Chavez And Control Of Information
An open letter in today's Washington Post is instructive for those who like to screech about how they are being repressed here in the US. Written by Diana Daniels, general counsel of The Washington Post Co. and president of the Inter American Press Association, it is in response to the actions of the Chavez government when Ms. Daniels paid a visit to Venezuela.
Dear President Chávez:
Last week I spent three days in Venezuela following up on an open invitation from a representative of the Venezuelan legislature. (It had been extended at the March meeting of the Inter American Press Association.) I had been looking forward to meeting you and other members of the Venezuelan federal and provincial governments to have an open dialogue about freedom of expression and freedom of the press in your country. To my regret, no one from the Venezuelan government was willing to meet. Instead of having that dialogue, I found the organization I represent in the unusual circumstance of being the object of petty name-calling by officials of your government, behavior somewhat akin to what my children do when they throw a temper tantrum and they can't think of anything better to say.
Here is what I would have wanted to talk about with you if we'd had the chance.
As head of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, whose founding was rooted in the democratic movements of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, what is it about a truly independent and free press that is of concern to you? As Simón Bolivar stated in his Carta de Jamaica, written in Kingston on Sept. 6, 1815: "The first steps of all the new governments are marked by the establishment of juntas of the people. These juntas then draft rules for the convocation of congresses, which produce great changes. Venezuela erected a democratic and federal government, after declaring for the rights of man, establishing a system of checks and balances, and passing general laws granting civil liberties, such as freedom of the press and others."
It's worth reading. It also shows the world people like Chavez supporters like Harry Belafonte and Cindy Sheehan would have pushed onto all of us. No thanks.
Left Wing, Media, World news | Gaius Saturday, 29 July , 2006
By d henry boylan, Saturday, 29 July , 2006 @ 9:50 am
I am very sad to read this letter by Ms Daniels. There has been so much hope for Sr. Chavez and for his government. Apparently much has gone wrong and he cannot be open to outside influence. But we, in the US, must take responsibility for the horrible policies that we have promoted in Central and South America. We have acted like the election of a socialist or leftist government is a terrible crime and any association with Sr. Chavez or Sr. Castro is something bad. They are of no threat to us and we must start reaching out to be peacemakers instead of controllers of the world. And start here, in our own hemisphere.
By d henry boylan, Saturday, 29 July , 2006 @ 9:56 am
It is very sad that Sr. Chavez has been closed to such contact. But we, in the US, must take responsibility for our horrible approach to Latin America. We act as if any socialist or leftist candidate will ruin a country and no one should have any contact with Sr. Chavez or Sr. Castro. These leaders do not really threaten us. We need to reach out and make peace in our hemisphere and stop our beligerence and show our respect for each countries right to choose.
By Gaius, Saturday, 29 July , 2006 @ 9:59 am
Hate to break this to you, but Castro is a horrible dictator. Chavez is heading that way rapisly.