The Book
In praise of Blogging the Revolution
“Caracas Chronicles has been an indispensable source of lucidity and perspective in these turbulent times in Venezuela. Toro and Nagel have been right on target, without pretending to be ludicrously impartial; they have been able to rise above polarization, trying hard to make sense of an often implausible reality. Blogging the Revolution shows them at their best. If you are not already a fan, you will become one.”
- Francisco J. Monaldi, RFK Visiting Professor at Harvard Kennedy School and Director, Center on Energy at IESA in Caracas.Recent Comments
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Monthly Archives: November 2012
Rule of lawlessness
If the previous post wasn’t enough, there is a newly released report that confirms this fact: We don’t like laws very much. The Rule of Law Index 2012 (made by the NGO World Justice Project) finds that Venezuela isn’t just … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, In Other News, Justice System, Society
89 Comments
Another ordinary night in Caracas…
Fifty members of a paramilitary group known as colectivo tried to take over a station of the Venezuelan Criminal Police (CICPC) in Caracas. Their objective was to rescue a fellow member held there as the main suspect in the murder of … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, In Other News, Society, Violence
6 Comments
Cúcuta Chronicles
A gringo crosses the border. A guest post from Jonathan Pfaehler. The Colombo-Venezuelan border is a two-faced, majestic beauty burdened by the protracted armed conflict in Colombia, the massive drug trade, and the illegal armed groups that enter and leave … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
11 Comments
UN: Poverty went up in Venezuela
So says the United Nations Economic Comission on Latin America (ECLAC, or CEPAL for Spanish speakers). The caveat: they are talking about 2010-2011., and the rise was modest. Still, the findings make a punchy headline. Full report is here.
Posted in Politics
18 Comments
16-D Races to Watch: Bolívar
Four years ago, the largest state in the country was proof of how internal division can doom the opposition’s chances. Now, history repeats itself, but it’s chavismo suffering from squabbles. Chavismo believes the result of last October still gives them … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, Opposition, Politics
1 Comment
Where’s Waldo? FP Edition
I break down the latest developments for foreign readers, over at the Transitions blog.
Posted in Chavez cancer
22 Comments
Great reading for the day
Don’t miss this reportage by the supremely talented Maye Primera (in Spanish), an excerpt of an upcoming book, courtesy of Prodavinci. It’s about the deaths in the Retén de Catia twenty years ago. It’s sad to see that impunity lives … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Politics, Prisons
2 Comments
Loose change we can believe in
A couple of weekends ago, I helped a family friend count some money, a little more than 600 Bs. F. For an hour I felt like those money counters that work at Vegas. You can say that amount is nothing, … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, The Economy, Venezuelan Culture
9 Comments
The chavista who stole Christmas
The Gran Misión Vivienda Venezuela housing program was drastically reduced right after the October 7th election. Understandably, both its workers and those waiting for new homes are not happy with the sudden slow-down. To try to solve this issue as … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, infrastructure, Society, The Economy
13 Comments
27N Repeats Itself – First as Farce and then as Slapstick
Did you hear the one about the Chinese-made trainer jet that crashed in the air show to commemorate the failed putsch?! Thing is, el Chigüire got ahead of himself this time, cuz that’s not even the punchline. The punchline is … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
8 Comments
Where’s Waldo? Update
Felicito a los y las Graduandas de la I Cohorte del Diplomado en Saberes Africanos! Viva la Madre Africa!!— Hugo Chávez Frías (@chavezcandanga) November 01, 2012 That’s chavezcandanga’s last tweet, from November 1st. Since then, the comandante presidente’s twitter account … Continue reading
Posted in Chavez cancer, In Other News, Politics
42 Comments
Twenty years of that
Few people alive in Venezuela twenty years ago will forget November 27th, 1992. That day, we woke up to another coup d’etat attempt, only this one was happening right above our rooftops. Watching this video, I have to wonder – … Continue reading
Posted in Military
31 Comments
The Dilemma
The debate over whether rank-and-file Chávez voters deserve any share of responsibility for the myriad outrages of the Chávez era has produced more heat than light so far – probably due to the use of some colorful but over-blown hyperbole … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
86 Comments
Accomplices Galore
I’m with Juan here. It’s not as if Judge Afiuni’s rape and torture story is some kind of freak exception. The dire, dire human rights situation inside Venezuelan jails has been public knowledge for years. Venezuelan human rights bodies have … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Prisons
64 Comments
8,191,132 rapists
Yesterday we learned that Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, Hugo Chávez’s most visible political prisoner, was tortured and raped while in jail. She bravely told her story in a book by Venezuelan journalist Francisco Olivares. The situation at the INOF women’s … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Prisons, Violence, Women
71 Comments
