Daniel L. Rodriguez

Analysis: The Weeks Leading up to the "Most Difficult Hours" for Hugo Chavez and Venezuela

2013-03-07T13:51:21-05:00

Rumors, secrecy and the hermeticism lasted until the last day before the death of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez. The government handled the illness of Chavez with emotionally charged messages, religious references and few medical details.

According to the government, Hugo Chavez died Tuesday after he went through the "most difficult hours" in his fight against cancer at the Carlos Aveledo Military Hospital in Caracas at 4:25 pm local time, leaving the South American country mired in anxiety and tension.

A communications vacuum wrapped his last months of life. The type of cancer that Chavez suffered and the details of its complications are a secret. Chavez never made a public appearance in the span of 87 days between his last public appearance and the day his death was announced.

Meanwhile, the government claimed that up to four days before his death the President dictated government orders and signed presidential decrees. This created skepticism from analysts and parts of society who argued and demanded that if the President was well enough to govern he should also be in the conditions to address the nation.

Simultaneously, the focus on the president's health relegated to the background problems of national life and the state, such as a struggled economy, the high fiscal deficit, skyrocketing inflation, public debt, commodity shortages, corruption, uncontrolled crime, failures in the national electricity system, among others.

The opposition and the media criticized the government for hiding the true health status of Chavez. Leaks of information given by the media showed the true gravity of what the government meant.

To appease public criticism, the government, on February 15, released photos of the president they claimed were taken with his daughters the night before. The veracity of the photos was questioned, as Chavez appears with more weight than when he went to Cuba for treatment, and one of his daughters doesn't appears with the marks of a recent surgery to her nose

The only concrete information given by the government regarding the president's continued illness was that he was suffering from respiratory complications. Shortly before the announcement of the death of Chavez, Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro said the Venezuelan president had "a very severe situation in your respiratory system."

Government first reported in early January on Chavez respiratory problems, by the end of the month the government reported that his breathing problems were "under control." However, three days before the unexpected arrival of Chavez in Caracas on February 18, the government informed that Chávez had "some degree of respiratory failure" and was breathing through a tracheal cannula. On February 21, the government announced that Chavez's respiratory failure persisted and on March 4 reported that Chavez suffered a "new and severe infection" and that was in the form of "immunosuppression" and his health was described as "very delicate."

After the arrival of Chavez in Caracas, the government explained that the president had a government meeting that lasted five hours with his staff, during which the president communicated via writing. With Chavez in Venezuela, the opposition demanded the president be sworn in immediately.

Chavez was unable to be sworn in on January 10, as indicated by the constitution of the South American nation. The event was postponed with the ratification of the Supreme Court's new presidential period of Chavez. The court described the oath as a "mere formality", considering that President Chavez is a function and there is a "continuation of its mandate."

The court considered that the information given by the government related to Chavez's health was enough and ruled out the creation of a medical board to asses if Chavez could recover well enough to take power, as is described in the Venezuelan constitution.

With this, the highest judicial body resolved the crisis born from the multiple possible interpretations of the Venezuelan's constitution. It also used the constitution to deny demands for a medical board to rule whether Chavez is in the condition to lead the country or if new elections should be called.

Information leaks and the chronicle of the foretold death of the man clinging to Christ and power

Venezuelans were able to know the details of Chavez's health thanks to work done by Nelson Bocaranda, a journalist, correspondent of the Spanish newspaper ABC, Emili J. Blasco and Venezuelan U.S. resident, Dr. Jose Marquina.

They, with sources close to the events in Havana, Caracas and intelligence sources, reported details constantly about Chavez's cancer since it was first made public in 2011.

Chavistas leaders described their work as "psychological warfare" to confuse people. The government attacked the international media that broadcasted unofficial information related to Chavez's health, calling them "necrophiliac" and "manipulators and fascistic."

According to leaked information, Hugo Chavez died with an advanced lung cancer in his left lung, possibly created due to the extent of metastasis of an aggressive and incurable rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumor that occurs in the muscles between the bones, which originated in his pelvic area and spread to his spine.

The reason for his fourth surgery, which the government never disclosed, according to various unofficial sources, was a spondylectomy to treat the area affected by the cancer in his spine and prevent a collapse of the same.

Chavez after his surgery suffered from pneumonia, septicemia, septic shock, a slight heart attack, kidney failure and was on long periods of deep sedation and intermittently intubated and on assisted respiration.

The newspaper ABC reported in January 2012 that Chavez's medical team gave him approximately 12 months to live if he wasn't subjected to adequate treatment. Hugo Chavez ran last year in the presidential elections saying that he was "completely cured."

However, several sources, including Dr. Marquina, reported that Chavez was hiding the truth about his illness and was still suffering from cancer. Marquina said the dignitary's life expectancy was no more than the first four months of 2013 due to the negligence of Chavez with his illness.

ABC said that during the two years Chavez's suffered from cancer he never treated his illness adequately. He delayed chemotherapy to hide his situation, and had them only in dates where his absence wouldn't be so noticeable

The Spanish newspaper cataloged Chavez as "a big ego who resisted releasing the power to heal."

Picture by Venezuelan Presidential Press.

-To see timeline of all the information available related to Hugo Chavez health click here-

Insight: Behind the Clues of President Chavez After two Months Without Him

2013-02-12T17:14:44-05:00

Venezuela's Vice-President Nicolas Maduro shows a decree signed by President Hugo Chavez during a ceremony in Cumana, Feb 3, 2013. Photo by Venezuelan Presidential Press

It has been more than 60 days of uncertainty in Venezuela, since President Hugo Chavez had a fourth surgery on Dec. 12 in Havana, as part of his ongoing battle against Cancer .

The Venezuelan authorities has been limited when informing about Chavez's health. However, they claim the President has been in meetings with cabinet members and signing decrees in Cuba. Yet there haven't been any photos, telephone calls or video appearances of him -- unusual of the omnipresent dignitary.

The opposition demands proof of life of Chavez. They charge the Venezuelan government is hiding Chavez's true health status because if he was healthy enough to govern from Cuba he should also be healthy enough to do a public appearance.

The information regarding Chavez's health provided by government authorities in several interviews with media since the surgery has been hermetic and contradictory.

The government has said Chavez's cancer is in the abdominal area but not what kind of cancer it is, they informed the surgery was "successful" and lasted six hours but not the purpose of it. They have given only general statements of his recovery.

The details provided have been vague at the moment of informing the "delicate and complex" recovery process, his complication, and his fight with a respiratory infection.

Even government authorities have contradicted themselves when reporting on Chavez's health. Such as was the case on Jan. 24 when Vice-President Nicolas Maduro said Chavez was going through "the best moment" after his postoperative, but later Chancellor Elias Jaua said Chavez is in the "most complex phase" of his illness.

Leaks of information paint a darker picture of Chavez's true state. Venezuelan journalist Nelson Bocaranda, from Spanish newspaper, ABC's Washington correspondent Emili J. Blasco, and Venezuelan doctor residing in U.S. Jose Marquina, have been the most consistent in informing the behind-the-scenes aspects of Chavez's cancer since it was made public in 2011.

Their reports try to fill the holes left by the government. Leaks have said that Chavez has a rhabdomyosarcoma, an incurable and aggressive cancer.

The surgery he had was reportedly a spondylectomy and he recently lost his voice due to permanent damages made by his therapy.

He reportedly has had pneumonia, a mild heart failure, septic shock, and renal failure. Chavez has been deeply sedated and intermittently tubed and in assisted respiration, among other details of his fragile situation.

The life expectancy of the President, according to leaks, is not further than April, due to the advanced metastasis he has. That has destroyed the expectation of a "triumphant" return of Chavez to Venezuela to start his mandate.

Leaders of the Venezuelan opposition have denounced the lack of clear information from government authorities. They have called several times for the creation of a medical board to evaluate if Chavez is able to return to the chair of power, something that could lead to new presidential elections. The calls of the opposition have been denied by the government because they consider it would be a violation of Chavez's "dignity" and "privacy."

There haven't been any independent reviews of Chavez's health, and even the Latin American dignitaries that have traveled to Havana to visit Chavez haven't said they have seen him in person.

So far Government supporters trust unanimously the reports of Chavez's health given by the government, and have condemned information provided by the opposition and other sources, which have been accused of waging a "media war" against the Bolivarian revolution.

Who is really governing in Venezuela?

Chavez didn't attend the swearing in for his new term as President, an act that was postponed with the approval of the Supreme Court, which also allowed the ministerial cabinet from the previous period to continue to function as such.

The Supreme Court ratified Chavez's new presidential term, and called the swearing "pure formalism" because Chavez is already a president in power and there is a "continuation of his mandate."

The court considered that the information given by the government related to Chavez's health was enough and ruled out the creation of a medical board to asses if Chavez could recover well enough to take power, as is described in the Venezuelan constitution.

With this, the highest judicial body resolved the crisis born from the multiple possible interpretations of the Venezuelan's constitution. It also used the constitution to deny demands for a medical board to rule whether Chavez is in the condition to lead the country or if new elections should be called.

The Supreme Court didn't impose any deadlines to declare a possible absence, so that status quo may be extended indefinitely. The government party called it a victory of the "popular will"

Due to the extended absence of Chavez, opposition analyst and politicians are asking who is really governing in Venezuela. The lack of information on the details of the health of the Venezuelan dignitary while he is in Cuba recovering create more doubts than answers.

The opposition has been describing the situation in Venezuela as a vacuum of power and have denounced the shift of the seat of power to a foreign nation. However, Venezuelan authorities have denied it, saying Chavez is in front and leading government, giving orders while he recovers in Havana.

Since Chavez's surgery, information provided by the government claims that Chavez has been conscious, communicating, and giving government orders, but the doubts of the true health of Chavez have made some analysts ask if the President is in any condition to really be at the head of the government making decisions.

Several members of cabinet have gone to Cuba seeking direction of the president in topics of national matter. Vice-President Nicolas Maduro, President of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello, Minister of Oil Rafael Ramirez, Defense Minister Diego Molero, and Minister of Technology Jorge Areaza all have traveled to Cuba to see Chavez, and of all them have said they had meetings with the Venezuelan head of state.

Many of them have expressed after arriving in Venezuela that Chavez has been relaxed, talkative, and conscious. Even in some cases strong, with good humor and making jokes.

In the last two months after the President's surgery, government officials have said that Chavez has signed decrees in Cuba, from assigning Elias Jaua as the new chancellor of the republic to giving orders on several areas.

From the devaluation of Venezuelan currency by a 46.5 per cent against the U.S. dollar, the increase of the rate provided to social projects from the profits of the state oil company PDVSA, the approval of funds for the launching and expansion of social projects, providing the guidelines for the management of the country's gold reserve, the formation and equipment of the armed forces, and directions for the government's political party PSUV, among others.

Each time the Venezuelan government announces a decree or letter from Chavez, authorities show documents with a perfect signature of Chavez on it. This has raised doubts because the signature doesn't present inconsistencies or signs that a signature made by a convalescent patient of cancer would have.

Venezuela wakes up each day with rumors and conspiracy theories, as consequence of the uncertainty and lack of transparency of the events unraveled following the absence of Hugo Chavez. Some analysts speculate that high-ranking members of the 'Chavista' government, such as Vice-President Nicolas Maduro and the President of the National Assembly Diosdado Cabello, are really the ones governing, using the name of Chavez and his signature to hide their actions.

Click here to see in full size the timeline of all the information released about Chavez's health from government and non-government sources

Motion For A Venezuela Crisis Emergency Debate In Parliament Gains Support

2013-01-24T18:21:36-05:00

A petition organized by Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis to gather support for his future motion calling for an emergency debate in the House of Commons about the situation in Venezuela is gaining strength with each passing day.

"Compared with other campaigns this one has been very successful," said Karygiannis, who has received over 6,000 signatures on his website petition in the last week.

Karygiannis said that for a petition like this he usually receives around 1,000 signatures.

To date Karygiannis has received over 3,500 signatures from Canada, 2,500 from Venezuela and over 300 from other countries.

However, Karyagiannis is looking to collect more signatures to support his personal motion asking parliament to "unanimously "approve an emergency debate over the situation in Venezuela.

"People are very happy we brought this," said Karyagiannis, who has also got hundreds of emails supporting his initiative, adding he's been reading the emails "with concern."

Many people have wrote Karyagiannis with "fear" from inside Venezuela denouncing there is "no rule of law and democracy," among other "serious problems."

"People are describing personal issues that are horrible."

Karyagiannis said the general public in Canada have yet to understand what is happening inside Venezuela, or the "complexities and difficulties" of the problems he read about in the emails.

"We have to look and check if democracy is being respected," said Karyagiannis. "There is the need for a discussion and people need to be heard."

In addition, Karyagiannis has received around 20 emails from people participating in a campaign from the international group Hands of Venezuela asking him to stop his motion.

Karyagiannis answered all of them with a thank you email telling them that their points will be taken into consideration.

However, Karyagiannis said that if he got 3,500 emails from inside Canada saying that raising awareness of the situation in Venezuela is good "there must be something bad happening down there."

So far, the MP hasn't been approached by Venezuelan authorities and if they approach him, he will say "thank you for calling and have a good day,"

"I'm not a member of the parliament of Venezuela and I'm not playing to the tune of the Venezuelan government," said Karyagiannis.

"I was approach by constituents and by the Venezuelan diaspora and I'm working with them."

The MP who has become for the Venezuelan community in Canada a "Champion of democracy."

Karyagiannis is right now a "champion" for the Venezuelans that "defend democracy, the sovereignty, and the constitution," said Maite Marcia, a Venezuelan international analyst living in Ottawa.

"Jim is a very courageous person because he raised his small voice," said Marcia. "Now he has another 6,000 voices with him and we wait that many others will join too.

"We look forward to other political parties to join Jim's proposal," said Marcia. "Especially those who say they defend democracy."

"It is something very important, very remarkable," said Leonardo Reyes, a Venezuelan physiotherapist living in Toronto.

For Reyes, Karyagiannis is going to take the problem in Venezuela "to a higher level," into the international community.

Venezuelans in Canada feel that the international community doesn't care about "democracy in Venezuela" and Karyagiannis "is going to change that," said Josue Ramirez, a Venezuelan living in Calgary and member of the organization Venezuelans Around the World.

Everyone must know what is happening in Venezuela because there is a "violation of democracy," said Ramirez. "Jim is doing important work for democracy in Venezuela."

Karyagiannis' proposal is very important also for Canada because it will make the country the "first in the world to take action over the problem in Venezuela," said Ramirez

Karyagiannis feels says he feels humbles to be receiving the tittle of 'champion' from Venezuelans living in Canada. "I'm only doing a little bit to help to return democracy to Venezuela"

"I'm very humbled that people see me in that way and I will work with them until the end of the road," said Karyagiannis.

This kind of action should be more prevalent in countries that say they "defend democracy," especially those in the Americas that say they "protect the Inter-American Democratic Charter," Marcia.

"We have to defend the democracies of the XXI twentieth century against the autocracies of the XXI twentieth century hidden behind supposed democracies."

In Venezuela people are beginning to wonder if Hugo Chavez will ever recover to fulfill his duties as President.

With 45 days since his last public appearance, when he announced he would go trough a 4th surgery to treat his cancer in Cuba, many are beginning to wonder who is running the government and if he will ever return.

To read or sign Karyagiannis's proposal click here. To read or participate in Hands Of Venezuela campaign click here

View the story "Reactions in Twitter to Jim Karygiannis' Proposal to Debate Situation In Venezuela at the Canadian Parliament" on Storify

Venezuelans Across Canada Gather In Citizens' Assemblies, Make Public Statement Addressing Crisis

2013-01-21T14:19:07-05:00

Dozens of Venezuelans gathered last Saturday in a citizens' assembly across many of Canada's largest cities and demanded, in a public declaration, the restitution of constitutional order in Venezuela and that the sovereignty of their country be respected.

More than 35 Venezuelans gathered at a meeting room in Calgary's downtown public library and discussed the situation in their country via Skype with Venezuelans in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, London, Montreal and Quebec City, as well as the Venezuelan national deputy, Maria Corina Machado.

"Since the 10th of January of 2013, Venezuela has been living under a de facto government that violates the ... national constitution ... and it's a usurpation of the popular vote," said the public statement.

During the assembly in Calgary, it was decided to support the proposal by MP Jim Karyaginnis to discuss the Venezuelan crisis in the Canadian parliament, as well as the diplomatic mission proposal from the Canadian ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Allan Cullham.

"They must know they are not alone" their effort is very important for us, said Odelys Colmenares.

"Here there is much frustration, much rage, and much concern," said Josue Ramirez, about the state of the Venezuelan community in Calgary.

"But the history of a country is not made in 14 years and it's not permanent, but unless we do something about what they (government party) are doing, nothing is going to change," said Ramirez.

Marielena Nuñez said that Venezuelans in Calgary, despite the fact that many would like to forget the situation in their country, are still very concerned.

"After what happened to us, we want to erase the past, but the past can't be covered with a finger. All of us have a little bit of heart attached to Venezuela because of our families, our friends, and our memories," said Nuñez.

During the meeting, Maria Corina Machado gave her views of the situation in Venezuela and answered questions from the groups in all the cities.

"This is not a classical dictatorship. It is a neo-dictatorship," said Machado. "A regime deeply totalitarian with a democratic facade."

"It is important to expose this regime and show its illegitimacy," said Machado. "They have destroyed our democracy."

"There are some who think that Chavez is an untouchable myth that he can't be criticized.

"We cannot allow Hugo Chavez to become a cult idol. That would be extremely dangerous. We must show to the country who is responsible for the level of horror and pain that Venezuela is living today," said Machado.

She explained that the Venezuelan government uses many different kinds of tools to try to legitimize its totalitarianism.

The principal tool used to justify their illegal actions is the elections.

Other tools, for example, are giving "a pseudo legality" to its abuse by making them seem as "constitutional" regardless if they are "a democratic barbarity," or the use of international players like the approval of other countries and public figures, she said.

The Venezuelan government has been good at "creating its own international support with all the money of the world"; and we don't have that.

"But we have the force of the moral, the truth, the constitution and the international agreements," said Machado.

Machado said the opposition coalition in Venezuela has sent letters to all member states of the OAS.

However, as far as she knows "Canada hasn't made any formal response beyond what we saw during the (OAS) session this week."

"Canada is a key country" to find a solution to this issue, said Machado.

Details of the public statement

The statement calls on the Canadian federal authorities and the international community to pay attention "to the serious situation the Venezuelan democratic institution is living."

They dismissed the Supreme Court of Venezuela as being "unconstitutional" and "under the interest of the government party."

They demanded a medical board be established to certify that president Hugo Chavez is in the physical capacity to assume the presidency, and if not, then for it to call for new elections.

They denounced the "interference" of Cuban authorities in the "internal affairs of Venezuela" and demanded the re-establishment of the sovereignty of their country.

Venezuelans across Canada voiced those demands, taking into consideration that it's been more than a month since president Chavez was admitted for medical treatment in Cuba "without making any public appearance, in video, photographs, or telephonic calls" and that "the official information of his health status is vague and incomplete."

During the notorious absence of Hugo Chavez at his swearing-in ceremony for his new presidential term, the government party "refused to recognize and to declare officially" his temporary absence.

Venezuelan Canadians further charged the constant trips of members of the Venezuelan government party to Cuba is "clear evidence of interference by the Cuban authorities in the internal affairs of Venezuela."

See the full declaration translated to English and the original document in Spanish

Statement From the Venezuelan Citizens' Assembly organized in Calgary the 19 of January of 2013 by

Venezuelan Crisis: Venezuelan Vice-President Describes Canadian Proposal At OAS As 'Miserable'

2013-01-18T19:00:49-05:00

Venezuelan Vice-president Nicolas Maduro condemned as "miserable" the proposal from Canada to send a diplomatic mission from the Organization of American States (OAS) to study the crisis in Venezuela.

Maduro said the proposal "had nothing to do with the democratic life and independence of (Venezuela)." in an interview to the Spanish international news agency EFE this Thursday night.

"Sadly an extreme right wing governs (Canada) and have positions that have been isolating Canada from the international community.

"This has provoked public contempt of the progressive governments of the world," said Maduro.

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Maduro congratulated the Venezuelan ambassador to the OAS Roy Chaderton for his work during the OAS session this Wednesday.

Charderton gave a very critical view of the mission proposed by Canada during a morning program this Thursday on the government's TV Channel in Venezuela.

The ambassador labeled the proposal as "interventionism" and "very unpleasant."

Charderton said the real intention of the proposed mission was to "sneak into Venezuela and our internal affairs."

The Canadian ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS) Allan Culham made the proposal this Wednesday to study the situation in Venezuela.

"Canada would like to present the possibility of a mission to see the acts in Venezuela under the direction of the general secretary, like it was made in Paraguay.

"This mission could be considered as a better practice of the OAS to be able to analyze the situation of governance in the country," said Culham during the session.

However, the motion was not accepted by the General Secretary of the OAS Jose Miguel Insulza because it was made in the section of "others" of the session and it was not in the agenda.

Venezuela has been submerged in uncertainty since December 8, when Chavez went to Cuba to receive a new surgery to treat his Cancer. His troubled health and resulting absence have created a constitutional crisis in the country.

In Canada, Liberal multicultural critic Jim Karygiannis will introduce a motion to the House Of Commons calling for an emergency debate on how to deal with the situation in Venezuela

Venezuelan Crisis: Canada Has to Say 'We Aren't Going to Deal With This Anymore'

2013-01-14T15:31:25-05:00

Liberal multicultural critic Jim Karygiannis will introduce a motion to the House Of Commons calling for an emergency debate on how to deal with the situation in Venezuela that could occur the first week of February.

"We have a democracy in crisis and yet the Canadian government hasn't acted," said Karygiannis in a phone interview.

Canada is one of the last countries in the Americas that haven't expressed its position with the crisis in Venezuela.

"Why are we not talking about this in Parliament?" asked Karygiannis. Canada can't act like an "ostrich" and "stick the head inside a hole and say that there are no problems."

"This is where Canada has to say to the rest of the world that in Venezuela they are not respecting the rules," said Karygiannis.

"We are the only country on the world with the unique position to be an honest broker in human right, and democracy and we have failed so far."

Meanwhile, the Venezuelan community is looking to the Canadian government to see what position it will take.

"We don't have an instrument in the house common to say if democracy fails what we do with the Venezuelans in Canada to support them," said Karygiannis.

For Karygiannis, it should be key the government work with the Venezuelan community to find an effective solution to the situation in Venezuela. However, "the voice of the diaspora in Canada is not being heard.

"We need to make sure that this is brought to parlament and discuss."

The community has to sit down with members of external affairs and see how to move forward to make sure that there is a sustainable democracy in Venezuela.

"We must have a robust external foreign affair working with the national diaspora," said Karyaginnis.

"Canada has to take an effective position... and we have to be in the forefront."