Venezuela: Anti-police impunity activist assassinated

[The Feral Underclass]

Venezuela: Anti-police impunity activist assassinated

* El Libertario, the Venezuelan anarchist newspaper, denounce the
assassination of Mijail Martinez as the latest chapter in the Chavez
government’s attack against base-level, autonomous, revolutionary
and dissident organisations.

On the morning of 26/11/2009, Mijail Martínez – 24 years old – was
assassinated in the city of Barquisimeto, Lara state. Martínez was a
cameraman and activist with the Victims’ Committee Against Impunity in
Lara state (commonly referred to as CVCI-Lara in Spanish). According to
witnesses, two persons unknown attacked Mijail outside his front door, and
after calling his name several times they fired several shots into his
chest area. The victim was an audiovisual producer who worked on the
television programme of his father, Victor Martínez, a longtime Bolivarian
militant and former representative on the region’s Legislative Council.
Demonstrating the contradictions within the so called “Bolivarian
process”, Victor had recently been making a series of official complaints
in which he had implicated a whole host of important, high up governmental
and police figures in corruption and human rights violations. Victor told
the media that he believes that there was a political motive to the
murder, and that it represents an attempt to silence him: “Chávez, I
helped you when you were imprisoned and abandoned and noone gave
you the time of day,” he said, “yet you are clearly responsible for the death
of my son and many other crimes, because instead of being the most
fervent defender of the Constitution, you violate it. As a result, all Venezuelans
suffer from the insecurity that there is in this country”.

This political attack must be understood within a regional context of
degradation at every level of government. As human rights organisations
such as Provea (www.derechos.org.ve (http://www.derechos.org.ve)) have detailed, the state police in
Lara have the second worst record nationally for human rights violations,
accumulating 19.4% of all cases in 2008, with a total of 31 victims. State
police have also been accused of participating in extortion, bank
robberies, kidnappings and the production and trafficking of drugs in
Barquisimeto, activities which overwhelmingly affect the poor. The chronic
situation in Lara has led to the formation of a number of popular
organisations, one being the CVCI, which was founded in 2004. The CVCI has
denounced the involvement of high-ranking regional officials – such as
Rodríguez Figuera, the former police commander – in the creation of police
mafias, alongside Luis Reyes Reyes, the previous state governor, who also
participated and then covered his role up. Instead of investigating the
official complaints, central government rewarded the ex-governor, putting
him in charge of the Ministry of Popular Power for the Presidential
Secretary (which enforces Chávez’ edicts in national Congress).

Due to their reports and demonstrations, CVCI activists have received a
number of death threats and a number of attempts to criminalise their
work. Mijail Martínez had been recording on video the organisation’s
public activities with the intention of making a documentary about the
members’ experiences. Some of his work can be found at
http://www.vimeo.com/5130428 (in Spanish).

Here at El Libertario, we denounce this event as the latest chapter in the
government’s attack against base-level, autonomous, revolutionary and
dissident organisations. We also send our messages of condolence and hurt
to Mijail’s family and friends. Mijail was a young man, committed to
social struggle, and we can personally testify as to his enthusiasm and
comradely nature. We also consider this crime to be just one part of the
criminalisation of popular protest undertaken by a government which is
subservient to globalised capitalism. Finally, we denounce the complicity
of the government, of the media at both local and pseudo-“community”
levels, of the Attorney General, the Ombudsman and the Justice Courts for
any action that puts in jeopardy the life and/or integrity of Victor
Martínez and his family, other CVCI activists and members of other popular
social struggles within the state which have registered complaints –
complete with full names – against the involvement of police and state
functionaries in corruption, drug-trafficking, extortion, kidnapping and
assassination in the Central-Western region of the country.

Note: More information -in Spanish & English- about Venezuelan situation
in www.nodo50.org/ellibertario (http://www.nodo50.org/ellibertario). About the CVCI-Lara' figths and denounces,
see the numbers 52, 54, 55 & 56 of El Libertario, availables in the website
(in Spanish).

[Pirate turtle the 11th]

Taking all bets on which half witted twat denounces this dead guy as an agent of imperialism first.

[The Feral Underclass]

Well of course. Campaigning against police violence and government corruption is clearly giving America the upper hand. Bloody revolutionaries!

[Bright Banana Beard]

Police and Chavez aren't very friendly, even Chavez get betrayed by his administration such as Minister of Labor. I love it when they have no evidence and blame it on Chavez immediately. Fucking hypocrisy. Chavez are building up armed council and are trying to remove police. But yeah LET BLAME IT ON THE EVILAH STATE!

[gorillafuck]

We get it. You don't like Third World anti-imperialists.
I totally knew that it was gonna be socialist.

Anyway, is there more information on this? Like, do they knew who assassinated him and what connections that person might have had?

[Artemis3]

“Chávez, I helped you when you were imprisoned and abandoned and noone gave you the time of day,” he said, “yet you are clearly responsible for the death of my son and many other crimes, because instead of being the most fervent defender of the Constitution, you violate it. As a result, all Venezuelans suffer from the insecurity that there is in this country”.

Oh c'mon, what a POS. This guy is opposition, they have been implying for a decade Chavez has done nothing to reduce crime, they want a militarization of sorts, or some way criminals disappear forever (Venezuela does not have Death Penalty, 30 years in prison is the maximum anyone can ever be sentenced, no matter what).

As for this case, i read about it last week. 2 gunmen went to that house asking for "Carlos", when they guy living there approached them to tell them there was nobody called "Carlos", they killed him instead. Perhaps they thought he was Carlos, or they really wanted to kill that guy. In any case this type of organized crime is often done in Colombia, and has recently increased activity in Venezuela. But yet, before we have any idea who could be behind this, it must be Chavez the culprit. This is how the opposition media operates in this country. If your mother sneezes, it is Chavez fault. If you trip and fall, it is Chavez fault. If the ground shakes, it is Chavez fault. You know, I'm only bothering with this here once because you might not know, but nobody bothers with that here. I'm sure the victim's father is part of the political group who jumped ship years ago (When Chavez started leaning towards Socialism). What he says is pure groundless political speech, the exact same speech that has been used by the right for a decade, and is only believed by a minority of fanatic followers.

If this "newspaper" is really Anarchist, what a shame, i wouldn't believe a single thing written in it since it matches the same lies of corporate media, the same lies you see everyday daily 24hrs on private media, which sadly still dominate the tv and radio spectrum, in detriment to both state and community initiatives (something we want to change, mind you).

Oh and if the governor is involved, you can bet Chavez will be the first to call for his arrest (tho he can't order it, only the Judiciary branch can). When something like this occurs (it has happened multiple times in recent history), usually the involved openly jumps ship and attacks the revolution, while conveniently seeking asylum in a country with a right wing government, such as Peru or Colombia, where "from exile", they heroically fight against "The Tyranny"...

[The Feral Underclass]

I don't know what's more sad, the fact that you're seemingly defending the murder of an activist or the fact you're so incapable of forming your own analysis and therefore latch on to the same tired "paint every Chavez opponent with the same brush".

Obviously it's totally inconceivable to you that there is an active anti-capitalist, revolutionary opposition to Chavez. I know people involved in El Libertario personally, and if these people are anti-revolutionary, pro-capitalists then they did a very good job of lying about it. Clearly Chavez can do no wrong and when revolutionaries identify repression against opposition they must be on the side of capital and imperialism.

Is it not possible that the repression and continued anti-working class policies of Chavez can be identified by people who - shock horror - simultaneously want to create a communist society.

[The Red Next Door]

Son of a ***** was gonna to post this story. There might be a possibility and there might not but we don't know.

[Artemis3]

I don't know what's more sad, the fact that you're seemingly defending the murder of an activist or the fact you're so incapable of forming your own analysis and therefore latch on to the same tired "paint every Chavez opponent with the same brush".

Obviously it's totally inconceivable to you that there is an active anti-capitalist, revolutionary opposition to Chavez. I know people involved in El Libertario personally, and if these people are anti-revolutionary, pro-capitalists then they did a very good job of lying about it. Clearly Chavez can do no wrong and when revolutionaries identify repression against opposition they must be on the side of capital and imperialism.

Is it not possible that the repression and continued anti-working class policies of Chavez can be identified by people who - shock horror - simultaneously want to create a communist society. So now i'm defending the murdering of an activist? Says someone who implies Chavez ordered his killing without knowing the truth? So why El Libertario writes the same as El Nacional, and says the same as Globovision? It doesn't matter if they paint you roses when you talk with them, if in the end they repeat the same lies the fascists they are supposed to fight keep telling.

The opposition in Venezuela is vomit. No, there is no such thing as a revolutionary left against a Socialist Revolution, because that means they are no left, such is the sad role Bandera Roja took, siding with the ones who where killing them just 20 years ago, only because "its cool" to live the permanent opposition no matter what, or something.

"repression and continued anti-working class policies of Chavez" You live in a fantasy world, certainly not in Venezuela. The repression is coming from the bourgeois who hire those guys to kill whoever they don't like, the same bourgeois who want Chavez and the Revolution finished using any means no matter what. If the evidence comes we take action, and this oligarchy immediately screams "no freedom!", "authoritarianism", etc. If there is a class that supports this revolution the most, that is the working class. If you say otherwise, you have not met with the working class here. Perhaps a few opponents here and there could claim such absurdity, who come from those who ruled in the past and their rotten parties that gave us neo-liberalism in the 90ies and will restore it should this Revolution fail.

If you are going to help the enemy, you are not welcome. Learn to criticize without aiding the enemies of the working class, and certainly do not object the choice for a leadership THAT working class chose (13 of 14 elections in 10 years), then we talk. But as long as you keep repeating the identical lies the fascist right publish in their media, how are you expecting us to recognize you as anti-capitalists?

All of this goes to El Libertario. Remember, you didn't make this revolution, we did. You had your chance to join, but decided to oppose, its your choice. In the meantime we will keep going forward, and you can keep spreading lies with the rest of the opposition group, and be treated as such.

And as much as you know a few "Anarchists" against Chavez, i know a few more who will shoot yours in the head if they side with fascists to overthrown the leader the majority voted for. Hell, i know they know whom i talking about, so lets keep it civil.

It is Chavez who moved the masses against Capitalism, not El Libertario. It is Chavez who rescued the debate for the working class in Venezuela towards Socialism, not El Libertario. Chavez made agglutination of common interests for the Left possible, not smaller almost non existant groups such as El Libertario. If we depended on people like El Libertario, we would still be having a neo-liberal regime, perhaps not unlike where you live? Chavez reaches the masses, El Libertario doesn't. If you expect to do better than Chavez, you should start by not siding with the fascist opposition. Happily, contradictory groups like this are very small and do not represent the reality of Venezuela at all.

The only reason I'm bothering to explain, is so you out-there can have a chance to see the another view. By no means believe me, you must come and live here a year or more, and don't stay in the same place, go everywhere and talk with everyone, learn the experiences being done by all groups, do not stick with a single source, no matter how pretty they talk, then come back and make your remarks, and do a proper critique so the Revolution continues and not get extinguished.

[Bright Banana Beard]

Please find me that this problem is connected to Chavez. Even Chavez has many enemies within him. Otherwise it is just a sad murder.

[The Feral Underclass]

Of course there's no conclusive evidence it was Chavez's government. Just like there isn't evidence of the countless CIA assassinations or evidence for the Russian governments assassinations of Russian dissidents in Britain and in their own country. Governments don't leave traces so we can all prove beyond a doubt that they murder opposition. It's completely absurd to even suggest such evidence exists.

The fact of the matter is, this activist and the organisation be belonged to were open opponents to Chavez and his government and were behind efforts to call for a more radical and revolutionary approach to social change that totally undermined Chavez. This is simply another example of state repression against dissidents in the country and while there's not conclusive evidence, it's plainly obvious why he was killed.

To try and frame the killing of an anti-Chavez activist as a "sad murder" is totally ridiculous.

[The Feral Underclass]

So now i'm defending the murdering of an activist? Says someone who implies Chavez ordered his killing without knowing the truth? So why El Libertario writes the same as El Nacional, and says the same as Globovision? It doesn't matter if they paint you roses when you talk with them, if in the end they repeat the same lies the fascists they are supposed to fight keep telling.

If it's true, it's true.


The opposition in Venezuela is vomit. No, there is no such thing as a revolutionary left against a Socialist Revolution, because that means they are no left, such is the sad role Bandera Roja took, siding with the ones who where killing them just 20 years ago, only because "its cool" to live the permanent opposition no matter what, or something.So your argument is basically to deny the existence of radical, revolutionary alternatives to Chavez?


"repression and continued anti-working class policies of Chavez" You live in a fantasy world, certainly not in Venezuela.No, but I hear it from friends and comrades who live there, or are my anarchist comrades just paid corporate stooges?


The repression is coming from the bourgeois who hire those guys to kill whoever they don't like, the same bourgeois who want Chavez and the Revolution finished using any means no matter what.I'm sure there is bourgeois agitation and political violence, but you're argument basically assumes that Chavez and his government commit absolutely no acts of political repression and violence.

And you tell me I'm living in a fantasy world.


If the evidence comes we take action, and this oligarchy immediately screams "no freedom!", "authoritarianism", etc. If there is a class that supports this revolution the most, that is the working class.The working class supported Hitler.

I mean, let's be realistic here, Chavez gives them health care and nominal social democracy. Compared to what they had before I'm not surprised the working class support him.

That doesn't mean he's worth supporting or that he's not anti-working class. The fact that he attacks working class organisations, including trade unions, arrests and imprisons revolutionary activists and breaks strikes are clear examples of this.


If you are going to help the enemy, you are not welcome.Chavez is the enemy and I support any working class organisation or activist who calls for the revolutionary activity of the workers to overthrow Chavez and start the road to communism.


Learn to criticize without aiding the enemies of the working class, and certainly do not object the choice for a leadership THAT working class chose (13 of 14 elections in 10 years), then we talk. But as long as you keep repeating the identical lies the fascist right publish in their media, how are you expecting us to recognize you as anti-capitalists?What line is that, precisely? Show me one example of capitalist propaganda that opposes Chavez on the basis that he's not revolutionary enough and that he is a problem to true working class power and communism.

You're base argument is simply that I am aiding and abetting capitalists because I criticise Chavez. Not only is that completely absurd, it's just a very lazy, fanatical way to approach a discussion.


And as much as you know a few "Anarchists" against Chavez, i know a few more who will shoot yours in the head if they side with fascists to overthrown the leader the majority voted for.Clearly you're just a lunatic. There's obviously no point in trying to discuss such an issue with someone who is so blatantly a fundamentalist Chavez fanatic.

Down with Chavez!

[Charles Xavier]

blank

[Bright Banana Beard]

To try and frame the killing of an anti-Chavez activist as a "sad murder" is totally ridiculous. Why not? It is not that easy to get the killer. Having this one mindset is the real totally ridiculous.

[Guerrilla22]

It could very well be the police that are responisble. Police tend to be pricks regardless of the country.

[Glenn Beck]

Of course there's no conclusive evidence it was Chavez's government. Just like there isn't evidence of the countless CIA assassinations or evidence for the Russian governments assassinations of Russian dissidents in Britain and in their own country. Governments don't leave traces so we can all prove beyond a doubt that they murder opposition. It's completely absurd to even suggest such evidence exists.

The fact of the matter is, this activist and the organisation be belonged to were open opponents to Chavez and his government and were behind efforts to call for a more radical and revolutionary approach to social change that totally undermined Chavez. This is simply another example of state repression against dissidents in the country and while there's not conclusive evidence, it's plainly obvious why he was killed.

To try and frame the killing of an anti-Chavez activist as a "sad murder" is totally ridiculous.

So what you're saying is that there is no compelling evidence at all but we should believe these allegations anyway because political opponents of the Venezuelan government swear they're true?

Sure convinced me, bro.

[el_chavista]

* El Libertario, the Venezuelan anarchist newspaper...

I'm not sure whether this newspaper is really anarchist, Venezuelan or even exists outside nodo50 site or whatever.

What I know is that it references 'news' from "Radar de los Barrios" an ong which participated in the 2002 coup d'état againts Chávez and that this ong receives funds from the USAID.

[The Feral Underclass]

So what you're saying is that there is no compelling evidence at all but we should believe these allegations anyway because political opponents of the Venezuelan government swear they're true?

Are you telling me that the only political murders that have ever happened in history have been the ones that we can conclusively prove?

What kind of naive world do you live in?

[Wanted Man]

So basically, it's Chavez's fault because you want it to be.

[The Feral Underclass]

So basically, it's Chavez's fault because you want it to be.

That's not basically it at all. This is an act of state repression against opposition radical activists. An activist campaigns against the state, highlights police brutality and government corruption and then two men come to his house and shoot him. What else is it? Only political naivety could see this as being anything other than state repression.

[Artemis3]

If it's true, it's true.
Except it isn't.


So your argument is basically to deny the existence of radical, revolutionary alternatives to Chavez?
Radical maybe, counter-revolutionary certainly.


No, but I hear it from friends and comrades who live there, or are my anarchist comrades just paid corporate stooges?

How would you know? If you say Chavez ordered this kill, i can say your "friends" are getting funds from USA to spread a lie you happily reproduce here. Of course, i could also say you are part of that, and could be the reason this place exists, to make sure everyone stays in check and under close surveillance, but i wouldn't accuse you without solid evidence.


I'm sure there is bourgeois agitation and political violence, but you're argument basically assumes that Chavez and his government commit absolutely no acts of political repression and violence.

And you tell me I'm living in a fantasy world.

You live in fantasy, as you are clueless about this and the situation here in general, because you depend of what your "friends" say. When abuses or excess occur, action is taken. You make it look as if it was national policy or something a typical bourgeois controlled right wing regime would do.


The working class supported Hitler.
And Lenin, and Mao, your point being?


I mean, let's be realistic here, Chavez gives them health care and nominal social democracy. Compared to what they had before I'm not surprised the working class support him.

That doesn't mean he's worth supporting or that he's not anti-working class. The fact that he attacks working class organisations, including trade unions, arrests and imprisons revolutionary activists and breaks strikes are clear examples of this.

Except he doesn't. There are very few isolated cases of outdated opposition unions (meaning their "leaders" are part of right wing parties, who sold workers interests in the past), doing silly things, most of the time they are simply ignored. If they do some nuisance, such as obstructing a way with, say 15 people, they are simple moved aside. They are not killed like in Colombia, or sent to prison for countless days like where you live, etc. Unless, it happens one of these guys committed some atrocity such as killing another worker, and it has happened. 99% of the time, the State is actually defending the workers, against the Capitalists who usually want them removed, or against the local/regional police, in the case of opposition controlled zones.


Chavez is the enemy and I support any working class organisation or activist who calls for the revolutionary activity of the workers to overthrow Chavez and start the road to communism.

So, to go against Chavez, the ally of workers and believer of Scientific Socialism as the means to end capitalism with the transfer of power to the working class; you will side with neo-liberal fascists who will later purge you? And that will somehow become communism? I think i see a problem there...


What line is that, precisely? Show me one example of capitalist propaganda that opposes Chavez on the basis that he's not revolutionary enough and that he is a problem to true working class power and communism.

Hmm it is tempting and i could show you some, but I'm not falling the trick of reproducing their ideology here. If you want, study the political parties of Venezuela, read about Primero Justicia, Resistencia Civil and Bandera Roja, to name a few... While you are at it, ask other Anarchists, you might actually learn something...


You're base argument is simply that I am aiding and abetting capitalists because I criticise Chavez. Not only is that completely absurd, it's just a very lazy, fanatical way to approach a discussion.

You don't criticize Chavez, you are repeating lies, and you are in fact accusing people without any evidence, hell, you already made your verdict, like you are God or something. I wonder what will you do if the evidence shows otherwise? I can bet you will remain silent, as if nothing occurred, just like your "friends" do. What if some of your "friends" are involved?, could be an easy way to incriminate the "totalitarian regime"...


Clearly you're just a lunatic. There's obviously no point in trying to discuss such an issue with someone who is so blatantly a fundamentalist Chavez fanatic.

I find it productive that you reveal to the people of this forum about your true nature, quick to side with Fascism and turn your back to the working class should they pick a choice you don't like...

[The Ungovernable Farce]

Learn to criticize without aiding the enemies of the working class, and certainly do not object the choice for a leadership THAT working class chose (13 of 14 elections in 10 years), then we talk.

By those standards, the British working class chose Brown; the American ruling class chose Obama; and the Colombian working class chose Uribe, so I suppose they're all above criticism as well.


And as much as you know a few "Anarchists" against Chavez, i know a few more who will shoot yours in the head if they side with fascists to overthrown the leader the majority voted for.
So your line is that the murder is definitely nothing to do with Chavez or his supporters, definitely not, no way, and also it's justified when Chavez supporters murder anarchists? Pick a line and stick with it.

[Forward Union]

It just says it was "clearly" a political murder. Yet it doesn't seem so clear to me.

Two unknown people murdered an activist.... therefore...

Was he involved in drug or gang violence? had he slept with his friends girlfriend? did he piss off the school bully too much? random mugging? Of course it could well be State violence, but I'd need proof, rather than accepting it on faith alone.

[Stranger Than Paradise]

I think it all points towards state endorsed assassination. When you think about this:

Due to their reports and demonstrations, CVCI activists have received a number of death threats and a number of attempts to criminalise their work.

It becomes pretty clear what happened.