Venezuela expels staffers after report

Houston Chronicle ^ | 9/19/2008 | John Otis

[markomalley]

Human Rights Watch on Friday condemned the expulsion from Venezuela of two of its senior staff members after releasing a report that was sharply critical of President Hugo Chavez.

The staffers, Jose Miguel Vivanco and Daniel Wilkinson, were forced to leave the country late Thursday.

The order came a few hours after a Caracas news conference where they presented a report describing how Chavez has weakened democratic institutions and human rights guarantees in Venezuela.

"Chavez's expulsion of Human Rights Watch's team is further evidence of Venezuela's descent into intolerance," Kenneth Roth, executive director of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "Chavez may have kicked out the messenger, but he has only reinforced the message civil liberties in Venezuela are under attack."

Staffers expelled

According to Roth, Vivanco and Wilkinson, who direct the Americas division for Human Rights Watch, were intercepted at their Caracas hotel Thursday night.

Authorities presented them with a letter accusing them of "anti-state activities" and of illegally entering Venezuela on tourist visas. Their cell phones were confiscated and they were driven to the international airport and put on a plane to Sao Paulo, Brazil.

[Red Badger]

Obama’s idol, Chavez, is doing what all stalinist dictators do. Get rid of witnesses............

[mlocher]

Another free speech advocate....

[SumProVita]

Where is Nancy Pelosi’s outrage?

[blam]

Wait till Chavez gets Russian or Iranian nukes.

[itsthejourney]

Coming soon to a neighborhood near you if O’Messiah gets control.

[mefistofelerevised]

Chaves needs to be taken out.

[Liberty Valance]

I'm shocked!

[WellyP]

Time to expel Chavez. His “sell by” date has expired. For all the damage he has done to Venezuela, I have no idea why he has not been removed from office...in a box.