Who doesn’t remember “Por estas calles”? It turns out that the coup leader, a perfect embodiment of the philosophy immortalized by Eudomar Santos, has now transformed into “the man in the suit.” As you read, dear readers, Hugo Chavez wants us to believe he has become an anti-corruption czar, claiming he will put an end to the boliburguesía, insisting he was unaware of the schemes orchestrated by his main ally, Diosdado Cabello, through Fernandez Barrueco. Supposedly, Chavez didn’t know that Jessy’s brother had bought banks in partnership with a lackey of Jose Vicente Rangel. It’s hard to believe that this man, who is said to be surrounded by the best Cuban intelligence and has all of Venezuela monitored, never crossed paths with Arné or Fernandez Barrueco in the last seven years. Did nobody whisper in his ear: “Look, my emperor, the G5 recently acquired by the guy from Mercal…” He noticed nothing out of the ordinary. Racehorses, planes, yachts, houses, cars, trips, acquisitions abroad… none of this raised the caudillo’s suspicions. Millions of dollars were frozen from people in Chavez’s closest circle, and he missed the chance to even accuse the Pyrenean principality of being a CIA stronghold.
Given that Venezuela is a community where everyone knows their neighbor’s gossip, and where no one can keep a secret, how can it be that Chavez knew nothing at all? We, the everyday citizens, chavistas or not, are supposed to swallow this nonsense.
All of Venezuela knows the story of Chavez. We all know he spent many years plotting against democracy, planning CAP’s assassination, and seizing power. His superiors knew, his comrades knew, and countless others knew. There are no secrets in Venezuela, especially not at those levels, particularly when it comes to the big shot who rules the country, incapable of keeping his mouth shut. I remember, for instance, during the 2006 presidential campaign, seeing Victor Ferrere at a so-called secret meeting of members of Manuel Rosales‘ strategic command. In other words, a confidant of Gustavo Cisneros overhearing everything the opposition candidate was planning. The same goes for the other side. There’s no seriousness, no secrecy in Venezuelan political life. But we are supposed to trust the caudillo. We are expected to believe the tale about the bankers who surrendered to DISIP, and Jessy’s resignation. Give me a break.
While talking to a friend yesterday, he said to me, “With so much money and means of escape—let’s be real, these folks do not have to go through a travel agency to leave the country—how is it that they just surrendered like that?”
I replied, “Very simple, buddy. For these boliburgueses, there is no better place in the world to be imprisoned than in the Helicoide. Conjugal visits, telephones, television, gourmet food, cells just for them… We’re not talking about Simonovis, or the inmates of La Planta, La Pica, El Rodeo… These guys won’t have to fight to defend themselves, nor will their human rights be violated. We are talking about people so close to Chavez, with such an understanding of the schemes this regime has executed, that it’s hard to believe, first, that they would leave the country knowing that abroad they could face real charges, like what happened to Kaufmann and company. Second, where would they be better off than in the Helicoide? They are being well taken care of while the show lasts. I can only imagine the conversations between Jessy and Arné, or Diosdado and Fernandez Barrueco, “We will put them in the shadows for a bit, but don’t worry, it’s all a show.” Later, they will emerge to enjoy the spoils, or what’s left of them. When you see them being taken to El Dorado, then believe the story. Only when you see Chavez’s siblings, parents, and close collaborators in real jail, like the one holding Franklin Duran, then you can assume the new attitude is genuine. Until then, this is nothing but a comedy for electoral positioning.