Written by: La Tabla / Data Journalism Platform, December 5, 2025
In his letter, Hugo Carvajal claims to be a “three-star general.” This statement is incorrect and quite telling: in the Venezuelan Armed Forces, generals are distinguished by suns, not stars.
The correct hierarchy is: Brigadier General (one sun), Major General (two suns), and Lieutenant General (three suns). A military officer of his caliber would not make such a fundamental mistake.
This slip suggests two scenarios: either the person who wrote the letter is unfamiliar with the Venezuelan military structure, or foreign terminology (like the American system) was used to make the text more understandable for its intended audience, thereby raising doubts about the document’s authenticity as a genuine and spontaneous confession.