Politics
"Who benefits from this violent act? This act does not benefit the government, the people or the revolution. Efforts are under way to disturb the climate prevailing in Venezuela," stated President Hugo Chavez on Sunday referring to an attack early on January 31st against a synagogue located in Maripérez, north Caracas.

"They are trying to change the dynamics that is under way; they are trying to break a trend that is under way, and you know exactly what I mean. They are trying to cast a shadow over a people's victory the date of which has actually been set on the calendar," Chávez said in a mandatory radio and television address.

"It's them! It was them!," stressed the ruler. "I am making this statement before the country. Mr. Minister (of the Interior and Justice) Tareck El Aissami, we will do everything in our power, everything possible under the law, to demonstrate the real causes behind this act," the Venezuelan ruler added.

"The oligarchy is violent. The oligarchy kills, plots, threatens to set Caracas ablaze, burns Avila mountain (a mountain range north Caracas), and uses some soulless youth as cannon fodder, by driving them to violent acts."

Freddy Campos
EL UNIVERSAL