Editor’s Comment

José Vicente Rangel, Venezuela's ex-Minister of Defense

The following report by Venezuelan ex-Minister of Defense, José Vicente Rangel cannot be dismissed as an idle rumor. Evidence of this sort of interference by Washington in democratic processes in Latin America abounds.

The continuing efforts by the CIA to build up a matrix of opinion among members of Venezuela's opposition continue on a number of fronts. Knowing that they cannot win the vote in a population that overwhelmingly supports the government, they resort to the tactic of accusing the Venezuelan government of election fraud. It is similar to the strategy executed by the CIA-backed opposition in Nicaragua on November 9, 2008. There, the U.S.-backed opposition broadly accused the government of election fraud after their dramatic defeat in Nicaragua's municipal elections. The Sandinistas won 100 of 146 mayoralships, country-wide.

The US-backed Nicaraguan oppositionrefused to concede, rejecting the results of the election and crying “fraud” in a very well organised campaign against the government. The opposition erected large slick "Election Fraud" banners across the streets of Managua and protested the election results. But they got more than they bargained for. Sandinistas, supporting the government of Daniel Ortega, took to the streets, tore down opposition “fraud” banners and used sticks and stones to force opposition members into hiding in a church. Eduardo Montealegre, a wealthy banker, was the opposition candidate for mayor of Managua and he called for the march against the government after losing the election. Responsibility for the people who were injured and the 2 people who were killed in the conflicts can be laid directly at the feet of the CIA and their paid opposition in Nicaragua.

We already see a similar opposition strategy being set up here in Venezuela. So far, in the runup to the Regional Elections slated for November 23rd, there has not been a single opposition candidate who would categorically affirm that they would accept the election result, published by the Consejo Nacional Electoral(CNE – National Election Committee). International observers, including the Carter Center have consistently validated the fairness of Venezuelan elections and referenda over the last 10 years.

Last December, the government lost the important vote on Constitutional Reforms by a very small margin and President Chavez immediately conceded the referendum to the opposition. The aggressive and sometimes violent members of the opposition refused to even accept his concession! - claiming they won by a greater majority than reported by the CNE. The following report by ex-Minister of Defense, José Vicente Rangel should be taken very seriously as it reveals another serious threat against the democracy and duly elected government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

- Les Blough in Venezuela

Venezuelan ex-Minister of Defense, José Vicente Rangel:

"The CIA plans to destabilize the country after the November 23 elections"

By Prensa Web RNV (Radio Nacional de Venezuela)

Translated from Spanish into English for Axis of Logic and Tlaxcala by Iris Buehler and revised by Les Blough.

Journalist José Vicente Rangel revealed in his Sunday radio program that an electronic attaché case was recently brought to groups of Colombian intelligence services now operating in the Venezuelan city of Valencia.

José Vicente Rangel revealed,

"The CIA, in coordination with other [foreign] intelligence services operating in Venezuela, is preparing acts of destabilization, with a plan especially designed to be executed after the November 23 elections, regardless of the election result".

In his Sunday program, José Vicente Hoy ("José Vicente Today"), a Televen TV program, Rangel stated that for some time, this North American intelligence organism is planning a scenario of chaos, taking advantage of the street mobilizations during the election period. These were to be promoted by sectors which are opposed to President Hugo Chávez. The plan includes instigation of social conflicts, acts of sabotage in the Caracas' Metro system, power blackouts, and appeals to the national military sector.

Disclosures by the Venezuelan ex-Minister of Defense included information about an electronic attaché case that gained entry into the country in recent days, that was  handed over to groups from Colombian intelligence services which operate in the city of Valencia, in the State of Carabobo.

This briefcase was introduced to Venezuelan territory by the present Columbian Chancellor Jaime Bermúdez, a former Colombian diplomat in Argentina where he lent strong support to the opposition sectors of that country.

José Vicente Rangel continued, pointing out that Bermúdez, is considered a key figure for North American policies in the region. During a recent visit to Caracas, he brought in the electronic attaché case which was then delivred to Columbia's current ambassador to Venezuela, Fernando Marín.

Advancing new strategies against Venezuela

Rangel also spoke of opening an investigation to be focused on an attempt to link Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez with protests among Columbian indigenous groups, which have been taking place for months. In those protests, the Colombian indigenous have been claiming their ancestral rights.

The journalist stated that the Columbian government and the Minister of Defense, Juan Manuel Santos, insist on attributing the increasing climate of social unrest in Colombia to the Venezuelan head of state.

Specifically, he stated that they are attempting to deny the national character of the indigenous protests and to facilitate repression against this sector of the Colombian population. This strategy is also aimed at enlarging the dossier that is being developed against Venezuela for future accusations.

New attacks

Finally, Rangel commented on strong rumors of an physical attack on the governor of the State of Miranda, Diosdado Cabello. Cabello is a member of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, PSUV (Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela) who is running for re-election in Miranda. Rangel stated that Venezuelan security organisms are investigating the preparation of the plan to attack the regional leader.

About the author: Radio Nacional de Venezuela 

Original source: Rebelion (Spanish): Según José Vicente Rangel: "La CIA planea desestabilizar el país luego de las elecciones"

This article has been translated from Spanish into English by Iris Buehler and revised by Les Blough, Editor of Axis of Logic. Both are are members of Tlaxcala, the network of translators for linguistic diversity.

This translation is on Copyleft for any non-commercial use: verbatim copy of the translation in its entirety may be freely reproduced, respecting its integrity and citing the author, translator, revisor and the source of this translation (Axis of Logic).