Latest Breaking News

Eugene

(67,170 posts)

66. Venezuela arrests looters, store bosses in 'economic war'

Sun Nov 10, 2013, 06:34 PM

Nov 2013

Source: Reuters

Venezuela arrests looters, store bosses in 'economic war'

BY ANDREW CAWTHORNE
CARACAS Sun Nov 10, 2013 3:28pm EST

(Reuters) - President Nicolas Maduro's government announced arrests of both store managers and looters on Sunday as part of what it calls an "economic war" in Venezuela between the socialist state and unscrupulous businessmen.

In a major pre-Christmas offensive reminiscent of the late President Hugo Chavez's dramatic style, Maduro has sent soldiers to "occupy" one chain of electronics stores and inspectors into scores of others to check for price-gouging.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

However, scenes of looting on Saturday at a store belonging to the occupied electronics chain, Daka, have left many Venezuelans ashamed and fueled opposition claims that Maduro is stirring chaos rather than defending the poor.

Authorities announced that five managers, from the local Daka, JVG and Krash, would be prosecuted on charges of unjustified price hikes after importing products with dollars obtained at the official exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

112 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Maduro government 'occupies' Venezuela electronics chain [View all] Zorro Nov 2013 OP

Fake 'official' rate 6.3 bolivars to the dollar, real rate 60 bolivars to the dollar. n/t PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #1

off-topic much? Novel style Nov 2013 #2

The numbers are from the article (apparently you didn't read it) and explains the problem. n/t PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #3

Everything - Maduro is a crook dbackjon Nov 2013 #5

welcome to DU gopiscrap Nov 2013 #11

Says the newcomer who didn't read the article. MADem Nov 2013 #25

The electronics is imported Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #38

looks like there was a hot sale at one of the Daka stores this morning Bacchus4.0 Nov 2013 #4

They're liberating those LCD TVs for the glory of the Bolivarian revolution Zorro Nov 2013 #8

The Maduro/Chavez legacy of looting lives on dbackjon Nov 2013 #9

I guess if you need electronics in Venezuela, get them now. These stores won't be restocking hughee99 Nov 2013 #6

Don't you people understand? EX500rider Nov 2013 #7

I'm looking forward to seeing christx30 Nov 2013 #15

Chinese merchants can open up stores and sell directly. That's where it's made. freshwest Nov 2013 #104

Why don't they just go full bore, everyone gets the same wage- snooper2 Nov 2013 #10

That guy is crazy and dangerous. mecherosegarden Nov 2013 #12

Looks like a certain CEO failed to tithe... Dreamer Tatum Nov 2013 #13

Live TV of announcement Roy Rolling Nov 2013 #14

hmmm LiberalLovinLug Nov 2013 #16

So you're ok with the Maduro govt. basically stealing Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #17

Throwing them in jail? LiberalLovinLug Nov 2013 #20

Not the owners, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #21

"Strong man dictator." You do know that Maduro was elected, just like his predecessor, right? Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #90

Just my opinion. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #93

But why make dramatic arrests? Why not pass laws on price fixing, anti-monopoly, etc.? freshwest Nov 2013 #105

That's a good question. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #109

Unless the alliance with China will now get preference in government run stores. freshwest Nov 2013 #110

You mean instead of giving billions in subsidies to oil companies? But we wouldn't be an oligarchy valerief Nov 2013 #22

I wonder about that at times, too. People vote for those who do that, as it maintains their jobs. freshwest Nov 2013 #106

And now the owners christx30 Nov 2013 #24

"they import at low percentages and then sell for 6x higher." So why didnt the government just open cstanleytech Nov 2013 #34

Or somebodye else? Igel Nov 2013 #64

Or put up tariffs, or enact windfall taxes to discourage the practice? n/t freshwest Nov 2013 #101

Or provide businesses the dollars the need to buy goods? hack89 Nov 2013 #111

This isn't a socialist website. nt. delta17 Nov 2013 #18

Apparently freepers think it is, as so many swarm here to fight leftists. n/t Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #69

we do our best at mirt to stop them. hrmjustin Nov 2013 #74

People who have a difference of opinion are now freepers? Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #112

If American socialists are going to point to Venezuela sufrommich Nov 2013 #19

Scandinavian examples are popular with many, though. freshwest Nov 2013 #107

Are ou ok with what the government did? hrmjustin Nov 2013 #23

Maduro, his thugs, and the police are criminals. If you think supporting them is "socialist" your MADem Nov 2013 #26

Thread winner! n/t Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #39

Well, tha's settled then. MADem pronounced; it must be true. Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #91

More believable than those that constantly Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #94

Well, it is true, and it would be true even if I didn't "pronounce" it. MADem Nov 2013 #96

Left-wing extremism benh57 Nov 2013 #27

A few of the old far-left radicals are still out there. Archae Nov 2013 #28

except... Jackal87 Nov 2013 #41

Of course. But Nader's a has-been. Archae Nov 2013 #42

plus Jackal87 Nov 2013 #99

Thanks for that. Very telling. And depressing, too. freshwest Nov 2013 #100

please stop repeating this crap pothos Nov 2013 #43

Give up that pathetic crap. n/t Comrade Grumpy Nov 2013 #92

Oh here they come. Salivating at headlines Ash_F Nov 2013 #29

we need more price fixing feathateathn Nov 2013 #30

Very interesting. Laelth Nov 2013 #31

I think VZ has the home grown talent they need to mismanage their economy hack89 Nov 2013 #32

I suspect they are as intelligent as we are. Laelth Nov 2013 #33

So Maduro has the power to take over whatever he wants Dreamer Tatum Nov 2013 #35

I have no idea what you're talking about. Laelth Nov 2013 #46

Just like all those intelligent people on Wall Street hack89 Nov 2013 #37

Precisely. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #47

No, it's just that the people are trying to exit their currency Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #40

I am very curious, here. Laelth Nov 2013 #45

When you have rapid inflation Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #51

OK. I don't deny any of what you posted. Laelth Nov 2013 #58

They are inflating their currency - we have nothing to do with it Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #60

If Venezuala is intentionally inflating its own currency ... Laelth Nov 2013 #78

Yo mamas first link explains it very well. nt hack89 Nov 2013 #82

I read that. Laelth Nov 2013 #83

The VZ government is restricting how many dollars their citizens can legally obtain hack89 Nov 2013 #84

Thanks for the thoughtful response. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #85

It's the combination of deflating the currency and other measures Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #86

That makes sense. Thank you. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #87

I assume the same thing that everyone else thinks when they do this Yo_Mama Nov 2013 #88

Wow! Great post. Thanks. n/t Laelth Nov 2013 #89

pressure on government finances after President Hugo Chavez's heavy campaign spending last year seveneyes Nov 2013 #80

Something doesn't add up Fastcars Nov 2013 #63

There is an old joke... PoliticAverse Nov 2013 #77

Absolutely true. Laelth Nov 2013 #79

government not involved in creating these shortages seveneyes Nov 2013 #81

Venezuelan government policies cause shortages Socialistlemur Nov 2013 #95

Spot on. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #98

President Obama should do that to health insurance and pharmaceutical companies in the US. nt Zorra Nov 2013 #36

Document Evidences Destabilization Plan Against Venezuela ronnie624 Nov 2013 #44

Eva Golinger is a paid VZ government mouthpiece hack89 Nov 2013 #48

US corporate media are government mouthpieces. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #49

Which is why we do not trust government shills regardless of ideology. nt hack89 Nov 2013 #50

It isn't a matter of "trust", for me. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #53

There is no doubt that VZ is circling the drain hack89 Nov 2013 #62

Go figure. Most democrats find corporatist ideologue shills to be the most annoying and dangerous. Zorra Nov 2013 #59

Shills are shills hack89 Nov 2013 #61

Where is your evidence for that claim? n/t Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #68

Eva Golinger? Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #52

Do you have something more convincing than simple character assassination? n/t ronnie624 Nov 2013 #54

She's about as believable as Fauz Snooze. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #55

Okay, so she's a journalist who supports socialism in Venezuela. ronnie624 Nov 2013 #56

She's a paid mouthpiece for the Ven. govt. Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #57

She is paid by the government. Nt hack89 Nov 2013 #65

Where's your evidence for that charge? n/t Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #67

She works for a newspaper financed by the government, and is a paid foreign advisor. nt msanthrope Nov 2013 #72

So the NY Times pointed its gnarly, dirty fingers at Eva Golinger! Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #71

Be good enough to post your evidence regarding "that paid mouthpiece shill." n/t Judi Lynn Nov 2013 #70

Already did, Ranchemp. Nov 2013 #75

Eva Golinger is a government employee Socialistlemur Nov 2013 #97

Not news, nor a secret. Standard reactionary practice. The GOP applies it in the USA. freshwest Nov 2013 #108

Venezuela arrests looters, store bosses in 'economic war' Eugene Nov 2013 #66

Maduro would be a joke if this wasn't so damaging to the economy... Pterodactyl Nov 2013 #73

Not all Venezuelans agreed with this dookers Nov 2013 #76

The real poor is where the government's enery should be spent. Not on TVs. The whole story is weird. freshwest Nov 2013 #102

Question: Socialist democracies are funded by progressive tax rates and enacted by public ownership freshwest Nov 2013 #103