News: Law and Justice

Venezuela Urges Extradition of Terrorist Posada Carriles from US

Sep 30th 2011

Cuban-born terrorist Luis Posada Carriles (Agencies).

On Monday, the Venezuelan Ministry of Public Affaire issued an additional request for the capture of known terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. While Venezuelan authorities are still waiting for the United States to act on a 2005 extradition request to try Carriles for his involvement in the 1976 downing of a commercial airliner, killing all 73 people on board, this week’s request comes alter Venezuelan prosecutors uncovered his role in, “acts of torture, violation of international laws, illegal detention and physical abuse of prisoners” during his time at the now defunct Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP).

Venezuelan Government Expropriates Ferry Company

Sep 28th 2011

Conferry (archive)

On Monday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the expropriation of the company Consolidada de Ferrys (Conferry), following its record of bad service and high prices, and the need for more reliable transportation to Margarita Island.

Venezuelan Government Campaigns for Palestinian State

Sep 21st 2011

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for the recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state (Patria Grande).

As the United Nations (UN) Security Council and General Assembly will debate the Palestinian cause and possible recognition of it as a sovereign state in the next few days, the Venezuelan government has produced a public letter supporting the Palestinian cause and has called for “worldwide debate” on the issue.

Venezuelan Government Deports 7 Drug Traffickers, including 1 from the U.S

Sep 20th 2011

Interior Relations and Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami (archive).

This Monday Sept. 19th, Venezuela deported seven people involved in drug smuggling activities; six of them were Colombians and one was from the United States.

Venezuela Establishes National Offices for the Defense of Women

Sep 17th 2011

Venezuelan General Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz (Agencies)

On Thursday Venezuelan General Prosecutor Luisa Ortega Diaz formally inaugurated the country's Offices for the Defense of Women, a new national department dedicated to defending the rights of women.

Venezuelans to Debate Patenting Laws after Revelation that Companies Conspired in Firing of Radical Minister

Sep 15th 2011

Eduardo Saman (archive).

Revolutionary Eduardo Saman was replaced as commerce minister following pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to protect old patent legislation and their profits. The information, which came out in a US embassy cable released by Wikileaks, has prompted renewed public debate in Venezuela on the medicine patency issue.

TeleSUR Journalist Speaking in Venezuela Blames NATO for "up to 50,000" Deaths in Libya

Sep 7th 2011

The Thought Artillery vs Lie Factory conference held this week (AVN).

“None of the private media belonging to the large transnational companies has reported on the large scale damage brought about by NATO,” said TeleSUR journalist Rolando Segura at the Thought Artillery vs Lie Factory conference held this week in Caracas.

Venezuelan Government Destroys Over 50,000 Arms in Effort to Halt Violence

Sep 3rd 2011

Over 50,000 guns destroyed by the Venezuelan government on 1 September 2011 (Agencies).

On Thursday the Venezuelan government destroyed over 50,000 confiscated guns, doubling the total amount of arms seized and destroyed so far this year. The melting down of these weapons is expected to produce some 60 tons of iron which will be used in numerous public housing projects currently being built nationwide.

Venezuela Inaugurates First Socialist City

Sep 2nd 2011

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez explains the distribution of housing, schools, medical clinics, and green spaces in Venezuela&#

The Venezuelan government, together with the private sector and international partners, is ﬁnding creative solutions to the nation’s housing deﬁcit, including the construction of new, communal-oriented cities.

New Venezuelan Comptroller General Promises to “Defend the Country”

Aug 31st 2011

Carlos Escarra (archive).

Venezuela’s National Assembly elected Carlos Escarra as the new Comptroller General of the Republic yesterday, making him the country’s highest anti-corruption authority.

INDEPABIS Closes Nightclubs in Caracas, Venezuela for Discrimination

Aug 29th 2011

INDEPABIS employees are investigating nightclubs in Caracas which engage in discriminatory practices (Aporrea.org)

In the early morning hours this Sunday, the Institute for the Defence of People and their Access to Goods and Services, (INDEPABIS) began the day by putting the brakes on discriminatory dealings related to race and physical appearance that are being carried out by some nightclubs.

Venezuela Tackles Illegal Gold Mafias as Chávez Nationalises Gold Industry

Aug 23rd 2011

Over 15,000 people were rescued from conditions of “slavery” by the government’s anti-illegal mining plan, revealed milita

This Tuesday military chief Henry Rangel Silva revealed that over 40,000 hectares of land had been recovered and 15,000 people freed from conditions of “slavery” as part of Plan Caura, the Venezuelan government’s anti-illegal mining project.

Venezuela Announces Temporary Freeze of Hospital Fees to Contain Costs

Aug 19th 2011

While Venezuelans now have free access to medical care through the government's public clinics, staffed by Cuban medical pr

Venezuela’s government announced Tuesday that the country’s private hospitals agreed to temporarily freeze their fees while ofﬁcials seek ways to contain healthcare costs and increase access for the poor.

Venezuelan Children’s Cardiology Hospital Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Aug 16th 2011

The Caracas-based Children’s Cardiology Hospital has saved over 5,500 children’s lives to date (CiudadCCS).

On Monday “Dr. Gilberto Rodríguez Ochoa”, Venezuela’s Caracas-based Children’s Cardiology Hospital, began celebrating its fifth anniversary since being inaugurated in August 2006. The pioneering cardiology hospital operates on patients from all over Latin America free of charge and has saved more than 5,500 children’s lives to date, according to government sources.

Venezuelans Begin Public Debate on Law of Firearms Control and Disarmament

Aug 12th 2011

The Venezuelan people began public debate on the Law of Firearms Control and Disarmament in mid August 2011 (Agencies).

On Thursday Venezuelans held the first of numerous public debates on the proposed Law of Firearms Control and Disarmament drafted by the country’s National Assembly.