Jim McIlroy & Coral Wynter, Caracas
A "dangerous situation" is being created in Venezuela after a series of much-publicised murders in recent weeks, according to Carolus Wimmer, a deputy to the Latin American Parliament and prominent member of the Venezuelan Communist Party. Wimmer recently toured Australia under the auspices of the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network.
The opposition-controlled media has whipped up a hysterical anti-government campaign following the murders. Wimmer told Green Left Weekly: "We believe these are political assassinations. The [right-wing] opposition has been saying since 1999 that we have an ungovernable situation in the country. But they are aiming mainly at international opinion: the message of these murders is, don't do business with Venezuela."
The first murder was that of Italian businessman Filippo Sindoni in late March, in Aragua state. While criminals may well be responsible for his death, Wimmer points out that Sindoni had collaborated with the left-wing government of President Hugo Chavez during the bosses' strike of late 2002 by continuing to run his factory during that reactionary economic boycott.
Three suspects have been detained. There have also been allegations of possible involvement by the Caracas Metropolitan Police. Caracas Mayor Juan Barreto has been campaigning to clean up the city's police, amidst widespread rumours of police corruption. Investigations of some 530 police are being launched.
On April 4, the three sons of the wealthy Lebanese Faddoul family and their chauffeur were found murdered after being kidnapped in late February. Then, at a student demonstration calling for the resignation of Justice Minister Jesse Chacon the following day, a photographer for the conservative newspaper El Mundo was shot dead by an assassin on a motorbike.
That newspaper is published by the Capriles group, which also puts out the journal Ultimas Noticias, which is much more even-handed toward the Chavez government. Wimmer pointed out that some right-wing forces may have reason to pressure anyone collaborating in any way with the government.
"We are concerned about an even worse situation developing", Wimmer said, "with possible selective assassination of cadres of the pro-government organisations — trade unionists, parliamentarians, local leaders and others".
"It is no secret that the US will do anything necessary to disrupt the re-election of Chavez as president at the end of this year", Wimmer added. He pointed to Colombian paramilitaries infiltrating Venezuela in preparation for future provocation. The April 7 Diario Vea reported that Iris Varela, a deputy in the National Assembly, claims to have the names of 590 Colombian paramilitaries, members of the Catatumbo Front, who have moved to Venezuela.
"Irrespective of whether the particular murders are directly political or not, the result is political", Wimmer said. "You only have to look at the hysterical campaign to create fear and uncertainty in the country by the opposition media.
"Now is the time for the international solidarity movement to step up its vigilance, and to be ready for any escalation of the campaign against the Venezuelan revolution."
From Green Left Weekly, April 12, 2006.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.