Hugo Chavez tried pushing through a law that would have required Venezuelans to inform on each other. The law, with its obvious historic parallels to Nazi Germany, roused even the thus-far complacent Venezuelans to protest. Chavez sounded retreat, at least for now:
Hugo Chavez has tossed out a controversial intelligence decree that would have forced Venezuelans to become informants and spy on their neighbors or face prison time.
President Chavez says the National Assembly will draft a new law from scratch in response to resounding criticism.
This marks the second time that Chavez has had to backtrack. He lost a referendum on a constitutional amendment that would have cemented his status as a dictator a few months ago. He finally admitted a narrow defeat on that referendum, but rumors had the gap as wide and shocking to Chavez.
No one can doubt Chavez’ intentions with this new law. He wants to use the power of his security forces to intimidate Venezuelans into submission — and to keep them from working together to oppose him. He would create a Gestapo atmosphere which would have the primary intention of putting fear and mistrust into the general population while protecting his own grip on power.
Chavez says the bill will go back to the National Assembly to remove “errors” and return for his signature. If the Venezuelans do not want to live in terror of their families and friends becoming government informants out of their own fear, then they need to stop that bill — and find a way to get Chavez and his fascistic vision out of office.
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