Hugo Chavez

PHOTO:  LA Times

Hugo Chavez, a former army paratrooper, came to power in Venezuela in 1998.  After an unsuccessful coup against him in 2002 and a referendum on his leadership (which he won handily), he went on to win the 2006 presidential elections.

Chavez’s government has implemented a number of social programs, including health and education services, which he calls a part of his “Bolivarian Revolution.”  Despite the country’s oil wealth, however, there is still wide-reaching poverty and unemployment.

Supporters say Chavez is a defender of the poor; critics accuse him of becoming increasingly autocratic, and that he is attempting to emulate Cuba’s Fidel Castro.

His attempt to change the constitution to centralize his power, lengthen his presidential term, and remove term limits narrowly failed after a nationwide referendum in December 2007.

Chavez played an integral role in negotiating the release of two hostages from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in January 2008, but has faced criticism for his declaration that guerrilla armies in Colombia are not terrorists and should be recognized as legitimate by the international community.

He has also aced international scrutiny since the beginning of March 2008 once computer files recovered after a raid on FARC uncovered evidence that he may have given over $300 million to the organization.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – Profile: Hugo Chavez

Wikipedia - Hugo Chavez

Impunity Watch - South America