Sunday, May 9, 2010

Chavez critic convicted in Venezuela


Former Gen. Raul Isaias Baduel was sentenced to a nearly eight-year prison term on charges of abuse of power, misappropriation of funds and violation of the military code while he was an officer according to the LA Times.

Baduel was once an ally of president Chavez. Baduel helped Chavez to restore his power after a military coup in April 2002. Baduel campaigned in 2007 against a constitutional amendment referendum to advance the socialist model and to enable the president to run for reelection indefinitely, which voters rejected. Baduel has been in custody since his arrest in April 2009.

Charges against him included the misuse of $3.9 million, a charge the court said it proved through testimony of army officials who said they never received money budgeted to them.

Baduel is not the only one that has been arrested for criticizing the government. In March, former Zulia state Gov. Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was arrested after saying Venezuela had become a narco-state and implying that Chavez was responsible.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Man arrested on suspicion of trying to kill Chavez

According to LA Times on April 29, a 28-year-old man was arrested on charges of suspicion, for trying to incite an assasination against Chavez.

Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami, says the man was detained on Thursday in the city of El Vigia. However, the man's identification has not been released.

El Aissami said the man has traveled frequently to Colombia and messages were found on his computer alluding to kill Chavez.

Venezuelan authorities have claimed numerous purported plots against Chavez in recent years, but none have led to arrests.