Notwithstanding the remarkable levels of support Hugo Chavez receives for his anti-US rhetoric, the Venezuelan population is becoming increasingly divided by the manner and tone of the presidents volatile proclamations. Alice O'Keefe writes for the New Statesman that, in Caracas at least, the debate over where Chavez is perceived to be taking the country is tantamount to a "cold civil war".^[1] Indeed, dividing lines between the Chavistas and the "esqualidos" (colloquialism for squalid people) are so intense that many experts are sincerely concerned about an outbreak of domestic conflict. The politicisation of the media, the increasing numbers of armed gangs, and the dehumanising strategy against anti-Chavistas - all instigated under Chavez - are creating the conditions for social disintegration and open conflict between rival political groupings. Chavez is therefore a tyrant who is steering his country towards certain devastation.

1. ^ http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/07/chavez-venezuela-caracas-cuba

One typical characteristic of all tyrannical regimes is the curtailment of basic human rights, a prominent example being the freedom of speech. The shut-down of anti-Chavez televsion channel Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) has provoked out-cry from many diverse groups. Students form a substantial percentage of those appauled by the clamp-down on opposing views. Alice O'Keefe's recent visit to Venezuela reveals some disturbing developments on this subject:

"I attended a student rally at a baseball stadium in central Caracas. Thousands of young people from around the country were packed in, waving Venezuelan flags and chanting, "We are students, not coup-plotters." Sindy ópez, a fresh-faced 19-year-old from Simón Bolívar University, was there with her friend Maria González.

"When they closed RCTV, we really got desperate, and furious about the lack of freedom of expression and diversity of thought," she said. "We realised we could not let it carry on. It is not like the president says - I'm not from the elite; my family doesn't even own a house. I just can't see this happen to my country."

Chávez has responded to the protests by claiming that those involved are "representatives of the international bourgeoisie" who are being manipulated by the right. He called on those living in the barrios to "defend our revolution from this fascist aggression" - a comment that was interpreted by many RCTV supporters as an incitement to attack."^[1]

These dissenting voices will continue to grow unless Chavez halts his tactics of subjugation and oppression, an aspect of his leadership that undoubtedly makes him a tyrant.

1. ^ http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2007/07/chavez-venezuela-caracas-cuba

Another obvious aspect of any authoritarian government concerns the arrest and intimidation of political opponents. In Chavez's Venezuela, this tactic is increasing rapidly. Formally praised as a 'hero' and appointed Defence Minister in the tumultous days of 2002, Raul Baduel is now under arrest after corruption charges were filed against him - charges that only came to light immediately after he turned critical of Chavez's leadership. Speaking from his jail cell, Baduel continues his protest, "Every day there is more repression, and Chávez's mask slips further. The only thing Chávez cares about is being president for life...This is a judicial farce."^[1] In addition, dozens of former mayors, governers, and political oppostion members have fled the country in fear of unwarranted arrest. Although opposition parties and media sources continue to organise and display shocking levels of bellicosity and partisanship, the increasing numbers of arrests for crimes against the state set a dangerous precedent and clearly contributes towards a tyrannical leadership.

1. ^ http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/12/hugo-chavez-venezuela-president-tyrant

To have a fair electoral system and claim, as Chavistas claim, that the continuous elections equal democracy, this system should have equal participation in the desicion making for Chavistas and the opposition. But out of the six people that head the CNE (Consejo Nacional Electoral or National Electoral Council) five are Chavistas. Jorge Rodriguez,who was the president of the CNE during many of Venezuela's plethora of elections including the 2004´s recall referendum on Chavez, left it to become a part of the government. The CNE actions speak of the huge bias in favor of Chavez and his party, the PSUV. Whilst the opposition must stop campaigning a few days before elections and are curtailed in many ways, Chavez speaks on national tv and on all media as long as he pleases. But the worst actions are the inhabilitations that the CNE has made to many of the opposition most popular politicians. Venezuelan law calls for the CNE to prohibit from running people that have been accused and convicted of corruption crimes. CNE has accused many opposition politicians of being corrupted and this means they can't run. Last regional elections there were hundreds that couldn't run for office. A sign that the supreme court is ruled by Chavez is that it always does as Chavez ask on his speeches for it to do. They have been filmed chanting Chavista songs inside the court.

This act is downright ridiculous because he is promoting class warfare. He takes the money from people who has the most part in the economy and gives it to the poor who, most of the time does not have any prior knowledge to agriculture. He even seizes land for this purpose. He does not realise that some lands are better benefited in other ways. He is promoting an economic collapse in Venezuela

The opp. makes a very weak point. The debate is about Chavez being defined as a tyrant not whether he should be praised for increasing living standards. Standards of living has been raised in Venezuela by tyrants before such as Juan Vicente Gomez and Perez Jimenez. But even further: there is nothing new about what Chavez has done. Populist policies have a very long history in Venezuela. In fact many programs are just rehashes of old ideas. In other cases as in housing for the poor Chavez is way behind former presidents. And as always, these policies has left a very small improvement that is just a drop in a bucket. To talk about "improvements in infrastructure" is laughable. There hasn't been any palpable improvements, specially when you consider that his government has gotten much more money from oil revenues than many predecessors.

Hugo Chavez has done more to prevent disease, halt government corruption, and increase living standards for the poor than any modern Venezuelan leader. Whilst the West may mock his democratic credentials, one only has to point to the manner of the previous US presidents first electoral victory and the unelected leader of the UK as examples of democratic deficit in the Western world. Chavez's use of natural resource revenues for social redistribution and improvements in infrastructure has caused an increase in employment, improved levels of health, and has cut crime. His anti-US rhetoric makes him the poster-boy of the global leftist movement. His persona and abilities give strength to those wishing to move away from US imperialism and garners support from over opporessed peoples around the world. Whist accounts of his successes are sparse and often lack credibility due to their source, it is clear that under the Chavez government Venezuela has undergone drmatic improvements.