[Peace-discuss] Breaking news from Venezuela: Charges to be filed against Zeus Americana.

[Phil Stinard]

You're the first to hear about this news in the English language.  
Yesterday, the Venezuelan group Asovic (Association of Victims of the April 
11, 2002 coup against Hugo Chavez) announced that they would file charges in 
U. S. courts and in the World Court in the Hague against the former U. S. 
Ambassador to Venezuela, Charles Shapiro, for his involvement in sniper 
shootings during the coup at the Miraflores Palace that left several dead, 
including a journalist.  The ambassador, who used the code name "Zeus 
Americana" during the coup events, was in cell phone contact with the 
Caracas Metropolitan police (who participated in the coup against Chavez) as 
they were stationed on rooftops firing high power rifles at pro-Chavez 
demonstrators at the palace during the first moments of the coup.  Footage 
of the assault can be viewed in the documentary, The Revolution Will Not Be 
Televised.  A second documentary on the rooftop assault is in production, 
and will cover the aspects that were not filmed in the first documentary, 
including police radio communications that document the ambassador's 
involvement.

My analysis of this news is that while there might not be enough evidence to 
get a conviction, especially considering the biases in the courts and the 
ability of the U. S. government to hire the best lawyers, this will prove 
extremely embarrassing for Charles Shapiro and the U. S. government as their 
interference in the internal affairs of Venezuela will be laid clear before 
the international community.

--Phil Stinard

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