Excerpts of column "Runrunes" (Rumors) of Thursday, July 26

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RED CLOTH. President Hugo Chávez's order to Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro to withdraw from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR Court) "out of dignity" reaffirmed what the lieutenant colonel had anticipated last April. Labeling as "aberrant" the latest ruling of the IACHR Court, the Venezuelan leader forgets that the 1999 Constitution consecrates Venezuelans' right to appear at international human rights courts whenever they deem their rights abused. It is another attack on "the bug," as he has called it quite a few times. It is just another offense. A book by jurist Asdrúbal Aguiar, entitled "Unconstitutional Venezuelan History 1999-2012" is coming soon. With a constitutional rigor, it proves 178 violations of the Constitution, perpetrated by the lieutenant colonel who rules us. Last July 22, The Washington Post released an article by Juan Forero. It reiterated the complaints for years of internationalists and lawyers: a new way of elect dictatorships, established via election by the leaders. US Democratic Senator Robert Menéndez is quoted: "The increasing and alarming reality is that Venezuela, led by a captivating messianic leader, with an ample cash register fed by the oil under his total control, is resolved to make smaller countries replicate his model." Likewise, William J. Dobson, the author of " The Dictator's Learning Curve: Inside the Global Battle for Democracy," refers to modern authoritarian regimes in his brand new book. Reference is made to Venezuela's influence on smaller countries. "I think that for those opting to use undemocratic means, Venezuela became an excellent laboratory to ascertain which works and which does not work." And the attack on media and human rights boils down to the following: "for the regimes wrapped up by modern authoritarian media, having free press and restrained opposition is not only permitted, but also necessary, for it helps them be under the guise of a democratic system." Incidentally, these subjects were assessed in a meeting of a civilian-military think tank. I can recount the comments made by an attorney: "Chávez is the prisoner of his own scheme. He needs the election, even though he is at a disadvantage for the first time. This is what he has shown to the world, with his victories' and defeats,' eventually overturned in successive elections;" hence the worldwide offensive. He fears that should he win and if the tricks of the red vestals (the female directors of the National Electoral Council) are proven, democrats will not acknowledge his triumph. However, if democrats get a landslide victory, he has two choices: acknowledging for good or denying it. Badly thought for the world. In any case, he does not give a damn.

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PDVSA. The deal after the nationalization of 211 docks at Lake Maracaibo is shameless. As high as 60% of the 80 company's vessels are damaged. The expropriation was intended "to lower costs."  They rent trawlers and machines for USD 8-14 million a day. The red trade union aired it...

CLARIFICATION. Pro-government Congressman for Sucre state Luis Acuña has written to me and requested to review my sources. He neither headed for London nor is a "happy traveler." He told me that he is at home, with his family, not in the capital city of the United Kingdom. He claims to hold a Ph. D in Physics from a Canadian university and a Master of Science in the same field of expertise from a US university. "This is why I speak English." Sorry, deputy. Again, the information was posted by all government agencies and your name and destination was trumpeted by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

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