pen, you're right about the media (all media) being biased of course....maybe you dont remember the story (or it was before your time) but c'mon..the following line in the story refers to carlos chancellor who was'nt the mayor at the time..he was leading a large local protest to open Las Cristinas....hugo threw his ass in jail and has kept him there (4 years?) without trial...just recently the trial has been initiated but the government intervention has been huge to keep him in jail....not to mention hugo nationalizing at will, changing time zones, water/electrical rationing, changing or breaking the constitution, outlawing funny names....i guess it's in how you read it...but venezuelanalysis will always be "hugo's rag" to me...

One thing Chávez certainly is not is an authoritarian dictator who can give orders across the country.

Venezuela has left wing political prisoners such as an ex-mayor in Bolívar state who supported a miners’ rebellion against a transnational mining company.