MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez takes over farms and denies the right to “private land”

Chavez during this his weekly show Aló Presidente (Hello, President)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ordered Sunday the expropriation of more than 10.000 hectares (24.710 acres) of arable lands belonging to six farms and mixed farming industries in the state of Barinas, south-western Venezuela arguing that farms “are not weekend resorts for the rich

During this his weekly show Aló Presidente (Hello, President), broadcasted from his home state, Chavez said the expropriated land was “abandoned” and again claimed that large unexploited estates are “one of the biggest obstacles hindering the development of Venezuela”.

“There is no such thing as private land” Chávez said, and reminded the experience of “farming communities” that the late leader Mao Zedong implemented in China. Chávez warned that the government will “end once and for all” the practice of having a farm “for fun” to spend the weekends.

”The owners live in the cities, in the capital and have a house here in the camp, a small forest and a watchman to guard the property. They pay him an extremely low salary (...). They have what they call a farm to spend the weekends or holidays (...). Occasionally, they kill a calf to celebrate, to have whisky, rum and enjoy a party. We have to stop this once and for all. Whoever wants to work his land must come to work. Farmland is not for fun. They just want to show their high status and their luxury van ... No! no!, no! The land belongs to those who work it“.

Insisting on the corrupting effects of capitalism, Chávez said that ”it is a curse that originated when Judas sold away Jesus Christ“.

The Venezuelan leader said that ”the rich men are not human beings, but animals with human aspect“. He stressed the need to ”reshape“ the Venezuelan society and put an end to social class division. ”Capitalist hegemony is still king in Venezuela, but it will eventually end (...) we need to hurry. We must establish the socialist hegemony“.

Chavez also anticipated that his government would “soon” nationalize Banco de Venezuela, a division of Spanish banking group Santander. ”It will be nationalized. I have reviewed all the studies (...) we already know the real cost.”