The Colombian government announced yesterday that it will take the "threats of war" launched by President Chávez to the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of American States (OAS). Colombia "has not made nor will it make a single gesture of war to the international community, and even less to a neighboring country," according to a issued by Colombia's foreign ministry, adding that the government "stands ready for an open dialogue" to resolve the crisis with Venezuela. "The only interest that drives us is overcoming narco-terrorism that for so many years has mistreated Colombians," according to the statement, which insists on having the conflict mediated "in accordance with understanding and standards of international law." The text states in conclusion that "in the face of war threats from the Venezuelan government, Colombia proposes taking this matter to the Organisation of American States and the Security Council of the United Nations".
President Chávez once again urged the military and the people to prepare for war and accused the Uribe government of having sold out to Washington. He stated that "Colombia is one more state of the Union", and blamed President Obama for the crisis, due to the installation of U.S. military bases in Colombia. "Fellow soldiers, we do not lose a day in carrying out our fundamental mission, it is everyone's responsibility, the opposition is a fifth column, they are stateless, as well as the Colombian oligarchy, and they're scattered everywhere," Chávez said in his weekly television programme "Alo Presidente," which aired from Acarigua. He directed U.S. President Barack Obama to not "go making mistakes and order an open act of aggression against Venezuela by using Colombia because we are ready for anything, but we will never again be a U.S. colony." He warned that "the empire is alive and more menacing than ever" with the installation of military bases in the neighboring country.
Overall President Hugo Chávez has 731 media available: 238 radio stations, 28 television stations, 340 newspapers, weeklies and magazines and 125 websites. Without counting the networks, this strengthens the information hegemony that his government announced it is pursuing and that will allow him to spread his "communist ideology." The complaint was made president of the Venezuelan Press Bloc (BPV), David Natera, presenting his report on the freedom of speech situation during the 65th general assembly of the Inter American Press Association (IAPA), held this week in Buenos Aires. "Venezuela is in a serious and continuing confrontation between the reality of the country, citizens and what President Chavez manipulates and attempts to impose as the truth," he said, explaining the government decision to create so many media outlets and close the ones who are critical.
Human rights activist Rafael Narváez on Sunday called on the installation of a security roundtable with all sectors to reduce the crime problem in the country. Similarly, he requested the restructuring of Plan Caracas Segura on the basis that it has failed. According to Narváez, from 2007 until October 2009, there have been 7,238 murders, of which only 2 percent have been tried while the other 98 percent remain unpunished. It is not conceivable that not one of the eleven ministers who have assumed the charge of Interior and Justice have devised a plan for disarming the population to reduce the crimes.
"The Court should release Richard Blanco this Tuesday, when it holds the first hearing of the case which brings the prosecution against the political leader," said Blanco's lawyers. "The only thing that is clear in all this is that there is a political persecution against Richard Blanco and that the courts and the prosecutor's office are being used as an instrument for this persecution. This is being done to unjustly deprive Blanco of his freedom and the crimes he is accused of committing are precautionary measures to prevent him from receiving a judgment that frees him," said attorney Negar Granados.
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