hippy

Not sure if this is in the right place, mods feel free to move if it isn't, but;

I'm after some information on Venezuela. We are looking at a new supplier based there.. I haven't been for at least four years, so I am out of date.. I am, obviously conducting all the normal checks and information gathering required for a formal threat assessment, but maybe some on on here can give me more first hand information..

Thanks..

mally

I've just added this hippy, from the fco Venezuela Travel Warnings

__________________
Mally

Add Your Company - Competitions - police military security equipment

Competition Prizes Needed, please send me a private message if you have any items you can donate!

hippy

Cheers Mally, FCO site is one of my first stops, normally just after Reuters.. What Im after is personal accounts from lads/lasses who have been there themselves recently...

I have found, having conducted threat assessments for over 15 years now, a personal account offers nformation often missed by 'officaldom'

frankfarmer

Hippo,

have you used Newspapers @ ThePaperboy.com : Click Here for 6307 Online Newspapers before? Once you log on select the country of choice and then you can read their national newspapers - or international newspapers who carry news about the country of interest. Venezuela has 17 newspapers!

Hope this helps - if not then at least we can all read the Daily Mirror and The Sun wherever we are in the world.

Frank

covert munkey

Good link Frank,

This will be a very useful tool if not to keep up to date but to find out what 'Dear Dedrie' is advising!

CM

PS Do they have the daily sport? LOL

markb

Hi mate, heres a quick overview of Venezuela. Hope it's of some use. For more info go to GlobalSecurity.org - Reliable Security Information from there you'll be able to find out pretty much anything you want about most countries.

Venezuela was one of three countries that emerged from the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830 (the others being Ecuador and New Granada, which became Colombia). For most of the first half of the 20th century, Venezuela was ruled by generally benevolent military strongmen, who promoted the oil industry and allowed for some social reforms. Democratically elected governments have held sway since 1959.

Venezuela is the sixth-most populous country in Latin America, after Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Peru. About 85% of the population lives in urban areas in the northern portion of the country. While almost half of Venezuela's land area lies south of the Orinoco River in the states of Bolivar and Amazonas, this region contains only 5% of the population. The population of Venezuela is comprised of a combination of European, indigenous, and African heritages.

The political situation in Venezuela is highly polarized and volatile. Current concerns include: a weakening of democratic institutions, political polarization, a politicized military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing internal drug consumption, overdependence on the petroleum industry with its price fluctuations, and irresponsible mining operations that are endangering the rain forest and indigenous peoples.

Venezuela’s prevailing political calm came to an end in 1989, when Venezuela experienced riots in which more than 200 people were killed in Caracas. The so-called Caracazo was a response to an economic austerity program launched by then-President Carlos Andres Perez. Three years later, in February 1992, a group of army lieutenant colonels led by future President Hugo Chavez mounted an unsuccessful coup attempt, claiming that the events of 1989 showed that the political system no longer served the interests of the people. A second, equally unsuccessful coup attempt by other officers followed in November 1992. A year later, Congress impeached Perez on corruption charges.

Deep popular dissatisfaction with the traditional political parties, income disparities, and economic difficulties were some of the major frustrations expressed by Venezuelans following Perez's impeachment. In December 1998, Hugo Chavez Frias won the presidency on a campaign for broad reform, constitutional change, and a crackdown on corruption.

President Hugo Chavez was elected on a platform that called for the creation of a National Constituent Assembly in order to write a new constitution for Venezuela. Chavez's argument that the existing political system had become isolated from the people won broad acceptance, particularly among Venezuela's poorest classes, who had seen a significant decline in their living standards over the previous decade and a half. The National Constituent Assembly (ANC), consisting of 131 elected individuals, convened in August 1999 to begin rewriting the Constitution. In free elections, voters gave all but six seats to persons associated with the Chavez movement. Venezuelans approved the ANC's draft in a national referendum on December 15, 1999.

The constitution of December 15, 1999 changed the name of the country from the Republic of Venezuela (República de Venezuela) to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (República Bolivariana de Venezuela). The ideological cornerstone of President Chávez’s “Bolivarian” foreign policy is to build a “multipolar” world with regional alliances that would counterbalance U.S. domination of world affairs.

In 2000 voters elected President Hugo Chavez of the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) in generally free and fair elections. In April 2002, the country experienced a temporary alteration of constitutional order. When an estimated 400,000 to 600,000 persons participated in a march in downtown Caracas to demand President Chavez’ resignation, gunfire broke out, resulting in as many as 18 deaths and more than 100 injuries on both sides. Military officers took President Chavez into custody, and business leader Pedro Carmona swore himself in as interim President. On 14 April 2002, military troops loyal to Chavez returned him to power.

The Chávez government’s relations with the United States, Colombia, and Spain have been particularly tense since the abortive coup attempt in April 2002, which these countries appeared to welcome. Chávez also accused the United States of being behind the coup attempt.

Continued dissatisfaction with the Chavez administration led to a national work stoppage on December 2, 2002. Strikers protested the government and called for the resignation of President Chavez. On December 4, 2002, the petroleum sector joined the strike. Other sectors of the economy also joined the work stoppage and effectively shut down all economic activity for a month. Venezuela’s presidential recall referendum was held August 15, 2004. Following two months of extensive campaigning efforts, President Chavez won 59% of the vote.

While civilian authorities generally maintained control of the security forces, there were instances in which elements of the security forces acted independently of government authority. Politicization of the judiciary, restrictions on the media, and harassment of the political opposition continued to characterize the human rights situation during 2005. The government used the justice system selectively against the political opposition and implementation of a 2004 media law threatened to limit press freedom.

By one estimate the country has the highest per-capita murder rate in the world. More than 11,000 murders were reported in 2003, as compared with only 2,000 in 1991. In mid-2004 Venezuela’s estimated population totaled 26.2 million, which would be a murder rate of 42 per 100,000. In the mid-1970s Lesotho witnessed a murder rate of 141 per 100,000, while more recently Columbia's murder rate was variously estimate at between 63 and 84 per 100,000. At about 50 per 100,000 Washington, DC may have the highest murder rate in the developed world. Caracas, Venezuela reputedly has a murder rate over 100 per 100,000. [SOURCE] In early 2006 the murder rate in Baghdad appeared to be about 200 per 100,000 [SOURCE]

Armed robberies take place in broad daylight throughout the city, including areas generally presumed safe and frequented by tourists. Well armed criminal gangs operate with impunity, often setting up fake police checkpoints. Kidnapping is a particularly serious problem, with more than 1,000 reported during 2005 alone. There have been several high profile kidnappings that have resulted in murder, including the killings of three minor Canadian brothers, a wealthy Italo-Venezuelan businessman, and the daughter of a senior Venezuelan military commander. Investigation of all crime is haphazard and ineffective. In the case of high-profile killings, the authorities quickly round up suspects, but rarely produce evidence linking these individuals to the crime. Only a very small percentage of criminals are tried and convicted.

Prosecutors rarely brought cases against perpetrators of unlawful killings. When prosecutors investigated, they alleged that unsecured crime scenes, poor investigative techniques, and constantly changing or inexperienced personnel ensured that political and human rights abuse cases were delayed indefinitely or had a preordained result. In August the attorney general's office reported that of the more than 6 thousand police officers implicated in killings during the last 5 years, only 88 were convicted. Sentences frequently were light, and convictions often were overturned on appeal. Members of the security forces charged with or convicted of crimes rarely were imprisoned.

In the interest of diversification, the Chávez government has sought to develop military relations with China, Cuba, Russia, and Ukraine. China’s defense minister visited Venezuela for the first time in September 2001. Venezuela signed a military cooperation agreement with Russia in 2001. The arrangement facilitates the acquisition by Venezuela of Russian military aircraft or helicopters and other weapons.

Venezuela’s most senior leaders, including President Chavez, regularly express anti-American sentiment. The Venezuelan government’s rhetoric of hate directed against the US government, as well as American culture and institutions, is slowly affecting attitudes in what used to be one of the most pro-American countries in the hemisphere.

US-Venezuelan relations have been tense in recent years. President Hugo Chávez has continuously defined himself in opposition to the United States, using incendiary rhetoric to publicly insult President Bush and senior administration officials. President Chávez’s criticism of the US bombing campaign in Afghanistan in November 2001 as “terrorism” especially irked the White House. The United States continues to seek constructive engagement with the Venezuelan Government, focusing on areas of technical cooperation. Major US interests in Venezuela include promotion of US exports and protection of US investment, preservation of Venezuela's constitutional democracy, closer counternarcotics cooperation, more vigorous efforts on counterterrorism, and continued access to petroleum.

US-Venezuelan commercial ties are close. The United States is Venezuela's most important trading partner, representing about half of both imports and exports. In turn, Venezuela is the United States’ third-largest export market in Latin America, purchasing U.S. machinery, transportation equipment, agricultural commodities, and auto parts. Venezuela's opening of its petroleum sector to foreign investment in 1996 created extensive trade and investment opportunities for US companies. As a result, Venezuela is one of the top four suppliers of foreign oil to the United States.

Venezuela traditionally purchased much of its military equipment from the United States. US foreign military sales to Venezuela in 2002 totaled US$20 million. However, Venezuela increasingly is turning to other countries for military equipment. The Chávez government apparently now sees the United States as its principal adversary. As the Chávez government has increased its security ties with Cuba, it has reduced Venezuela’s traditionally close military and security ties with the United States. For example, in March 2004 Venezuela withdrew its military contingent from the US Army's Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation (the former School of the Americas), in Fort Benning, Georgia.

In June 2004, Venezuela was listed at Tier 3 status in the State Department’s Report on Trafficking in Persons. Tier 3 status indicates a perceived lack of effort to combat human trafficking. On September 15, 2005 President Bush decertified Venezuela on counternarcotics cooperation.

In April 2004, Venezuela’s Ministry of Defense embarked on a US$2-billion arms-acquisition program and subsequently signed an agreement, which was expanded later in the year, with Russia for various armaments for the army. In February 2005, Venezuela also was evaluating Russian MiG-29 fighters as replacements for its US-made F-16s and seeking to purchase 24 Super Tucano multipurpose fighter aircraft from Brazil. In January 2005, Spain agreed to sell Venezuela up to four offshore patrol boats or light corvettes and a number of Casa military transport aircraft. In September 2004, Ukraine began providing light to medium military equipment to Venezuela, and negotiations were underway for Ukraine to supply more sensitive and strategically important military equipment.

Chavez continues a close relationship with Cuba’s dictator Fidel Castro. Castro has a long history of fomenting subversion in Latin America and elsewhere. Under Castro, Cuba -- also a state sponsor of terrorism -- has hosted and provided sanctuary to members of the FARC and the ELN, as well as to militants of the Basque terrorist group ETA. Castro and Chavez are using a variety of means to try to help individuals who share their worldview come to power via the electoral route. Some Cuban advisers reportedly have been posted in the Ministry of Defense’s General Directorate for Military Intelligence (Dirección de Inteligencia Militar—DIM), and some Cuban military advisers reportedly are engaged in training the military. In early 2005, Venezuela’s National Assembly ratified a 1999 security agreement with Cuba that is intended to facilitate cooperation between security personnel in Venezuela and Cuba.

The Chavez government has concluded a number of agreements with Iran, ranging from investment pacts, to cultural exchanges, to pledges of support against military aggression -- ostensibly by the United States. In March 2006, Chavez defended Iran’s quest to develop nuclear energy without any oversight by the UN or the International Atomic Energy Agency, dismissing the concerns of the international community.

The Government of Venezuela has stated that it regards the US-led war on terrorism as a ruse for US imperial ambitions. It has refused to condemn narco-terrorist organizations based in Colombia, and has publicly championed the cause of terrorists in Iraq. Although it is unclear how they were obtained, some weapons seized from Colombian narco-terrorists have come from official Venezuelan stocks and facilities. And the Venezuelan Government has done little to improve the security of travel and identity documents it issues.

On May 15, 2006, pursuant to Section 40A of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), as amended, the Department of State transmitted to Congress a determination and certification by the Secretary of State that Venezuela is not fully cooperating with the antiterrorism efforts of the United States. Accordingly, the statute prohibits the sale or license for export under the AECA of defense articles and defense services to Venezuela during the fiscal year 2007.

Therefore, as of October 1, 2006, new U.S. sales and licenses for the commercial export of defense articles and defense services to Venezuela will be prohibited. In addition, as a matter of policy, as of October 1, the retransfer to Venezuela of U.S.-origin defense articles and technology will not be permitted. In the period before October 1, the United States continued to carefully scrutinize all proposed arms transfers and sales to Venezuela on a case-by-case basis. Exports that did not support the foreign policy and national security goals of the United States were not approved. Due to US concerns regarding Venezuela’s multi-billion dollar arms acquisition program, the US had closely scrutinized all arms transfers to Venezuela. In addition, amendments to existing foreign military sales cases will not be allowed for Venezuela. Already approved export authorizations will not be rescinded and exports under ITAR exemptions will continue to be allowed absent a Federal Register notice to the contrary.

Since the embargo includes a ban on spare parts and maintenance assistance Venezuela may be forced to overhaul their entire equipment supply in order to have a stock that can be repaired and maintained into the future. The embargo was enacted May 15, 2006, after the State Department conducted what it called "a hard-eyed assessment” of Venezuela’s “cooperation” with the United States in the war on terrorism. Department spokesman Sean McCormack suggested the decision came after the US ruled that Venezuela was not doing enough to combat terrorism.

On 05 September 2006 the US Department of State conveyed a Note Verbal to the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in Washington, reaffirming the decision made by its government of revoking the sale of military components and services from the United States to Venezuela, and calling for the immediate closure of the country’s Military Acquisitions Office in Miami. The deadline established in such Note was 30 September 2006.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela stated that "The Bolivarian Government believes that the decision made by the Government of the United States is framed in the continued and aggressive policy implemented by the North-American imperialism against Venezuela, which is based on a low-intensity conflict scenario. Likewise, the aforementioned undoubtedly constitutes a new hostile action aimed at deploying a sort of blockade in the military field against our country, which we firmly reject."

hippy

I think you have missed what I'm after. I can gather all th offical information and intelligence I need. That is not a problem.. I have conducted threat assessements for years now, both for the govt and other offical organisations and now in the provate sector.

What I'm after is first hand information from people who have been on the ground themselves..

markb

Roger that mate,
You could give Lonely Planet: the world's best guidebooks, travel advice and information at try, just had a quick flick through and it does have some recent articles from people on the ground. Not sure if any of it will be of use to you but it's worth a try.

markb

hippy

Cheers mark.