Exposing the Venezuelan government's private land grab along with other blogs,  A.M. Mora y Leon suggested that the MSM is taking a nap on this major story. 
 
Now they seem to have awakened, but are sleep walking through this incident, gently portraying it as another case of class warfare with the government on the side of the little guy as in this generally sympathetic AP report. 

Government officials escorted by troops and police descended on a privately owned cattle ranch Saturday to determine whether some lands may be turned over to poor farmers as part of an agrarian reform. [....]

The vast El Charcote Ranch, 125 miles southwest of Caracas, is one of many across Venezuela being eyed by authorities as they move forward on a sweeping plan to re—evaluate uses of agricultural lands in this South American country.

Squatters have moved onto the 32,000—acre ranch and planted crops in hopes the land will one day be declared their own.

An ally of Chavez, Cojedes state Gov. Jhonny Yanez Rangel, told supporters who gathered at the ranch along with heavily armed National Guard troops and police that "private property ... is a right, but not absolute" and that "the collective interest" must be considered.

"We didn't come to expropriate, but to do justice," said Yanez, as helicopters that will be used to survey lands hovered.

Officials said the evaluation will take 90 days and will determine whether the ranch lands are being properly used and whether the owner has rightful claims to the land.

But don't blame the media messenger.
 
The threat of government sanctioned expropriation of private land, even from foreigners, has frightening implications for all citizens. The AP reporter has to live in a country ehich is willing to brutalize its own citizens. 

Ethel C. Fenig    1 09 05