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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Category Archives: Justice System
Luisa Estela is down, but not out
The Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) selects its leadership at the beginning of the judicial year, every January. This time, it took them until May to finally reach a consensus on its leadership. Even if incumbent TSJ President Luisa Estela Morales … Continue reading
Posted in Chavismo, In Other News, Justice System, Society
17 Comments
Prosecutor, judge and jury
Supreme Tribunal chief Luisa Estella Morales says: “There won’t be a manual recount.” All of the sudden, she starts feeling guilty about people dying on the streets, and threatens Capriles. For a different take, I suggest José Ignacio Hernández’s article … Continue reading
Posted in Corruption, Justice System
60 Comments
When violence reaches small towns
The city of Boconó, located in the Andean state of Trujillo has seen crime grow fast in the last twelve months. Local police admits that every weekend five robberies take place in the town, and retailers are now being extorted. … Continue reading
Posted in Justice System, Society, Violence
7 Comments
What’s going on at CICPC town?
Almost eight months after a series of substancial reforms were announced in Venezuela’s criminal investigations police (CICPC, formally the PTJ), a brief report by the Comptroller General’s Office does not make for hopeful reading. The biggest problem right now is that … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, In Other News, Justice System, Society
12 Comments
Tower of terror
Jon Lee Anderson penned an epic article on life in Caracas for the New Yorker, and after jumping through many hoops, I finally dished out $5.95 and read it. It is a devastating piece. There are many ways in which … Continue reading
Posted in Justice System, Violence
86 Comments
President Maduro’s first political prisoner
Not content with throwing Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni in jail, chavismo now throws her lawyer in jail for “obstruction of justice.” Great PR move, geniuses.
Posted in Human Rights, Justice System, Nicolas Maduro
6 Comments
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
Do it for Socorro
Socorro Hernández is one of those chavista creatures that really tick me off. I can sort of understand people like Aristóbulo Istúriz, or Freddy Bernal, or Elías Jaua, or Diosdado Cabello, or even Iris Varela being chavistas. Their backgrounds, their … Continue reading
Posted in CNE, Corruption, Justice System, Politics
51 Comments
Yanosequépensar about the Yanomami Massacre
If a massacre happens in the middle of the jungle, and nobody’s there to see it, should it make a headline? This is the troubling question we’ve all been having to wrestle over the last few days as we look … Continue reading
The great public security swindle
Some unusual posters appeared in the streets of Caracas last Monday. Generic obituaries that remind us that violence is still out of control. The number of casualties in the capital last weekend was high once again. The prior weekend was … Continue reading
Posted in Human Rights, Justice System, Politics, Presidential Election, Prisons, Society, Violence
8 Comments
The Ombudsman declares war… on exotic smoking pipes
People’s Ombudsman (and former PSUV deputy) Gabriela Ramírez has taken the initiative for once and stop her usual routine of blaming everything on the IV Republic. She asked a court to stop two companies of keep selling what she considers … Continue reading
Posted in Drugs, In Other News, Justice System, Society
50 Comments
Luisa Estela Morales, Space Cadet
The chairwoman of our Supreme Tribunal has found herself a new priority: Protecting Venezuelan outer space. “The ultraterrestrial space is one of the aspects established in our Constitution as an important element of the general concept of sovereignty…It’s a commitment … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Justice System
36 Comments
There’s a new sheriff in CICPC town
Big structural changes for the CICPC, Venezuela’s investigative police force, after Chávez used his enabling law powers to reform it by decree. The president’s first major change? A new police commander. And who better for the task than the Comandante … Continue reading
Posted in Justice System, Society, Violence
18 Comments
