Difference between revisions of "Hugo Chavez"
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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> | + | 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> |
==Relations with US== | ==Relations with US== | ||
| − | The [[United States of America]] and [[Venezuela]]'s foreign relations | + | The [[United States of America]] and [[Venezuela]]'s foreign relations are presently unstable. Chavez often criticizes the United States for its 'imperialism' on his radio segment 'Alo Presidente', and alleges the United States's supported a 2002 coup in Venezuela which toppled Chávez momentarily and later removed by Chávez supporters, also known as 'Chávistas'. Venezuela is heavily dependent upon trade revenue from oil sales to the United States. |
==Oil monopoly== | ==Oil monopoly== | ||
Revision as of 01:52, June 1, 2007
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 was 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
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. [1] 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".[2] 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." [3] He is also considered to be an ally of leftist Ecuadorian president Rafael Correa, Bolivian president Evo Morales and the president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega. Correa
In May 2007, Chavez silenced the only remaining opposition television station critical of his repression by revoking its licence. [4] 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. [5]
Relations with US
The United States of America and Venezuela's foreign relations are presently unstable. Chavez often criticizes the United States for its 'imperialism' on his radio segment 'Alo Presidente', and alleges the United States's supported a 2002 coup in Venezuela which toppled Chávez momentarily and later removed by Chávez supporters, also known as 'Chávistas'. Venezuela is heavily dependent upon trade revenue from oil sales to the United States.
Oil monopoly
Through Venezuela's state owned petroleum industry and membership in OPEC, Chávez has now used powers granted to him by Parliament to increase oil prices, stimulating the economy and providing more money for the Bolivarianist projects. Countries such as the United States have criticized Chávez for the increase in cost for crude oil. Chavez is at the forefront of wanting to set crude oil prices at $60 a barrel minimum, according to the Asia Times[6]
Subversion
According to the Washington Post Chavez has been accused of supplying weapons to Colombian rebels, of financing Bolivian and Ecuadorian groups seeking to establish "Marxist" states, and of being, with Cuban leader Fidel Castro's guidance, a "subversive" everywhere else in the region. [7]
References
- ↑ Report on Global Anti-Semitism U. S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 5, 2005.
- ↑ Chávez decorated in Iran; initials cooperation pacts
- ↑ Back to the old days, if only for a minute, Wesley Pruden, Jewish World Review, Sept. 22, 2006.
- ↑ Chávez silences critical TV station, Rory Carroll, The Guardian, May 23, 2007.
- ↑ Troops Fire Upon Protesters in Venezuela, Fabiola Sanchez, Associated Press, 05.28.07. Retrieved from Forbes.com 05/31/07.
- ↑ Bush, OPEC and Chavez of Arabia, Pepe Escobar, Asia Times, 7 December 2006.
- ↑ Dealing With the Good and Bad Hugo Chavez, Marcela Sanchez The Washington Post 25 August 2005.
Further reading
- [1] An in depth view on Venezuela under Hugo Chávez.
- [2] An overview of articles on Venezuela's business under Hugo Chávez.
- Why The Left Should Cringe at The Mention of Hugo Chavez, Alvaro Vargas Llosa, Independent Institute, February 24, 2006.
- Bolivar, Dictator or Paladin? Interview: Hugo Chavez talks about Venezuela, Maria Amparo Lasso, Newsweek, Aug 20, 2001.