Can We Say "Dictator" Now?
By Pejman Yousefzadeh Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Hugo Chavez | Tyranny | Venezuela — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Come on. Can we?
President Hugo Chávez has used his decree powers to carry out a major overhaul of this country's intelligence agencies, provoking a fierce backlash here from human rights groups and legal scholars who say the measures will force citizens to inform on one another to avoid prison terms.
Under the new intelligence law, which took effect last week, Venezuela's two main intelligence services, the DISIP secret police and the DIM military intelligence agency, will be replaced with new agencies, the General Intelligence Office and General Counterintelligence Office, under the control of Chávez.
The new law requires people in the country to comply with requests to assist the agencies, secret police or community activist groups loyal to Chávez. Refusal can result in prison terms of two to four years for most people and four to six years for government employees.
"We are before a set of measures that are a threat to all of us," said Blanca Rosa Mármol de León, a justice on Venezuela's top court, in a rare public judicial dissent. "I have an obligation to say this, as a citizen and a judge. This is a step toward the creation of a society of informers."
Amazingly enough, this development will come as a shock to some people.
A Thumb In Hugo Chavez's Eye — Comments (2) »
Can We Say "Dictator" Now? 2 Comments (0 topical, 2 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
But, but, Hugo is a friend of the poor. He gives oil to Kennedy Sahib so Kennedy Sahib can give it to the poor.
Socialists always seem to turn into dictators. Why can't the lefties see that their policies and tactics lead directly into dictatorships? We've had numerous examples now....
Socialism doesn't work. It looks nice on paper, but it's been tried and it's failed miserably every time (usually accompanied by widespread death and suffering).
Proud member of the V.R.W.C.