Saturday, May 30, 2009

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Is Putting His Military Chiefs Into Jail

President Hugo Chávez, left, in 2004 with Gen. Raúl Isaías Baduel, who is now a critic of Mr. Chávez and a prisoner. Juan Barreto/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

Chávez Seeks Tighter Grip on Military -- New York Times

LOS TEQUES, Venezuela — They say prison life can be lonely, but not for Raúl Isaías Baduel, Venezuela’s former army chief and once one of President Hugo Chávez’s confidants, who was detained last month.

Among his cellmates in the Ramo Verde military prison here are a former admiral, Carlos Millán, and Wilfredo Barroso, a onetime general arrested along with Mr. Millán on charges of conspiring to oust Mr. Chávez.

Since February, Mr. Chávez has moved against a wide range of domestic critics, and his efforts in recent weeks to strengthen his grip on the armed forces have led to high-profile arrests and a wave of reassignments.

Read more ....

My Comment: Chavez's paranoia is starting to show. Like all dictators, they have trouble accepting dissent .... worse when it comes from military commanders. Expect more Venezuelan officers being arrested over forced out of the country.

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