Caracas: Video of the expropriation of La Francia building

[ChangoLoa]

This post talked about the issue one month ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x30306#30326

Here's the video:
http://www.eluniversal.com/2010/02/26/en_ing_esp_seizure-of-la-franci_26A3496531.shtml

[Bacchus39]

1. unbelievable n/t

s

[naaman fletcher]

2. kick. nt.

[Wilms]

3. They're acting like the business was outlawed.

:shrug:

So, where did the business relocate? What did it get paid for the building?

A little context is helpful.

"It is not possible that these buildings, which hold so much history, with such a legacy of our forefathers, be in the hands of retailers. This belongs to all Venezuelans, it is a historic centre that we should rescue," Mr Chavez said.

The BBC's Will Grant says those who support Mr Chavez will see the expropriations as rightly putting important symbols of national heritage under state protection. Those who oppose the president are likely to see it as a step further towards total state control of private property.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8503892.stm

[protocol rv]

4. You may be right, but there's a big but

Nowhere on this planet where there's a rule of law, can people be evicted from their businesses based on the President's whim, on such a short time. The process used to kick them out was full of illegalities, it doesn't follow the law nor the Constitution. Furthermore, the state has a very flimsy case regarding the need to nationalize the locale due to its historical value. Venezuela is a country where the courts are on their knees in front of the executive power, and the people have no recourse against government abuses.

Lately, their actions have been quite contrary to their own interests, because all this does is convince individuals not to invest in Venezuela, and to flee if they can. And this has caused a massive outflow of capital, which the government, in a desperate bid to avoid an inflation surge, helps by selling bonds and cash into the parallel market, a market they had outlawed but allow to exist and nurture. On top of the capital flow, we observe brain drain, educated professionals fleeing in large numbers. Crazy, eh?

[Wilms]

5. More of your diarhea editorializing.

How about some links about it. How whimsical was it? You base the comment on that video? And how short was the notice?

I've found little on this story.