Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez (left) threatened to arrest former Uribe 
advisor Jose Obdulio Gaviria (right) if he entered the country to assist opposition.

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has threatened to arrest Jose Obdulio Gaviria, the former presidential adviser during the administration of Alvaro Uribe, if he entered Venezuela on a planned trip to meet with opposition leaders inside the country.

Gaviria had planned a trip to Chacao, in the State of Miranda, to consult with the mayor of the town on security in the region. But on Saturday, Chavez threatened both Gaviria and Alfredo Rangel, a security analyst, with jail if they entered Venezuela.

Gaviria responded to the threat on Sunday, saying, "In Venezuela it is not possible that experts, especially those on democratic issues, offer their assistance."

Gaviria further noted the contrast that Chavez "very enthusiastically receives [FARC leaders] 'Timochenko', '[Rodrigo] Granda', 'Ivan Marquez' or 'El Cantante', a rebel commander, and Piedad Cordoba, a former senator who mediated in favor of these guerrillas."

Chavez has shown signs of worry about the upcoming election, scheduled to take place on October 7, 2012, starting with large increases in spending on his "missions" (government spending programs that go directly to areas that support the regime), as well as with a shakeup among his security chiefs.

At the same time, Chavez's opposition has consolidated and is running a primary to select one candidate to face the autocratice leader without splitting the vote amongst opposition candidates. Venezuela analysts have noted that Chavez appears to be targeting voters with government money and attacking the opposition more aggressively as recent polls have shown his popularity waning. 

Colombia's popular ex-president Uribe has been a lone voice among Latin American leaders with the temerity to directly challenge Chavez, and to call attention to the numerous human rights violations that have become increasingly common in Venezuela.

And a number of former members of Uribe's administration have been involved with advising Venezuela's opposition political figures in the lead up to next year's presidential election.  

Uribe, and his former aides and supporters, have become the loudest critics of the Chavez regime as organizations like the Organization of American States have become subservient to the "21st Century Socialism" governing plan that Chavez touts for Venezuela as well as the rest of Latin America.

Shortly before Uribe left office, his administration showed conclusively that the Venezuelan government was supporting Colombian terrorist groups in a stunning presentation to the OAS. Chavez was also accused of meddling in last year's Colombian elections.