News (Noticias) Tagged ‘Venezuela’

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control ( OFAC ) today designated two senior Venezuelan government officials, Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios and Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva, and one former official, Ramon Rodriguez Chacin, for materially assisting the narcotics trafficking activities of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC ), a narco-terrorist organization.

“Today’s designation exposes two senior Venezuelan government officials and one former official who armed, abetted, and funded the FARC, even as it terrorized and kidnapped innocents,” said Adam J. Szubin, Director of OFAC. “This is OFAC’s sixth action in the last ten months against the FARC. We will continue to target and isolate those individuals and entities that aid the FARC’s deadly narco-terrorist activities in the Americas.”

Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios is the Director of Venezuela’s Military Intelligence Directorate ( DGIM ). His assistance to the FARC includes protecting drug shipments from seizure by Venezuelan anti-narcotics authorities and providing weapons to the FARC, allowing them to maintain their stronghold of the coveted Arauca Department. Arauca, which is located on the Colombia/Venezuela border, is known for coca cultivation and cocaine production. Carvajal Barrios also provides the FARC with official Venezuelan government identification documents that allow FARC members to travel to and from Venezuela with ease.

Henry de Jesus Rangel Silva, the Director of Venezuela’s Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services or DISIP, is in charge of intelligence and counterintelligence activities for the Venezuelan government. Rangel Silva has materially assisted the narcotics trafficking activities of the FARC. He has also pushed for greater cooperation between the Venezuelan government and the FARC.

Ramon Emilio Rodriguez Chacin, who was Venezuela’s Minister of Interior and Justice until September 8, is the Venezuelan government’s main weapons contact for the FARC. The FARC uses its proceeds from narcotics sales to purchase weapons from the Venezuelan government. Rodriguez Chacin has held numerous meetings with senior FARC members, one of which occurred at the Venezuelan government’s Miraflores Palace in late 2007. Rodriguez Chacin has also assisted the FARC by trying to facilitate a $250 million dollar loan from the Venezuelan government to the FARC in late 2007. We cannot confirm whether the loan materialized.

On May 29, 2003, President George W. Bush identified the FARC as a significant foreign narcotics trafficker, or drug kingpin, pursuant to the Kingpin Act. In 2001, the State Department designated the FARC as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist pursuant to Executive Order 13224, and in 1997 as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.

This OFAC action continues ongoing efforts under the Kingpin Act to apply financial measures against significant foreign narcotics traffickers and their organizations worldwide. In addition to the 75 drug kingpins that have been designated by the President, 460 businesses and individuals have been designated pursuant to the Kingpin Act since June 2000.

Today’s action freezes any assets the designated entities and individuals may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibits U.S. persons from conducting financial or commercial transactions involving those assets. Penalties for violations of the Kingpin Act range from civil penalties of up to $1,075,000 per violation to more severe criminal penalties. Criminal penalties for corporate officers may include up to 30 years in prison and fines of up to $5,000,000. Criminal fines for corporations may reach $10,000,000. Other individuals face up to 10 years in prison for criminal violations of the Kingpin Act and fines pursuant to Title 18 of the United States Code.

For a complete list of the individuals and entities designated today, please visit:
www.treasury.gov/offices/enforcement/ofac/actions/index.shtml

To view previous OFAC actions directed against the FARC, please visit:

Treasury Action against the FARC on July 31, 2008 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp1096.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on May 7, 2008 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp966.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on April 22, 2008 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp938.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on January 15, 2008 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp762.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on November 1, 2007 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp661.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on September 28, 2006 ( link: www.treas.gov/press/releases/hp119.htm )
Treasury Action against the FARC on February 19, 2004 ( link: www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/js1181.htm )
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City of Miami Mayor and President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Manny Diaz, sent a letter to President George W. Bush and members of Congress Tuesday highlighting his concern for the arbitrary disqualification of 272 political candidates in Venezuela.

“The mayors of the United States view with grave concern the events occurring now in Venezuela,” said Mayor Diaz. “It is important that we express our concern and show our support for these candidates and for democratic principles in our hemisphere.”

Last June, the United States Conference of Mayors unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the summary and arbitrary disqualification of candidates without due juridical process in Venezuela, and denouncing the subjugation of the Venezuelan constitution and total disregard of separated branches of government. Since then, the disqualification of 272 otherwise eligible candidates has been upheld by the Venezuelan Supreme Court in spite of any formal charges against them.

One of these candidates is Leopoldo Lopez, mayor of the Chacao district of Caracas and a political opponent of the current Venezuelan government. Mr. Lopez, who is seeking the mayoralty of Caracas, has been an active leader in the Mayors Hemispheric Forum, an annual gathering of urban mayors throughout the Americas designed to promote cooperation and integration in our hemisphere.

The letter was delivered on Tuesday to President George W. Bush and key members of his administration, as well as to Congressman Howard L. Berman, Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Members of the community, as well as members of the Foreign Relations Committees and representatives of the Venezuelan diplomatic core in Washington, D.C. will also receive a copy.

Media Note: A copy of the letter sent by Mayor Manny Diaz will be available tomorrow at www.miamigov.com/mayor . The USCM resolution on Venezuela can be found at:
usmayors.org/resolutions/76th_conference/international_07.asp “

After an exhaustive three-month online search, Quepasa.com, one of the leading online social communities for young Latinos along with Latinas Illustrated, announced today that the Latinas Illustrated online model search will culminate in a runway show in Mexico City where a panel of judges made up of celebrities and industry leaders will pick the 13 winning models to appear in the 2009 Latinas Illustrated Swimsuit calendar.

“We are very pleased with the amount of international submissions we received from all over Latina America,” says John C. Abbott, Quepasa’s CEO. “This being the first year the contest is held online, we were thrilled to see submissions from Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and the Caribbean, which will make this a truly Pan-Latino calendar.”

The contest launched in May on the Latinas Illustrated Community on Quepasa.com (www.Quepasa.com/latinas) and featured a vibrant, interactive viral community, including exclusive videos, model profiles, pictures, user-generated content, and behind-the-scenes clips from past calendar shoots from all over Latin America. For the past three months the Quepasa community has been voting for their favorite models to determine the 30 finalists that will participate in the runway show, which will be held in Mexico City for the first time.

“The response to the contest has been phenomenal,” commented Jeff Valdez, Quepasa’s Chairman. “We are very excited about the 200-plus models from Latin America and the U.S. that participated in the contest and can’t wait to see who gets selected.”

Thirty of the models with the highest votes will be invited to participate in the Mexico City runway show, along with 10 models hand-selected by the Quepasa and Latinas Illustrated staff. The models will fly in from all over including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, and the U.S. and will compete before a panel of judges made up of celebrities and industry leaders who will select the 13 winners. The exclusive event will feature a celebrity Red Carpet plus a swimsuit and evening gown runway show, all taking place at Club VELVET in Mexico City on August 7th at 9:00pm.

“The finale is going to be a tremendous hit. There is so much excitement around it already. It’s the first time we have held the finale in Mexico City, and what better place than in the capital of Latin America to pick the 13 most beautiful Latinas,” said Jorge Cano Jr, Founder of Latinas Illustrated.

But the Latinas Illustrated contest is more than just about beauty, it is also about providing opportunity to Latinas as is the case with Azucena Lopez de Nava who became the host of the TV show, “Hola California,” produced by COX COMMUNICATIONS, and Belky Arizala from Colombia, who is the spokes model of a clothing line in Milan.

The day following the event the 13 winning models will be whisked away to the most exotic beaches in Cancun and Playa del Carmen where they will spend the next 7 days shooting the 2009 Latinas Illustrated calendar.

About Quepasa Corporation: Quepasa Corporation (Nasdaq:QPSA), headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL (with offices in Los Angeles, Scottsdale, Miami and Hermosillo, MX), owns Quepasa.com, one of the world’s largest, bicultural, Latino online communities committed to providing fun, competitive, interactive, and easy to use social tools, and rich multimedia content to embrace Latinos, and empower them to connect on-line, and share their interests, ideas, and activities.

The Quepasa Corporation logo is available at www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=5287

About Latinas Illustrated: For six consecutive seasons Latinas Illustrated has combined the beauty of Latin women, Latin beaches, and its people to create a unique product: The Latinas Illustrated Calendar.

CONTACT: LMC Media
Luz Maria Castellanos
(323) 924-2835
Fax: (323) 482-1433
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The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Larry Edward Penley, president of Colorado State University to the 2008 National Board of Directors. NSHMBA named Dr. Penley to the board as a result of a change in the board structure to diversify the background and expertise of the board. President Penley serves on numerous boards, both economic and higher education related and his expertise with public research institutions aligns well with the goals of NSHMBA. Before joining Colorado State University, Penley served for many years as a professor of management and dean of the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. Dr. Larry Edward Penley became the 13th president of Colorado State University and Chancellor of the CSU System on August 1, 2003.

Dr. Penley’s lifelong commitment to higher education took root at Wake Forest University, where he earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Communication and his doctorate in management at the University of Georgia. Following graduate school, he joined the faculty of the University of Texas at San Antonio. Reflecting his strong commitment to international education and understanding, he also has taught at the Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey in Mexico and the Universidad de Carabobo in Venezuela.

“Dr. Penley is an excellent addition to our board and will serve the entire NSHMBA organization well. By including different areas of expertise to our board structure, we continue to lift our organization to higher levels and to further our impact on our nation,” stated Lourdes Hassler, NSHMBA CEO.

Under the new NSHMBA Board structure, potential board members will undergo selection through a nomination process. The NSHMBA Nominations Committee will review candidates and submit for approval by the national board and chapter presidents. This new process will provide NSHMBA the opportunity to enhance the expertise and leadership of the board with like-minded national leaders from diverse backgrounds.

When asked about the new board structure, Hassler stated, “NSHMBA continues to benefit immeasurably from the commitment and expertise of our board and this enhancement.”

About NSHMBA
The National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) was created in 1988 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization. Widely known as the “Premier Hispanic Organization,” NSHMBA serves 32 chapters and 7,000 members in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It exists to foster Hispanic leadership through graduate management education and professional development. NSHMBA works to prepare Hispanics for leadership positions throughout the U.S. so that they can provide the cultural awareness and sensitivity vital in the management of the nation’s diverse workforce. “

Miss Universe 2008 Dayana Mendoza is the newest “Madrina” of the Latino Commission on AIDS, announced Dennis deLeon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. Dayana Mendoza visited the offices of the Commission in New York on July 23rd and received a comprehensive briefing on the impact of HIV/AIDS among Hispanics in the United States and Territories.

“It is important to me, and the Miss Universe Organization to show our commitment and solidarity with those impacted by HIV/AIDS,” said Dayana Mendoza. “I will spend my reign advocating all individuals to take the HIV test and encouraging safe sex.”

“The needs of prevention and access to care of Latinos are complex and diverse and get more challenging every year,” said Dennis deLeon, President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. “I am honored that Miss Universe, Dayana Mendoza is taking action and joining our cause to promote the HIV test as an important step for prevention and education.”

“We celebrate our partnership with Miss Universe Organization for AIDS awareness in our communities,” stated Guillermo Chacon, Vice President of the Latino Commission on AIDS. “Dayana Mendoza is committed to the fight against AIDS and a vital supporter, Dayana is a beacon of hope for a future without AIDS. It is an honor for us to name her as our ‘first Venezuelan Madrina.’”

Madrinas and Padrinos of the organization are those individuals that commit themselves to promote prevention and education related to HIV/AIDS. The role of Madrina/Padrino in the Latino/Hispanic culture is an extended and important family member on whom a family relies for support.

ABOUT THE LATINO COMMISSION ON AIDS
The Latino Commission on AIDS (LCOA) is a nonprofit membership organization founded in 1990 dedicated to fighting the spread of HIV/AIDS in the Latino/Hispanic communities. The Commission is the leading national Latino AIDS organization coordinating National Latino AIDS Awareness Day and other prevention and advocacy programs in more than 40 States and Puerto Rico. For more information visit: www.latinoaids.org or www.nlaad.org . UNIDOS PODEMOS / UNITED WE CAN

ABOUT THE MISS UNIVERSE ORGANIZATION
The MISS UNIVERSE(R), MISS USA(R) and MISS TEEN USA(R) Pageants are a Donald J. Trump and NBC Universal joint venture. Utilizing its nationwide grass roots infrastructure, the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) is committed to increasing HIV/AIDS awareness by focusing on women’s health and reproductive issues. By forging relationships with organizations committed to research and education such as the Latino Commission on AIDS, God’s Love We Deliver, APICHA and Gay Men’s Health Crisis, Miss Universe is armed to impact women today. For more information visit: www.missuniverse.com . “

CaribeVision Television Group announced today the launch of its much-anticipated broadcast of local soccer games of the Atlante Soccer Club.
During the broadcast by CaribeVision you’ll have a chance to watch Federico Vilar in action, one of Argentina’s star goalkeepers.
From the land of coffee and cumbia, the great Colombian player Luis Gabriel Rey will show what he can do on the front line, and the Venezuelans, who have one of the up-and-coming teams, will be introducing Giancarlo Maldonado as one of their featured players, a major asset of the Vino Tinto team. All of these stars will be coached by Jose Guadalupe Cruz, better known in Mexican soccer as “Professor Cruz,” Head Coach of the Azulgranas.
Everything is set for the whistle to kick off the action. On this Saturday, July 26, at 10:00 p.m. when Atlante’s Potros de Hierro will be coming face-to-face at Andres stadium in Quintana Roo, Cancun with the Diablos Rojos of Toluca, who are not in Cancun on vacation, but instead seeking the first 3 points of the 2008 opening tournament, and led by Jose Pekerman, with stars such as Hernan Cristante and Antonio Naelson “Zinha,” in a contest whose outcome is anybody’s guess.
“CaribeVision will be bringing exclusive coverage of the people’s team to your homes and I am very honored to be able to broadcast games of Atlante’s Potros de Hierro, unquestionably a team with one of the strongest backgrounds in Mexican soccer, over CaribeVision,” added Ernesto Amador.
Our network is proud to be providing our TV viewers with exclusive coverage of the Atlante Soccer Club. CaribeVision brings the tradition of soccer straight to you, in the place where the Hispanic family comes together.
This great soccer fiesta will only be available on CaribeVision — on Saturdays from 10:00 p.m. to midnight, with sportscaster Ernesto Amador.
About CaribeVision Television Group.
CaribeVision Television Network, which reaches more than 7 million households, is owned by Pegaso TV (owned by the Burrillo Azcarraga family, TeleCinco and Quantek) and Barba Television. CaribeVision is the only 24/7 television network serving the entertainment, news, sports and information needs of both Hispanic and general audience viewers who have an interest in the culture and lifestyle of the Caribbean.
Carried by the nation’s top MSOs, including Time Warner Cable and Comcast, the fully advertising-supported network currently serves the markets of New York (WPXO-TV), Miami (WFUN-TV) and Puerto Rico. In Puerto Rico, CaribeVision is available via WJPX Channel 24 (San Juan), WIRS Channel 42 (Jayuya), WKPV Channel 20 (Ponce), WJWN-TV Channel 38 (Aguada), Choice Cable - Cannel 21, Liberty Cable - Channel 24, One Link - Channel 24. The four full power stations provide 100 percent coverage of the island.
In addition to airing first-run, originally produced series and specials that directly reflect the beauty, rhythm, and passion of the tropics, CaribeVision also airs some of Spain’s most popular programming and news shows from Italy (as a result of its partnerships with TeleCinco.). For more information about CaribeVision, please visit: www.caribevision.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT THE OFFICIAL CARIBEVISION HOME PAGE AT: