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: Violence
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
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
In cold blood
Many years ago, a story in the New York Times about a family murdered in Kansas prompted Truman Capote to write his masterpiece, In Cold Blood. Oh, what would Capote have done with the stories coming out of Chávez’s Venezuela. … Continue reading
Posted in Violence
6 Comments
Chronicles from the End of Civilization
All that’s left at this point – and it isn’t much, but it’s also not nothing – is to chronicle the rot. And I suppose it’s important to find comfort in the fact that some continue to do so competently: … Continue reading
Posted in Venezuelan Culture, Violence, Women
31 Comments
Misión Cáiganse a plomo
A few months ago, Hugo Chávez suddenly realized that, yes, crime was a problem. With the election now in the history books, folks can go back to killing each other in peace, courtesy of the President’s paquetazo. Wanna know how … Continue reading
Posted in Violence
10 Comments
“Sensation of insecurity” chronicles, continued
New Interior Minister Néstor Reverol repeated the official defense of the Chavernment regarding high criminality in Venezuela: it’s a matter of perception. This weekend alone, authorities stopped four attempted lynchings in the Guarenas-Guatire area. Looks like people there perceived some inaction by … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Society, Violence
6 Comments
Police deployment chronicles
The Bolivarian National Police is slowly expanding its operations around the country. This week, 880 agents of the PNB will start patrolling in Carabobo State, with special attention in parts of South Valencia. But there’s one problem… They started working … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, infrastructure, Society, Violence
6 Comments
“Sensation of insecurity” Chronicles, cont’d.
Ramon Maldonado, third in the hierarchy of the Venezuelan Criminal Police (CICPC) and former head of its Anzoátegui delegation was the latest victim of crime in Caracas this weekend, murdered after resisting the robbery of his car in El Paraiso. The … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Society, Violence
9 Comments
Annals of chavista headline writing
Yesterday, two opposition activists were shot dead during a rally for Henrique Capriles in Chávez’s home state of Barinas. (Another died later) How did the international media reflect this act of campaign violence? Reuters: “Two Venezuelan opposition activists shot dead” AlJazeera: … Continue reading
Posted in The Media, Violence
28 Comments
Gabriela Montero, a brave artist
Venezuelan pianist Gabriela Montero is a spell-binding Venezuelan pianist. In a wonderful post over at HuffPo, she paints the Venezuelan reality in bold colors and doesn’t hold back when she says stuff like, “I am not a politician. I am … Continue reading
Posted in Venezuelan Culture, Violence
12 Comments
Muse on the loose
One way this presidential campaign has already paid off is in the trove of great writing that it’s been inspiring. First, this magnum opus by Boris Muñoz, first published in Gatopardo, but reproduced in Prodavinci. It’s long, as long (and … Continue reading
Posted in Henrique Capriles, Violence
15 Comments
A peek inside PGV
To my chronic frustration, we never get a proper chance to look inside Venezuelan prison walls. That’s why Ross Kemp’s Extreme World documentary on crime in Venezuela deserves such high praise. I’m not able to embed it, but you can watch … Continue reading
The “consultation” panacea
The Chavernment has announced that it will carry out a “National Consultation for a Safe Coexistance”, as part of its most recent security program. This will eventually translate into a study on the matter. Sadly, as recent history shows, this … Continue reading
Posted in In Other News, Society, Violence
10 Comments
The CFR Heebie Jeebies
This CFR memo, by Patrick Duddy, gave me the heebbie jeebbies. Should Chavez appear to be losing the election, die suddenly, or withdraw from public life for health reasons, tensions are likely to rise in Venezuela, especially if the public … Continue reading
The sound of our tears
On a day when violence tries, once again, to impose its will on all Venezuelans, here is an improvised piece by the great Gabriela Montero. It was recorded in Merano, Italy, a few days ago.
Posted in Politics, Venezuelan Culture, Violence
4 Comments
