015), the Council for National Policy’s George Washington Military Leadership Award (2016) and the IMPACT Award from Ginni Thomas and United in Purpose (2017).
Mr. Gaffney was born in 1953 and resides in the Washington, D.C. area.
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