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[[Image:chavez.jpg|175px|right|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]'''Hugo Chávez''' (b. July 28, 1954) is the repressive [[dictator]] of the Bolivarian Republic of [[Venezuela]].  Chávez assumed power as President in 1998 and pledged to aid Venezuela's poor majority. Elections were held in 2000 and in 2006 Chavez retained power. Chávez has launched Bolivarian Missions, whose alleged goals are to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other "social ills".  Chávez openly encourages alternative models of economic development than those of "United States' Capitalism".

[[Image:chavez.jpg|175px|right|thumb|Hugo Chavez]]

'''Hugo Chávez''' (b. July 28, 1954) is the repressive [[dictator]] of the Bolivarian Republic of [[Venezuela]].  Chávez assumed power as President in 1998 and pledged to aid Venezuela's poor majority. Elections were held in 2000 and in 2006 Chavez retained power. Chávez has launched Bolivarian Missions, whose alleged goals are to combat disease, illiteracy, malnutrition, poverty, and other "social ills".  Chávez openly encourages alternative models of economic development than those of "United States' Capitalism".

==Human rights concerns==

==Human rights concerns==

Hugo Chávez is a great friend of Cuban leader [[Fidel Castro]] and is said to have drawn his political style through influences such as [[Che Guevara]], [[Karl Marx]] and [[Simon Bolivar]]. The U.S. State Department ''Report on Global Anti-Semitism'' cited Chavez in August 2004 warning citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005. </ref>  Chavez has also embraced a number of world leaders that have hostile relations with the United States, including [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], the President of [[Iran]], who Chavez has referred to as "my brother".<ref>[http://english.eluniversal.com/2006/07/31/en_pol_art_31A756133.shtml Chávez decorated in Iran; initials cooperation pacts]</ref> U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives [[Nancy Pelosi]] said of Chavez, ""Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern-day Simon Bolivar, but all he is is an everyday thug." <ref>[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/pruden092206.php3 Back to the old days, if only for a minute], Wesley Pruden, ''Jewish World Review'', Sept. 22, 2006.</ref>  He is also considered to be an ally of [[leftist]] [[Ecuador|Ecuadorian]] president [[Rafael Correa]], [[Bolivia|Bolivian]] president [[Evo Morales]] and the president of [[Nicaragua]], [[Daniel Ortega]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6187364.stm Correa]

Hugo Chávez is a great friend of [[Cuban]] leader [[Fidel Castro]] and is said to have drawn his political style through influences such as [[Che Guevara]], [[Karl Marx]] and [[Simon Bolivar]]. The U.S. State Department ''Report on Global Anti-Semitism'' cited Chavez in August 2004 warning citizens against following the lead of Jewish citizens in the effort to overturn his referendum victory. <ref>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/40258.htm Report on Global Anti-Semitism] U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, [[Human Rights]], and Labor, January 5, 2005. </ref>  Chavez has also embraced a number of world leaders that have hostile relations with the United States, including [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]], the President of [[Iran]], who Chavez has referred to as "my brother".<ref>[http://english.eluniversal.com/2006/07/31/en_pol_art_31A756133.shtml Chávez decorated in Iran; initials cooperation pacts]</ref> U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives [[Nancy Pelosi]] said of Chavez, ""Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern-day Simon Bolivar, but all he is is an everyday thug." <ref>[http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/pruden092206.php3 Back to the old days, if only for a minute], Wesley Pruden, ''Jewish World Review'', Sept. 22, 2006.</ref>  He is also considered to be an ally of [[leftist]] [[Ecuador|Ecuadorian]] president [[Rafael Correa]], [[Bolivia|Bolivian]] president [[Evo Morales]] and the president of [[Nicaragua]], [[Daniel Ortega]]. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6187364.stm Correa]

In May 2007, Chavez silenced the only remaining opposition television station critical of his repression by revoking its licence. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,2085952,00.html Chávez silences critical TV station], Rory Carroll, ''The Guardian'', May 23, 2007.</ref>  Crowds of students demonstrated saying they feared for the future of human rights in Venezuala.  National Guard troops were ordered to fire tear gas and rubber bullets.  Two students were injured, a third was hit with a tear gas canister, and about 20 people needed emergency medical attention for inhaling tear gas. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/28/ap3763178.html Troops Fire Upon Protesters in Venezuela], Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press, 05.28.07.  Retrieved from Forbes.com 05/31/07. </ref>

In May 2007, Chavez silenced the only remaining opposition television station critical of his repression by revoking its licence. <ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/venezuela/story/0,,2085952,00.html Chávez silences critical TV station], Rory Carroll, ''The Guardian'', May 23, 2007.</ref>  Crowds of students demonstrated saying they feared for the future of human rights in Venezuala.  National Guard troops were ordered to fire tear gas and rubber bullets.  Two students were injured, a third was hit with a tear gas canister, and about 20 people needed emergency medical attention for inhaling tear gas. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/28/ap3763178.html Troops Fire Upon Protesters in Venezuela], Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press, 05.28.07.  Retrieved from Forbes.com 05/31/07. </ref>