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Getbig Main Boards => Politics and Political Issues Board => Topic started by: headhuntersix on April 03, 2009, 07:59:06 AM
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No kidding, say it ain't so Hugo.
CARACAS -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez moved to jail a prominent opposition figure for the second time in recent weeks, an apparent bid to tighten his grip on power amid a sharp downturn in economic growth.
Associated Press
Venezuela's Hugo Chavez during the opening session of the Arab-South American Summit in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday.
Raúl Baduel, a former defense minister-turned-Chávez-critic, was arrested on corruption charges Thursday, according to Mr. Baduel's lawyer, Omar Mora Tosta, and government officials. Mr. Mora Tosta says the charges are unfounded.
The arrest comes after the Venezuelan attorney general on March 19 sought a court order to arrest Manuel Rosales, a former state governor who ran against Mr. Chávez in the 2006 presidential elections, on corruption charges. The arrest warrant hasn't yet been issued. Representatives for Mr. Rosales said he has gone into hiding, and that the allegations against him are unfounded.
Government officials say the actions against Messrs. Baduel and Rosales are the result of legitimate investigations into their financial dealings when they held public office.
Some observers, however, say the moves illustrate how Mr. Chávez is using government institutions to punish political opponents. "All available information suggests that this is selective prosecution motivated by political reasons," says José Miguel Vivanco, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Americas program. Mr. Vivanco says he was expelled from Venezuela at gunpoint last year after releasing a report critical of Mr. Chávez.
After a decade in office, Mr. Chávez has clinched control of nearly all branches of government. The Venezuelan state oil company, the Supreme Court, the legislature and other institutions are stacked with officials loyal to him, analysts said.
Mr. Chávez has remained popular among his mainly poor supporters, whose living standards have been improved by increased spending on welfare, food subsidies and other programs.
Join a Discussion
Chavez is prosecuting opposition figures; Where is this trend headed?From the Archives
Chávez Faces Challenge From Former Comrade (12/24/07)In Enacting Decrees, Chávez Makes New Power Grab (08/06/2008)But plunging crude prices have changed the outlook for Mr. Chávez, whose government relies heavily on oil exports to the U.S. for revenue. The sudden economic slowdown has forced Mr. Chavez to curtail spending and raise taxes -- two measures that will hurt the poor and could dent his popularity. Some economists say currency devaluation may be next.
Mr. Chávez appears to be striking at chief opponents before they can use the worsening economy against him, observers said.
A former general, Mr. Baduel was close friend of Mr. Chávez's and played a key role in restoring Mr. Chávez to power after a brief coup in 2002.
Mr. Baduel emerged as a national opposition figure in 2007, when he helped turn public opinion against a referendum to give Mr. Chávez the right to unlimited re-election. He is widely seen as having pressured Mr. Chávez to concede defeat in that referendum. (Mr. Chávez won the right to re-election in a national vote this year.)
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Hugo Chavez is a great man who is wonderful for the Venezuelan people! ::)
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He is a man who has the courage to stand up to the corrupt Americans !
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Yes I agree. Hugo Chavez the Get Big Moderator is great for the Venezualan people!
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fixed
Seriously, are you this deluded? ???
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Yeah Hugo! You showed him! lol ::)
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You went from being a decisive dictator to a sensitive despot. No good Hugo. >:(
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And this is something worth noting because......
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
What a tool.
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And this is something worth noting because......
??? ??? ??? ??? ???
What a tool.
Love it. Here goes the biggest tool on here telling people what they can and can't post about on here. Remember HH6, you have to fit this retard's agenda. You can only bash America, embrace socialism and talk about all the good things Muslims do on here.
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I don't know what he was refering to...but since Hugo is so beloved here, I had to post that article. Slapper would be the first one to try and round up dissenters....thats a classic lib MO, silence the critics. He will, of corse, never be in any position of power to do so, but his soulmates are trying real hard.
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what, somebody likes me :P
Actually, I believe you got decimated in that poll you made about whether you should be de-modded or not. Much like a dictator, you stayed in power after a humbling and embarrassing result. You got owned and had to delete the thread to cover it up and reassure your ego. ;D
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Of course....this was a dig on the real Hugo...but come to think of it I've never seen u both in the same room. ;)
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come on, say you like me :D
Do you really need your insecure ego massaged that much? Put down the pills, whiskey and gun. It's not that serious.
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;D