WTF: Hugo Chavez Digs Up Simon Bolivar's Bones

By Michael Lopez

Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez is getting his face in front of the cameras again. No, it’s not to discuss the social issues of his country or his controversial documentary; it’s to show off the 80-year-old bones of legendary figure Simon Bolivar!

In what may be Venezuela’s oldest “Cold Case,” Chavez is having his top officials and forensic scientists investigate Bolivar’s remains to see if he may have been murdered (as opposed to the official tuberculosis cause that’s recorded in the textbooks).

For those curious, Simon Bolivar was one of Latin America's most famous historical figures. He played a major role in multiple countries' (Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, etc.) independence from Spain and helped create the first union of independent nations (La Gran Colombia, later Colombia — which is incidentally celebrating its independence today!) in Latin America.

But do we really care at this point whether or not he was poisoned in 1830?

Hugo Chavez sure does and is making quite the spectacle of his new pet project. "Viva Bolivar," he told the press. "It's not a skeleton. It's the Great Bolivar, who has returned." In the past, it’s been clear that Chavez is a Bolivar fanatic, even going so far as to raise his original sword at public events.

But with all of the pressing issues going on in Venezuela right now, is this really a top priority? Critics are attacking Chavez’ move as a “ridiculous show” and many believe that the murder allegation simply doesn’t hold water. Perhaps it would be better for Hugo to focus on his country and leave the conspiracy theories to Oliver Stone.

Source: [Yahoo! News]

Do you care whether Simon Bolivar was murdered? Sound off in the comments or @MTV3!

Tags Chisme, Hugo Chavez, investigation, murder, Simon Bolivar, tomb, Tr3s, WTF