Cuba Present at Caracas Rally for Chavez
HAVANA TIMES — Cuban Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel traveled to Caracas to participate in rallies today in support for Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, reported DPA news.
Diaz-Canel is leading “the Cuban delegation to participate in a mass rally,” reported the official Granma newspaper. Venezuelan sources confirmed on Wednesday that Diaz-Canel, who has been a vice president of the Cuban Council of Ministers since March 2012, was received by representatives of the Foreign Ministry in Caracas.
Venezuela’s government is holding large demonstrations in support of Chavez, who is apparently quite frail in Cuba after undergoing a fourth cancer operation there and suffering from post-operation complications.
The Venezuelan leader, 58, was originally scheduled to be inaugurated today for his fourth consecutive term for a period of six years.
After announcing on Tuesday that Chavez would not be at the inauguration ceremony, the Caracas government called for a massive turnout in the streets in support of the president. The Venezuelan Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the legality of the president’s absence.
The event will include the presidents of Uruguay, Bolivia, Haiti and Nicaragua, while Argentina and Ecuador sent their foreign ministers. Several other nations in the region sent messages of support for Chavez.
The Venezuelan government has called on its supporters to march on Miraflores Palace, where officials and leaders of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) will be awaiting.
Vice President Nicolas Maduro, the head of government during Chavez’s absence, called on the president’s supporters to show their support massively in the streets in this symbolic action.
Note: Havana Times will be on hand at the rally to provide a photo feature for our readers.
Cort,
Of course Chavez is entitled to go to Cuba or wherever he desires for medical treatment. The point remains that he is absent. The TSJ made the absurd declaration that Chavez is not absent. The question is rains open whether he is temporarily absent, in which case the VP will rule for 90 days. If he is absolutely absent, then the president of the assembly shall rule and an election must be heals within 30 days.
Therefore the constitutionality of the TSJ ruling turns on the question of whether Chavez’s absence is too tart or absolute. That is why it is crucial that a public and impartial medical board be empowered to visit with Chavez to determine his state of health. That no media or opposition figures have been permitted to see Chavez suggests the powers that be are hiding something.
I do not believe Chavez will ever return to office. His illness is terminal and his circle knows it.
Didn’t we go over this the other day, the NA voted unanimously (that’s including the opposition reps) that the president could travel to Cuba for medical treatment on Dec.9th. Its a swearing in that he is missing which is already been done the first time he got elected and that the TSJ will have him take the oath at a later date when he returns or they go their.
Also you should look at the videos from today massive rallies 10’s of 10’s of thousands not just in caracas but all over the country and the representatives of 22 governments of Latin America and the Caribbean countries meet Thursday in a shared meeting Petrocaribe-ALBA, in Caracas, to reaffirm their support to Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez.
The People at Miraflores in Defense of the Revolution, President Chavez & the Constitution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2m9JJ6w6mdo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AnSSnXbotFE#!
(VIDEO) Ortega: “The opposition is an instrument of empire and can not accept defeat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uijjzagahA&feature=youtube_gdata&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
(VIDEO) Evo Morales: Chavez came to lead with Fidel that struggle against inequality
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmKo4YXhqJ8&feature=youtube_gdata&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
Venezuelan intelligence officers have raided the home of a Twitter user suspected of spreading rumours about the health of Hugo Chávez.
The alleged microblogger, Federico Medina Ravell is the cousin of a prominent opposition figure, prompting concerns that a long-simmering “information war” could be escalating as the government and its opponents try to fill the vacuum left by a leader who has not been seen or heard in public since he flew to Cuba for emergency cancer surgery a month ago.
The team of Sebin (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service) officers confiscated several computers from Medina’s home in Valencia on Sunday night, according to domestic newspapers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/08/twitter-hugo-chavez-health-rumours
Freedom of speech is now officially dead in Venezuela.
What is the current sentiment towards the obvious Cuban influences in Venezuelan affairs? Are Venezuelans generally pleased to have their government and military co-opted by Cuban advisors? At a very basic level, how do Venezuelans view the fact that there beloved president may very well die on Cuban soil (assuming he is still alive). Does Venezuelan pride and nationalism play a role in any of this? Can Cort Greene, an occasional commenter to HT, share his opinion if not other readers? As a American, I would be a little bent out of shape if my president chose to spend his last days in Israel. I would welcome any honest responses.
What is the purpose of this rally? Is it intended to intimidate the opposition?
This is what the Venezuelan Constitution says:
Article 231: The president-elect shall take office on 10 January… by taking an oath before the National Assembly. If for any reason, (they) cannot be sworn in before the National Assembly, they shall take the oath of office before the Supreme Court.
Article 233: When an elected president becomes absolutely absent prior to inauguration (1), a new election… shall be held within 30 days… Pending (this), the president of the National Assembly will assume responsibility for the presidency of the Republic.
Article 234: When the president is temporarily unable to serve (2), they shall be replaced by the… vice-president for a period of up to 90 days, which may be extended by resolution of the National Assembly for an additional 90 days.
The point of law turns on those two key Articles: 233 & 234.
If Chavez is “temporarily unable to serve”, he may be replaced by the vice-president (Maduro) for a period of up to 90 days. The crucial point being “temporarily”. Does anybody seriously believe Chavez is only temporarily absent? He is gravely ill and dying, if not already expired. He is not coming back to office. Therefore his absence is not temporary, it is absolute. In which case, Article 233 pertains:
“When an elected president becomes absolutely absent prior to inauguration (1), a new election… shall be held within 30 days…”
Constitutionally, an election must be called.
“Pending (this), the president of the National Assembly will assume responsibility for the presidency of the Republic.”
Constitutionally, Cabello should be serving as acting president, not Maduro.
This is why a medical board must be formed to determine the true state of health of Hugo Chavez, to determine whether his absence is temporary or absolute.
Absurdly, the TSJ has ruled that Chavez is not absent, neither temporal nor absolute! He has been incommunicado in a Cuban hospital for several weeks, but they clam that doesn’t make him absent from Venezuela and his duties. Could there be a statement more clear than this, that the seat of power is not Caracas but Havana?
The purpose of this rally is to force through an unconstitutional transfer of rule to the unelected Maduro, under the watchful hand of his mentors in Havana.