A few weeks ago, Hugo Chavez’ government tried institutionalize the role of stoolpigeons in Venezuelan life by requiring citizens to report the activities of their neighbors. Well, it seems they’ve decided that wasn’t such a good idea (AP Link);

President Hugo Chavez said Saturday that his government will rewrite a new intelligence law to calm fears in Venezuela that the decree could be used to stifle dissent.

Human rights groups had criticized an overhaul of the country’s intelligence services, which included a clause requiring citizens to act as informants if authorities believe they have information on national security threats.

The law would have punished noncooperative citizens with up to four years in prison, raising concerns that Venezuelans would have been forced to spy on their neighbors.

Chavez told supporters Saturday that his government would soon amend the controversial law to protect civil rights. “Mistakes” were made in the decree and would be corrected, he said.

“I guarantee the country that nobody will be tread upon, and nobody will be forced to say anything they don’t want to say,” he said. “This is a political battle, not a legal battle.”

Chavez backtracked a day after Venezuelan Catholic Church officials condemned the decree. Speaking to journalists after a Mass on Friday, Venezuelan Cardinal Jorge Urosa warned that the law “restricts human rights consecrated in the Constitution.”

Human rights groups compared the decree to the U.S. Patriot Act, passed after the Sept. 11 attacks, because both allow authorities to monitor suspects’ phone calls and e-mails without court permission. Under Venezuela’s law, authorities can also withhold evidence from defense lawyers, if it is deemed to be in the interest of national security.

Although it really doesn’t mirror the Patriot Act, just using the US anti-terrorism law is enough to scare many away from it. Of course, a quick perusal of the Leftist Venezuelanalysis, turns up support for Chavez draconian edict that the Left would never express for George Bush;

Reports keep surfacing about new threats against Hugo Chavez. Given past ones, they can’t be taken lightly. Chavez is alerted and reacts accordingly. Case in point: revamping Venezuela’s decades old intelligence services. It’s long overdue and urgently needed given the Bush administration’s tenure winding down and its determination in its remaining months to end the Bolivarian project and crush its participatory democracy.

CIA, NED, IRI, USAID and other US elements infest the country and are more active than ever. Subversion is their strategy, and it shows up everywhere. Violence is being encouraged. Opposition groups are recruited and funded. So are members of Venezuela’s military. Student groups as well and anti-Chavista candidates for November’s mayoral and gubernatorial elections.

The dominant media are on board in Venezuela and America. They assail Chavez relentlessly and are on the warpath again after his May 28 announced intelligence services changes. The Interior and Justice Ministries will oversee a new General Intelligence Office and Counterintelligence Office in place of the current Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services (DISIP). Similar military intelligence and counterintelligence components will replace the Military Intelligence Division (DIM) and will be under the Defense Ministry. Why was it done and why now? To counter stepped up US espionage and destabilization efforts when it’s most needed.

Yes, like everything else in Latin America, it’s the US’ fault - more specifically, George Bush’s fault. The US Patriot Act is benign compared to Chavez new rules, in fact it’s benign compared to the laws the British enacted after the terrorist attack on their soil. Somehow, when it comes to Hugo Chavez the US and Canadian Left ignores the evaporation of human rights of Venezuelans. I don’t suppose it’s because they’re a little bit racist.