Venezuelan military would “not accept” an elected opposition government
A top Venezuelan military commander said that the National Bolivarian Armed Force is committed to President Hugo Chavez and his Socialist project, therefore if in the coming elections the opposition wins “it will not be accepted because they would sell the country”.
The hypothesis of an “opposition government is hard to swallow, it would mean selling the country, and that is not going to be accepted, not by the Armed Force and much less by the people”, said Major General Henry Rangel Silva, head of the Operational Strategic Command in a interview published Monday in the Caracas daily, Ultimas Noticias.
Rangel Silva claimed that the Venezuelan opposition acts “with the support of third countries”, which affects “nationalism” and this is something the military would not accept.
The top military officer accused the political sectors that oppose President Chavez revolution of keeping an “agenda of attacks” against the Bolivarian Armed Force and also against some of its leaders which they are trying to remove because they are an “inconvenient” to their alleged international interests.
“Those attacks are in the opposition’s agenda. The Armed Forces historically have been used in Venezuela to overturn and oust governments”, said Rangel Silva who added that “the National Bolivarian Armed Force has no half loyalties but complete loyalty with the people, a project of life and development, and with the Commander in Chief (President of the Republic). We are married to that project of country…”
Last week President Chavez said that if the opposition manages to win the election in 2012, he “would be unable to contain a violent revolution”.
“They (the opposition) would try to sack from the Armed Force all those who support Chavez and they would only achieve having the military up in arms”, warned President Chavez during a recent “Aló President” program aired by radio and television to the whole country.
The opposition alliance under the umbrella of the Democratic Union Table, (MUD) rejected the presidential claims which were described as “irresponsible” and “non respectful” towards the Venezuelan armed forces, and a further attempt “to scare Venezuelan society”.
“MUD policy has been at all times respect for article 328 of the Constitution which states that the National Armed Force is an institution essentially professional, with no political militancy, organized by the State to guarantee the independence and sovereignty of the nation”, pointed out the opposition alliance in an official release.
MUD which brings together twenty odd political groups and forces in last September’s legislative elections obtained 65 seats in the National Assembly thus ending the government’s hegemony which retained a majority (99) but unable to confirm the two thirds it enjoyed since 2005.
That year the government captured all seats since at last minute the opposition walked out alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
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This means that what people say about Chávez is true, Chávez doesn't like Democracy, doesn't like freedom, he doesn't love his country, just like what we have in Argentina, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is Chávez's disciple.
If Venezuelans can't see this for what it is then they deserve him.
As for this story, I wouldn't make much of it. That was one officer only, and one that isn't even of very high ranking. Has Chavez said something about it? Has the Congress? Higher-ranking officials? Is it weird for an army official to make such statements? For LatAm not so much. In the country I live the head of the Supreme Military Tribunal made a veiled coup threat against the president as recently as 2007. That doesn't mean he had broad support from the army.
As for this - that ”MUD policy has been at all times respect for article 328 of the Constitution (...)” - it is a lie. The 2002 coup was planned and put into motion by the all anti-Chavez sectors of the society: the opposition, the military and the press. And it was precisely due to the state of the Venezuelan army - under the hands of officials with ties to the old elite - that Chavez began a crackdown on the military leadership: he began to replace suspicious officials with his own lackeys. He might have replaced one evil with another, but he's hardly entirely to blame for how things stand.
“can any democracy loving South Americans please explain why they wish to embrace Chavez”
Democracy loving South Americans and all Democracy loving people of the world, don't use violence. Chávez knows this, and he uses the threat of violence to create a climate of fear and to prevent people from doing something against his will by telling them: if you do not do as I say, you'll go to jail or you'll be shot.
Democratic government untill the event that someone else gets democratically elected at which point he would become a military dictator, as the above story proves.
Not his folowers like xbarilox.
I'm not a Pinochetist, I'm not a Chavizt? Chaveztist? Chavezist? and I'm not a Kirchnerist. Hope this helps.
P.S. - Watch Oliver Stone's “South of the Border” for additional insight. It may shame you into seeing who the Presidents of the US really work for.
Besides the intelligent replies at (5) and (12).................................
Have any of you, monolingual Anglos, that have so intelligently opined and commented about General Silva’s (NOT HUGO CHAVEZ) “declarations” thought about checking the “trustworthiness” of the English ”translation” of this article by reading the original document in Spanish?…
www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/capriles/cadena-global/detalle.aspx?idart=3452455&idcat=56657&tipo=2
No……. of course not :-)))
Just a clue for you………
The Spanish and English texts are “astonishingly” different….
Most of the original Spanish syntaxis has been crudely manipulated and the best “reconstructed punch lines” are rerere-peated.
Brainwash anybody?
It would be helpful if you did a little studying of world history rather than just watching FOX (so called) News, and then thinking that you actually understand anything. Your comments betray a very small mind.
But, please accept my apology for allowing my anger to leak into my comments to you and for making unnecessary and cruel comments about you. It was mean spirited of me.
Lots of nice, grandiloquent words but …………………..
The question remains that, at post (15) you declare:
”Very well, then CIVIL WAR it shall be. The only question is when the current leader will be taken down and what caliber will be used.”
The above text makes perfectly clear your political position and the meaning of your texts…….
As a Patagonian, I clearly remember the 11 of September………………of 1973; when the democratically elected and very popular president of Chile, Dr. Salvador Allende, was assassinated by people using precisely the arguments you mention in your post (22).
1) The Great Leader of venezuela had chosen, despite all the other options he has had before him, to embark upon the hopeless task of re-creating a Cuban-type monstrosity on the mainland of the continent.
2) He has manipulated and purged the military of Venezuela to a form and substance that now, as plainly stated by General Silva (see his remarks), that ANY 'opposition' government will be 'opposed' by the military, that is to say, in his words 'not accepted' ... same thing ... it means that at some point IF there is an opposition government (assuming one can even be formed) it would be reasonable to assume/surmise/project that the military would act as it has in so many other instances in so many other S. American countries over these past 200+ years, to stifle, if not outright quash/destroy (kill?) that oppositional government. This appears plain and simple enough of a threat, at least for me - how about you?
3) I think that is your (and my) recollection of the events of Chile in the 1970s are the same then what I am saying is what you are saying and we both agree that what Chavez and his General is saying is that they will fight, militarily to prevent and not accept any oppositional government ... or do I misunderstand?
That brings me to my own conclusion that;
a) There will most likely be some form of civil war, and
b) It increases the likelihood that Chavez will make of himself an attractive target for elimination by force ... since his own general has said that they will not accept oppositional governments, this always leads to frustration on the part of that opposition and can very likely lead to violence.
Not that I (a mere pipsqueak poster) would welcome, condone or support that (I had very great hopes for Chavez), but he is a man who is busy making his own bed in which he will lie some day.
Chavez is no Allende.
But I would like to know if this general has already said that.
One-eye democracy surely should not be called a democracy.
If the standard is so variable, anarchy or tyranny is near. keeping moderate cos couldn´t access to the link.
Seems to be that“ Ultimas Noticias” deleted the article because of some discrepancies.....:-)
Instead they have published the original soundtrack of the reportage...
www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/Noticias/En-Audio--La-declaracion-de-Rangel-Silva-a-UN.aspx
Thanks for the link.
So, el Hugo has stated about an hypotesis (as the journalist and the general agreed) that the opposition win next election and therefore try to make changes in the high ranks -immediately after described as “desmantelar” the Armed Forces -.
In that case, either Chavez and Gral Rangel are telling that “a reaction” would happen. From “reaction” (Chavez dixit) to “popular reaction”, as Rangel predicted.
I thought that we were listening to Seineldin.
So, a “popular election” would be less than a “popular reaction”?
And “the opposition” and “the medios” are assumed as the bad guys.
Divisive and self-centered is the less to say.
Lack of respect to popular will.
And why are these magnificent generals going to loose if they are so people-oriented?
Sad evolution of the bolivarian regime.
Expect that this should not be an example of the times to come.
:-(
What do you expect…. Generals, Coronels,…… Uniforms.
Not diplomatic or intelligent their declarations but…..
Still a far cry from the manipulated text of the above MercoPress article…..
Very, very few good or intelligent military people in our continent…
Like this old “comrade in thoughts” (QEPD)
www.pagina12.com.ar/1998/98-07/98-07-20/pag13.htm
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