This week in Venezuelan news...

Dear Readers,

Here is this week's news in Venezuela, starting from the most recent:

Venezuela Says U.S. Report on Human Trafficking Reflects "Double Standards"

The Venezuelan Foreign Relations Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday accusing the United States government of arbitrarily wielding its annual Trafficking in Persons Report as a political tool to injure its enemies and reward its allies.

Venezuela Opens its First Center for Disabled People

Yesterday the governor of Aragua state, Rafael Isea, inaugurated the country's first Coordination Center for People with Disabilities. The center will be both a place of attention for disabled people, as well as a space where the general population can generate policies and projects related to disability issues.

Venezuelan Education Minister Clarifies Education Law in Response to False Opposition Propaganda

In response to an opposition-led media campaign to convince Venezuelans that the Education Law under discussion in the Venezuelan National Assembly will permit the government to arbitrarily take custody of children, Education Minister Hector Navarro denied that the law will contain such a clause and compared the campaign to the U.S.-led psychological war and expatriation of children from Cuba in the early 1960s.

Students March for New Type of Education in Venezuela

Youth and students marched on Tuesday morning from the Bolivarian University of Venezuela (UBV) to the National Assembly, in order to demand more democratic decision making in the nation's universities and a transformation of the university system to make it more equitable.

Venezuela Investigates Private TV Station Globovision for Inciting Assassination, Other Crimes

The Venezuelan government has opened an investigation into whether the private, opposition-aligned television channel, Globovision, has incited crimes including threats to assassinate President Hugo Chávez. If convicted, the channel could potentially lose its broadcasting license. 

Venezuelan Government: Separatist Opposition Uses Paramilitaries for Social Cleansing, Destabilization

Venezuelan Minister for Justice and Internal Affairs, Tarek El-Aissami, accused the governors of opposition-controlled states along the Colombian border of permitting bands of Colombian paramilitary troops to destabilize the region and carry out a wave of "social cleansing" murders in recent months.

Venezuela Helps Strengthen Regional Unity and Sovereignty at Petrocaribe Summit

At the 6th Petrocaribe summit last Friday the 18 member nations agreed to deepen their energy cooperation, seek alternative energy sources, and assist each other with food needs. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Dominica the next day to launch a fuel plant, as part of the Petrocaribe cooperation.

This week has also seen some fascinating analysis articles, looking at issues from grassroots democracy to community TV  and media laws.

Have a read, http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/ and have a great weekend J

Tamara for Venezuelanalysis.