Supine Diplomacy

Updated on February 22, 2009

Dear Journalists,

Following the outrageous bizarre imitation to a democratic election that took place in Venezuela last February 15, I believe that the best thing to do is to explain to those in power what is taking place in Venezuela.

Journalists like Charles Krauthammer of The Washington Post are paying attention to what is taking place around the world. Mr. Krauthammer expressed in his article:

"Obama's Supine Diplomacy"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/19/AR2009021902579.html

I" would like to think the supine posture is attributable to a rookie leader otherwise preoccupied (i.e., domestically), leading a foreign policy team as yet unorganized if not disoriented. But when the State Department says that Hugo Chávez's president-for-life referendum, which was preceded by a sham government-controlled campaign featuring the tear-gassing of the opposition, was "for the most part . . . a process that was fully consistent with democratic process," you have to wonder if Month One is not a harbinger of things to come."

Many personalities are speaking out, and the time has come where those in power take ownership on how to restore democracy and protect citizens who are abused by deranged leaders.

Ambassador Diego Arria, and Internationalist Pedro Mario Burelli made the following comments concerning Chavez's odd referendum results:

"The US officially believes that the referendum 'was held consistent with democratic principles'. Which democratic principles? Those contained in the OAS's Democratic Charter? In the US Constitution? or in Our Venezuelan Constitution that was repeatedly violated to facilitate 'the process'" (Pedro Mario Burelli) www.pmbcomments.com

The hastiness to provide the regime with a clean bill of health recalls President Carter asking former Secretary of State , Colin Powel to do the same a few hours after the polls had been closed in the 2004 referendum without even finishing a proper electoral auditing as should have been the case.

This editorial makes the case perfectly clear on what represents a major mistake by the new administration in handling a regime that is the most active enemy they will face in the Americas. Link
http://europeancourier.org/Democracy_in_Venezuela_Blog.htm

Washington’s Reaction to the Chávez Referendum
http://www.diariolasamericas.com/news.php?nid=72515

Diego Arria comments on the referendum in the Inter-American Dialogues http://maruangaritablog2.blogspot.com/2009/02/diego-arria-comments-on-referendum-in.html

María Conchita asegura que la oposición ganó

http://maruangaritablog2.blogspot.com/2009/02/maria-conchita-asegura-que-la-oposicion.html

CÓMO SE PERDIÓ VENEZUELA - CAPÍTULO 2 by Roberto Alonso
http://comoseperdiovenezuelacap2.blogspot.com/

Ambassador Adolfo Taylhardat comments in his bi-weekly column about the abuses that European Deputy Luis Herrero suffered in the hands of Chavistas after the infamous leader kicked him out-of-the-country for expressing his opinion. Perhaps Chavez did not want any observer to catch him in his alleged fraud against the Venezuelan people. Why did Chavez have to intimidate people from exercising their right to vote?

Brutal atropello
http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/18/opi_art_brutal-atropello_18A2230123.shtml

Spanish lawmaker Luis Herrero expelled from Venezuela after calling Hugo Chávez a dictator
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/904845.html

Financial Times: Chavez Triumphant (February 19, 2009)
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2767735330099752410qUQaGN

As always, Venezuelans need help from developed governments and international organizations to restore democracy and end corruption.

Cordially,

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/
Resources:
http://europeancourier.org/home.htm
http://europeancourier.org/DiegoArria.htm
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=081221195421.djlgnze8&show_article=1
http://www.urru.org
www.noticias24.com
http://alekboyd.blogspot.com/2006/03/sequoia-smartmatic-e-voting-fiasco-in.html
http://www.eluniversal.com
http://english.eluniversal.com
http://www.iht.com
http://www.washingtonpost.com/
http://g400mas.blogspot.com/
http://www.analitica.com
www.daniel-venezuela.blogspot.com/
http://www.venezolanosenlinea.com/
http://venezuelavigilante.com
http://www.globovision.com/
http://www.gentiuno.com/
http://pmbcomments.blogspot.com/
http://www.marthacolmenares.com
www.venezuelareal.org
http://www.thehrf.org

Did Chavez Cheat?

Update

I am convinced that Chavez must of have cheated to win this election. I make this statement as an observer, and advocate for Venezuelans who have witnessed abuse of power, after watching Chavez's behavior after he lost on this issue on December 2, 2007, and the days after where he was committed to win.

Chavez insisted in having this election on February 15, and there were reports that the voting machines were set up to turn votes into the “yes” for Chavez. There were calls for help from people who went to vote against Chavez and the machine marked as “yes” instead of NO!

Venezuelans are hostages of a man who allegedly will use what ever it takes legal or illegal to remain in power. Venezuelans need help from organized nations to help them restore democracy. In the last several years observers have been quiet settled allowing Chavez to remain in power even though they knew that the results were questionable. What are world leaders to do this time?

Venezuela's activists and volunteers reactions when the results of Chavez winning (possible cheating) the elections:
http://www.noticias24.com/fotos/522/en-fotos-la-tristeza-opositora/

Perhaps among the 2,127 complaints that civil organization SUMATE received on February 15, there is one that witnesses report where an eighty-year old woman who wanted to vote NO against Chavez failed to do so because Chavez's voting machine recorded her vote as Yes for Chavez. The lady was enraged and tore the ballot, and was pushed and arrested by the National Guard. Witnesses were able to rescue her from that ordeal.

http://www.sumate.org/Noticias/NPS/2009/273.html

The following link is to analysis of how the votes turned out:

6 millones avalaron la enmienda
http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/16/pol_art_6-millones-avalaron_1270927.shtml

Maru Angarita
http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/

Election Day in Venezuela - Déjà Vu

Update 9:38 PM

Chavez won the election! Humm, I wonder why Chavez conducted the second election about the same issue. Did he cheat? There was one e-mail circulating of a known individual who went to vote against Chavez, but the voting machine immediately recorded her vote for him. The voter was totally devastated and made a scene at the polling place, and her vote was allegedly counted as void!

Aprobada enmienda constitucional que contempla la posibilidad de la reelección indefinida
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=110283

Ganadora la opción del Sí con el 54,36% de los votos
http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/15/pol_ava_ganadora-la-opcion-d_15A2227771.shtml

Update 5:08 PM

El Universal has been reporting minute by minute the voting process
http://www.eluniversal.com/2009/02/15/cenmi_esp_minuto-a-minuto_15A2225843.shtml

Noticias24 also is reporting minute by minute:

Minuto a minuto: estudiantes llaman “a votar por la democracia”
http://www.noticias24.com/actualidad/noticia/24696/la-jornada-electoral-minuto-a-minuto-los-centros-abren-sus-puertas/

Venezuelan Missions in Europe are reporting voting results. I will list results as they become official later on hopefully this evening.

Update at 12:45PM

Witnesses in Caracas are reporting being threatened by armed individuals while they try to vote. However, citizens know that this is allegedly Chavez in action trying to scare off decent people from the polling places!

Update at 11:44 AM

While the Director of the Consejo Nacional Electoral CNE http://www.cne.gov.ve/ reports that the voting in Madrid, Spain has not been suspended witnesses are reporting otherwise where illegal conditions against the opposition observers are being imposed by the Venezuelan Consul.

A witness is contacting the press with the following text "Las votaciones en Madrid estan suspendidas y siguen suspendidas. Ademas le informo que seguiran suspendidas porque la Consul pretende imponer condiciones ilegales a los testigos debidamente acreditados por el Bloque del NO."

Siguen elecciones en Madrid aunque electores opinan lo contrario
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=110218

Venezuelans have been voting since very early this morning. Witnesses say that it has not been that many people at least on their districts so far. But, were told by judges that it has been slightly higher amount of people than from December 2, 2007 at the same time.

The following local telephone numbers have been issued to report abuses in the voting process, and encourage witnesses to report anything unusual:

Ciudadanía Activa ha habilitado dos números de teléfonos, atendidos por abogados, para denunciar irregularidades durante el proceso electoral (no solamente el domingo, sino desde hoy mismo). Éstos son: (0212) 317.9409 y (0424) 191.9581.

Asimismo, Súmate tiene el 0501 NOPELAN (667.3526) y los estudiantes, el (0212) 583.7196 (también atendido por abogados).

Retrasmite este mensaje a toda tu red y graba estos números en tu celular, para tenerlos a mano, de ser necesario. No permitamos que nos vengan con trampas.

There is an e-mail circulating reporting the following cheating process:

"LA TRAMPA EN LAS MAQUINAS DE VOTACIÓN ES LA SIGUIENTE":
1.- LA MAQUINA TIENE TRES (3) TECLAS: NO – SI Y VOTAR
2.- LA TECLA DEL "SI" ES MAS SENSIBLE QUE LA DEL "NO". ASÍ LA ARREGLÓ EL CNE. PARA BUSCAR LA TRAMPA.
3.- AL TU SELECCIONAR ALGUNAS DE LAS DOS (2) OPCIONES, TIENE QUE APARECER SOBRE LA PANTALLA DE LA TECLA UNA TILDE: √
4.- SI PRESIONAS EL "NO" Y NO TE APARECE LA "TILDE", √
OJO: NO VAYAS A PULSAR LA TECLA "VOTAR", PORQUE TU VOTO SERÁ "NULO" Y ESO ES LO QUE QUIERE EL RÉGIMEN, QUE TU VOTO SEA ANULADO.
5.- DEBES VOLVER A PULSAR DE NUEVO LA TECLA "NO" HASTA QUE SALGA LA TILDE: √ , HAZLO EN FORMA REPETIDA HASTA QUE APAREZCA LA "TILDE " EN LA PANTALLA DEL "NO".
ENTONCES SI PUEDES PROCEDER A PULSAR LA TECLA: "VOTAR".
6.- DE LO CONTRARIO DEBES SEGUIR PRESIONANDO LA TECLA DEL "NO"
HASTA QUE APAREZCA LA "TILDE " √
7.- LUEGO VERIFICA EN LA BOLETA IMPRESA , QUE ESTA INDIQUE "NO".

Maru Angarita
My blog is: http://maruangarita.blogspot.com/