Manuel Rosales speaks from his safehaven

Manuel Rosales, who recently has been subject of judicial criminal prosecution by the Chavez regime, has today issued a letter to the people of Venezuela. I will free translate some relevant parts of the letter.

Manuel Rosales was democratically elected to be Mayor of the city of Maracaibo (Western Venezuela, and second most populated city in Venezuela) in the last election of November 2008. During the campaign Chavez declared publicly that he was corrupt and leader of local mafias and that "he will send Rosales to jail" and even further insulting him as "one thousand times disgraced". Rosales and his candidate for the Zulia State governorship Pablo Perez won cleanly and notwithstanding Chavez's efforts to include last minute people in the electoral college, and including electronic fraud. Rosales won fair and square and the difference in the city of Maracaibo was brutal. Recently, Rosales has been the center of a criminal investigation prompted by the National Assembly concerning corruption charges. The core issue was his economic gain for private endeavors in a cattle ranch he invested some time ago. Now, according to the prosecuting lawmakers (Representative Mario Isea) they argue that Rosales can not lawfully admit such economic gains. The amount in question is roughly $70,000 and considering that Rosales has been a public official for the last 15 years, previously 2 time governor and 2 time elected Mayor for the city of Maracaibo, at least he can account for $70,000 as private economic gain. From another side the prosecuting party also argues that Rosales executed a donation of a 10 year old pick up truck to a Governorship employee of more than 30 years. Rosales has gone in the media and has declared that he will stand by the legal process and will submit his defense and further evidence. Now, do you really think that after a President of Venezuela on live Television declaring that "he will send Manuel Rosales to jail" is not a political trial? It is obvious that it is, and Rosales is a trophy for any Chavez government official.

Excerpt of the letter from Manuel Rosales to the people of Venezuela

"Dear and beloved people of Venezuela

From my safehaven, protecting my physical integrity with the support of democratic factors, I have reflected upon the last events produced in the national political scene, and remain expectant to observe the fashion in which the Government and his boss, Hugo Chavez, without shame or remorse, is conducting us to the establishment of a totalitarian and authocratic regime, that without a doubt, has closed all the democratic spaces.

We are in front of a President that has proposed to control the functioning mechanisms of our country, and has obtained the silent support of the public powers, who remain dominated and directed in a obscene fashion, just like dictators have done when comparing history."