Changes

| military    =Venezuelan army

| military    =Venezuelan army

| rank        =Lieutenant colonel

| rank        =Lieutenant colonel

| polbeliefs  =[[Socialism]]<br/>[[Communism]]

| polbeliefs  =[[Socialism]]

| party        =Fifth Republic Movement<br/>United Socialist Party

| party        =Fifth Republic Movement<br/>United Socialist Party

| dictatordate =November 2000

| dictatordate =November 2000

| deathnumber  =n/a

| deathnumber  =n/a

}}

}}

'''Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías''' (b. July 28, 1954 - d. circa Dec. 11, 2012) <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21476917 (obviously staged photo)</ref> was the repressive [[leftist]] [[tyrant]] of the Bolivarian Republic of [[Venezuela]] from 1999 to 2012.  Chavez was not seen in public since he entered a Cuban hospital near death on December 11, 2012. Venezuela's [[communist]] regime engaged in [[liberal denial]] about his death for nearly three months, even releasing a photo of an ostensibly fit and smiling Chavez.  But on March 5, 2013, likely due to pressure from other nations that knew Chavez had died, Venezuelan [[communist]]s finally admitted Chavez was dead. <ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/05/hugo-chavez-dead-at-58-good-riddance.html "Hugo Chavez dead at 58] "How little we know about the manner in which - or when - he died"]</ref> <ref>[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130311/DA4UKU7G0.html Venezuela candidate: Govt exploits Chavez death]</ref>

'''Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías''' (b. July 28, 1954 - d. circa Dec. 11, 2012) <ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-21476917 (obviously staged photo)</ref> was the [[leftist]] President of the Bolivarian Republic of [[Venezuela]] from 1999 to 2012.  Chavez was not seen in public since he entered a Cuban hospital near death on December 11, 2012. Venezuela's [[socialist]] regime engaged in [[liberal denial]] about his death for nearly three months, even releasing a photo of an ostensibly fit and smiling Chavez.  But on March 5, 2013, likely due to pressure from other nations that knew Chavez had died, Venezuelan [[communist]]s finally admitted Chavez was dead. <ref>[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/03/05/hugo-chavez-dead-at-58-good-riddance.html "Hugo Chavez dead at 58] "How little we know about the manner in which - or when - he died"]</ref> <ref>[http://apnews.myway.com/article/20130311/DA4UKU7G0.html Venezuela candidate: Govt exploits Chavez death]</ref>

A self-proclaimed [[socialist]] and [[collectivist]], his disastrous economic policies led to food shortages, quotas, and rationing in his oil-rich country, causing thousands to flee.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/4938993/Venezuelas-Hugo-Chavez-tightens-state-control-of-food-amid-rocketing-inflation-and-food-shortages.html</ref>

A self-proclaimed [[socialist]] and [[collectivist]], his disastrous economic policies led to food shortages, quotas, and rationing in his oil-rich country, causing thousands to flee.<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/4938993/Venezuelas-Hugo-Chavez-tightens-state-control-of-food-amid-rocketing-inflation-and-food-shortages.html</ref>

Due to an illness, in early April 2012 "Hugo Chavez weeps and calls on [[God]] to spare his life."<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/9189962/Hugo-Chavez-weeps-and-calls-on-God-to-spare-his-life.html</ref>  That contrasts with Jesus's request in his time of crisis, when [[Jesus]] prayed, "O Father, if You can, let this cup pass from Me. But ''don't do what I want, but rather what You want''."<ref>[[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#26:39|Matthew 26:39]].</ref>

Due to an illness, in early April 2012 "Hugo Chavez weeps and calls on [[God]] to spare his life."<ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/venezuela/9189962/Hugo-Chavez-weeps-and-calls-on-God-to-spare-his-life.html</ref>  That contrasts with Jesus's request in his time of crisis, when [[Jesus]] prayed, "O Father, if You can, let this cup pass from Me. But ''don't do what I want, but rather what You want''."<ref>[[Matthew 20-28 (Translated)#26:39|Matthew 26:39]].</ref>

==Election fraud==

==Election fraud==

</ref>. As a result of the anti-semitic policies of the Chavez regime and the wave of violent attacks on Venezuelan Jews that it caused, the [[Jewish]] population of Venezuela decreased by more than 50 percent within a decade of Chavez coming to power.<ref>http://www.worldjewishdaily.com/venezuela.php</ref>

</ref>. As a result of the anti-semitic policies of the Chavez regime and the wave of violent attacks on Venezuelan Jews that it caused, the [[Jewish]] population of Venezuela decreased by more than 50 percent within a decade of Chavez coming to power.<ref>http://www.worldjewishdaily.com/venezuela.php</ref>

==Drug trafficking==

==Drug problem in Venezuela==

The ''Associated Press'' reported in  July 2007 that since Chavez's ascension to power, illegal narcotics passing through Venezuela from [[Colombia]] has risen by as much as 30 tons a year and now accounts for roughly a third of the world's supply of [[cocaine]].  Mildred Camero who was in charge of Venezuela's anti-drug efforts stated, "[[Caracas]] is replacing [[Bogota]] as a center of everything related to drug operations." Camero was fired in 2005 after reporting high-level corruption. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/01/ap3875048.html Venezuela Becomes Cocaine Conduit], By Ian James and Frank Bajak, ''Associated Press'', 1 July 2007. Retrieved from Forbes.com 8 July 2007.</ref>

The ''Associated Press'' reported in  July 2007 that since Chavez's ascension to power, illegal narcotics passing through Venezuela from [[Colombia]] has risen by as much as 30 tons a year and now accounts for roughly a third of the world's supply of [[cocaine]].  Mildred Camero who was in charge of Venezuela's anti-drug efforts stated, "[[Caracas]] is replacing [[Bogota]] as a center of everything related to drug operations." Camero was fired in 2005 after reporting high-level corruption. <ref>[http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/07/01/ap3875048.html Venezuela Becomes Cocaine Conduit], By Ian James and Frank Bajak, ''Associated Press'', 1 July 2007. Retrieved from Forbes.com 8 July 2007.</ref>

In 2008 Chavez revealed that he himself regularly chews coca leafs, the leafs from which cocaine is made.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/01/26/uk-venezuela-chavez-coca-idUKN2638848320080126 Venezuela's Chavez swaps coffee for coca in speech - Reuters]</ref> This revelation casts serious doubts about his ability to function properly as a head of state and reach sound judgements.

In 2008 Chavez revealed that he himself regularly chews coca leafs, the leafs from which cocaine is made.This is a common custom in that area of South America.<ref>[http://uk.reuters.com/article/2008/01/26/uk-venezuela-chavez-coca-idUKN2638848320080126 Venezuela's Chavez swaps coffee for coca in speech - Reuters]</ref>

==Religious==

==Religious views==

Chavez demanded that [[Pope Benedict]] apologize for saying the Roman Catholic Church purified Indians in Latin America. Chavez called the treatment of Indians after [[Christopher Columbus]] landed in 1492 a "holocaust".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1819661120070519 Chavez demands Pope apologize for Indian comments], Reuters, May 19, 2007</ref>

Though Chavez claimed to be a devout Catholic, he has had public disputes with the Church before.Chavez demanded that [[Pope Benedict]] apologize for saying the Roman Catholic Church purified Indians in Latin America. Chavez called the treatment of Indians after [[Christopher Columbus]] landed in 1492 a "holocaust".<ref>[http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN1819661120070519 Chavez demands Pope apologize for Indian comments], Reuters, May 19, 2007</ref>

In addition, he denoucned Catholic leaders, claiming they cared more about the rich than the poor. and Christ would have whipped some of them for lying. After his condition continued to deteriorate due to cancer, Chavez became more overtly religious,calling on God to help him.<ref>http://www.christianpost.com/news/the-significance-of-hugo-chavezs-death-and-faith-91410/</ref>

==2011-2012 Health Crisis and subsequent cover-up and Constitutional Crisis==

==2011-2012 Health Crisis and subsequent cover-up and Constitutional Crisis==

On June 30th, 2011, the 56 year-old President admitted, in a televised speech, of having cancer.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13991906]</ref> He sought medical treatments in communist Cuba instead of choosing the much better hospitals and doctors of Brazil, the United States or Europe, because of the deeply rooted leftist myth according to which Cuban medicine is the best in the world, and because only a murderous dictatorship like the Cuban Communist regime could impose the level of secrecy Chavez needed to keep the Venezuelans in the dark about how terminally ill he really was.

On June 30th, 2011, the 56 year-old President admitted, in a televised speech, of having cancer.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13991906]</ref>.He sought treatment, to no avail, in Brazil.<ref>http://latindispatch.com/2011/07/14/hugo-chavez-to-receive-cancer-treatment-in-brazil/</ref>

Despite knowing full well that he was dying of cancer and had only a few months to live, Chavez selfishly chose to run for reelection and plunge his country into chaos and turmoil instead of organizing a more orderly transfer of power to one of his Communist cronies. On 7 October 2012, a terminally ill Chávez won election as president for a fourth time, defeating Henrique Capriles.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/venezuela-election-idUSL1E8L70WK20121008</ref>

Despite being aware of his condition, Chavez chose to run again for President. On 7 October 2012, a terminally ill Chávez won election as president for a fourth time, defeating Henrique Capriles.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/08/venezuela-election-idUSL1E8L70WK20121008</ref>

Chavez was not seen since 11 December 2012, the last time he appeared in public. He must have died shortly afterwards. However, the Cuban and Venezuelan communists attempted to keep his death secret, and pretended he was alive for another two and a half months, going as far as using his [[Twitter]] account to post fake messages from a supposedly recovering Chavez.

Chavez was not seen since 11 December 2012, the last time he appeared in public. He must have died shortly afterwards. However, the Cuban and Venezuelan communists attempted to keep his death secret, and pretended he was alive for another two and a half months, going as far as using his [[Twitter]] account to post fake messages from a supposedly recovering Chavez.

Chavez should have taken the oath of office on January the 10th, the necessary step to asume the presidency for his new period. However, Venezuela's Supreme Court ignored the provisions of the Venezuelan Constitution (reformed by Chavez himself in 1999) and allowed Chavez to become president without taking the oath of office, thus doing away with any remaining semblance of constitutional government.

Chavez should have taken the oath of office on January the 10th, the necessary step to assume the presidency for his new period. However, Venezuela's Supreme Court ignored the provisions of the Venezuelan Constitution (reformed by Chavez himself in 1999) and allowed Chavez to become president without taking the oath of office, thus doing away with any remaining semblance of constitutional government.

On February, the 18th it was announced that Chavez had returned to Venezuela to finish his recovery.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/18/president-chavez-returns-to-venezuela-from-cuba-after-months-medical-treatment/</ref> The then Venezuelan vice-president [[Nicolás Maduro]] said that Chavez had been flown in secrecy from [[Havana]] to [[Caracas]] in the early hours of the morning to avoid possible attacks from his enemies. The two top floors of Caracas' Military Hospital were sealed from the public, with Chavez supposedly recovering in the 8th floor and the 7th floor closed to guarantee his security. On March the 5th the Venezuelan ''de facto'' government finally ended the charade and announced that Chavez had died, suggesting also that his cancer and death had been the result of an assessination plot by "the historical enemies of the Fatherland" (referring to the United States and the Venezuelan democratic opposition). On March 7th, Venezuelan vice-president announced that Chavez's body should be embalmed and put on permanent display inside a glass tomb, thus imitating the treatment given to the corpses of other Communist dictators like [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]], [[Klement Gottwald]], [[Georgi Dimitrov]], [[Mao Zedong]], [[Ho Chi Minh]], [[Kim Il-Sung]] and [[Kim Jong-Il]].<ref>FOX News: [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/07/chavez-body-embalmed-to-be-permanently-on-display/ Chavez's body embalmed, to be permanently on display] (March 7, 2013)</ref> But this was canceled because Chavez`s body would otherwise should be brought for a time in Russia.

On February, the 18th it was announced that Chavez had returned to Venezuela to finish his recovery.<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/18/president-chavez-returns-to-venezuela-from-cuba-after-months-medical-treatment/</ref> The then Venezuelan vice-president [[Nicolás Maduro]] said that Chavez had been flown in secrecy from [[Havana]] to [[Caracas]] in the early hours of the morning to avoid possible attacks from his enemies. The two top floors of Caracas' Military Hospital were sealed from the public, with Chavez supposedly recovering in the 8th floor and the 7th floor closed to guarantee his security. On March the 5th the Venezuelan ''de facto'' government finally ended the charade and announced that Chavez had died, suggesting also that his cancer and death had been the result of an assessination plot by "the historical enemies of the Fatherland" (referring to the United States and the Venezuelan democratic opposition). On March 7th, Venezuelan vice-president announced that Chavez's body should be embalmed and put on permanent display inside a glass tomb, thus imitating the treatment given to the corpses of other Communist dictators like [[Vladimir Lenin|Lenin]], [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]], [[Klement Gottwald]], [[Georgi Dimitrov]], [[Mao Zedong]], [[Ho Chi Minh]], [[Kim Il-Sung]] and [[Kim Jong-Il]].<ref>FOX News: [http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/03/07/chavez-body-embalmed-to-be-permanently-on-display/ Chavez's body embalmed, to be permanently on display] (March 7, 2013)</ref> But this was canceled because Chavez`s body would otherwise should be brought for a time in Russia.