Posted on 03/28/2005 1:11:41 PM PST by RWR8189
Where 'Disrespect' Can Land You in Jail
Venezuela's minister of communication and information, Andres Izarra, recently accused The Post and several other American media of being part of a campaign to defame Venezuela directed by the Bush administration and funded by the State Department. Apparently I drew Izarra's attention by writing several columns and editorials lamenting President Hugo Chavez's assault on press freedom and the independent judiciary and his support for anti-democratic movements elsewhere in Latin America.
One of the journalists libeled by Izarra pointed out that he had no evidence to back up his accusations. According to the newspaper El Universal, that inspired the following outburst, in Spanish, from the cabinet minister: "Mister gringo, be sure that we are going to come back to defeat you . . . because we work with the truth, we have spirit and above all something very special, a leader who unites and inspires us, the commandante Chavez!"
It's easy to laugh at such buffoonery if, like me, you have the privilege of working for an independent newspaper in a capital where demagogues such as Izarra aren't taken seriously. In Caracas, however, the minister's rantings -- and those of his master, Chavez -- are no longer funny. Beginning this month journalists or other independent activists accused by the government of the sort of offenses alleged by Izarra can be jailed without due process and sentenced to up to 30 years.
To be sure, much of the Venezuelan media has aggressively opposed Chavez's populist "Bolivarian revolution," though not without reason: The former coup-plotting colonel is well on his way to destroying what was once the most stable and prosperous democracy in Latin America. Some newspapers and television stations openly sided with attempts to oust the president via coup, strike or a national referendum.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
"The former coup-plotting colonel is well on his way to destroying what was once the most stable and prosperous democracy in Latin America"
Of course, venezolanos did vote for this guy twice, in 98 and 2000, knowing well his clear disregard for government institutions. it says a lot about the failure of the traditional governing parties that they let the population become so disenchanted/desparate that they would put someone as obviously dangerous as this in rather than continue the status quo.
Not so sure. We only have Jimmah Cahtah's word.
The same route followed in Cuba and Nicaragua: classical Marxist-Leninist doctrine.
You mean for the 98 and 2000 elections? I am not familiar with how involved JC was in that, but for an opposition candidate to win (in 98 especially) he probably got a lot of real votes.
When you control the counting, a landslide is within reach.
ping
Did he control the counting in 1998?
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