Analysis: Law and Justice

What Is Happening in Venezuela?

By Greg Grandin- The Nation, Mar 3rd 2015

Opposition supporters protest against the Venezuelan government and in support of jailed opposition leaders Leopoldo Lopez and A

Coups and countercoups. Crackdowns. Economic crackups. Seven cents for a tube of toothpaste and $755 for a box of condoms. Falling oil prices. The arrest of an opposition leader. Washington plots. Human Rights Watch tweets. South America rallies.... Greg Grandin talks to a panel of experts to find out what really is going on in Venezuela.

“What is Inexcusable is Venezuela's Political Independence”

By John Pilger- TeleSUR English, Feb 17th 2015

John Pilger (agencies/TeleSUR English)

An interview with John Pilger, conducted by Michael Albert.

Latin America Unites Against U.S. Attack on Venezuelan Democracy

By Frederick B. Mills- COHA, Feb 11th 2015

The special commission met in Montevideo on Monday. (Photo: Twitter/UNASUR)

By insisting on U.S. “exceptionalism” in the 2015 National Security Strategy, it appears that the U.S. will tolerate only one economic and political model in its “backyard,” the one that conforms to the global neoliberal order, even as that order is being called into question by those who have the most to lose from its perpetuation.

China, the CELAC, and Venezuela

By Luis Britto Garcia- aporrea.org, Jan 12th 2015

(archive)

Venezuelan writer Luis Britto Garcia discusses the massive impact Chinese investment has had on recent Latin American development, while calling for strict outlines to be drawn to protect Venezuelan sovereighnty in the midst of heightened negotiation.

Rapprochement Between the United States and Cuba and Sanctions Against Venezuela

By WILLIAM CAMACARO and FREDERICK B. MILLS, Jan 6th 2015

United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C. (archives)

William and Frederick lay out a comprehensive analysis of the "consistent imperial strategy" demonstrated by US president Obama in recent policy shifts toward Cuba and Venezuela.

Against Judicial Attacks, International Support for Venezuela’s Communes

By The Signatories, Dec 22nd 2014

Protestors call for commune activist David Diaz's release in Caracas earlier this month. (Comunidad Socialista Guerrera Ana

VA.com publishes this open letter by a number of scholars and activists who warn about recent judicial attacks on commune activists in Venezuela, and encourage support for the country’s commune movement.

Venezuela Sanctions Highlight US Hypocrisy on Human Rights

By Lauren Carasik- Al Jazeera America, Dec 18th 2014

Cuban President Raul Castro, left, shakes hands with his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro in Havana, Dec. 14, 2014. (Prens

Obama should follow his example on Cuba and engage with, not punish, Venezuela.

Hectoring Venezuela on Human Rights

By Diosdado Cabello- The New York Times, Dec 18th 2014

Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly of Venezuela. (EFE)

Diosdado Cabello expresses his opinion in the NY Times; "It seemed an unfortunate coincidence that just as scores of people demonstrating against police brutality were being arrested on the streets of New York and other cities, the United States Congress passed a bill to bring sanctions against members of my country’s government for alleged human rights abuses during protests earlier this year."

Detained Colonel Says Maria Corina Machado Was at the Forefront of the Opposition Violence

By Willmer Poleo Zerpa- Ultimas Noticias, Dec 16th 2014

Venezuela's opposition leader Maria Corina Machado arrives at the state prosecutor office in Caracas December 3, 2014.
(R

The following is a report that appeared in the privately-owned Caracas newspaper Ultimas Noticias this morning, detailing the sworn confession made by the retired Venezuelan colonel Jose Gustavo Arocha Perez, who admitted to colluding with the former opposition legislator Maria Corina Machado in a plot to create unrest and oust the Venezuelan government.

Venezuela's Transition to Democracy: Latin America's Best Kept Secret

By Rachael Boothroyd- TeleSUR English, Nov 26th 2014

Umberto Vargas Medina, imprisoned for 4 years during the Fourth Republic. (courtesy)

Telesur’s Rachael Boothroyd interviews vanguard activists who dedicated their lives to the struggle for democracy during the era that preceded Hugo Chavez. Their testimonies recall aerial bombardments and routine disappearances of students and activists, while their actions today highlight the importance of preserving collective memory.

Obama Imposes Military End-Uses Sanctions Against Venezuela

By Roger D. Harris, Nov 19th 2014

The seal of the US Bureau of Industry and Security (Wikipedia Commons)

The only risk that Venezuela really imposes on the US is the threat of a good example. And this is precisely why Venezuela is being targeted by the US government for regime change.

43 Lives, 2 Countries

By Tamara Pearson- TeleSUR English, Nov 18th 2014

Mexico and Venezuela (Photo: Reuters, agency, teleSUR)

The private and mainstream media's coverage of the disappearance and likely murder of 43 Mexican students and the developing protest movement against such impunity has been sympathetic, if unanalytical. Yet, earlier this year the mainstream media gave no such sympathy to the 43 people who were killed during months of opposition violence in Venezuela.

The Disturbing Message of Robert Serra’s Murder

By The signatories – UK Guardian , Oct 10th 2014

The gruesome assassination of pro-government lawmaker Robert Serra (27) and his partner Maria Herrera last Wednesday has shaken

A number of political, trade union, and academic figures from British civil society state their worry about the murder of young Venezuelan parliamentarian Robert Serra and what implications this may have for the country’s political stability.

International Media Barely Raises Eyebrow over Assassination of Pro-Government Legislator in Venezuela

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 6th 2014

The gruesome assassination of pro-government lawmaker Robert Serra (27) and his partner Maria Herrera last Wednesday has shaken

Media either ignored or downplayed Robert Serra’s assassination and side-stepped the issue of far-right political violence, further highlighting how tightly mainstream media sticks to the prevailing narrative on Venezuela.

Venezuela's “Political Prisoner” Allegory

By Cory Fischer-Hoffman - Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 2nd 2014

Photos of political prisoners detained at San Carlos between 1960-1979, on a wall of the former prison in an exhibit maintained

In the face of arrests, trials, and detentions of opposition and student leaders, allegations of political repression in Venezuela are circulating international and private national press. The Venezuelan government and its supporters adamantly reject the claim that Venezuela has any political prisoners and they assert that everyone in detention is being tried for their involvement in criminal conduct. This article aims to explore the issue of political prisoners in Venezuela by providing a broader historical context combined with an analysis of power in Venezuela today.