Global Voices » Luis Carlos Diaz

Honduras: 7 Journalists Killed and Others Threatened

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sun, 02 May 2010 02:50:33 +0000

Following the June 28, 2009 coup d'etat and the November 2009 elections that gave the presidency to Porfirio Lobo, Honduras continues in a complicated situation for freedom of expression. In the past 40 days, 7 journalists have been murdered, including the latest case, when Georgino Orellana was killed when he was leaving the offices of his television station on April 21.

Twitterer Jairo Libreros (@jairolibreros) wrote:

Homicidio de periodista hondureño Georgino Orellana evidencia proceso de ascenso de nuevas élites políticas, nada nuevo en América Latina.

The murder of Honduran journalist Georgino Orellano is evidence that there is an ascension of new political elites, nothing new in Latin America.

Honduran Twitterer Eduardo Coto (@eduardocotohrn) knew the victim personally and wrote this shortly after his death:

:( triste, perdí un amigo, Georgino Orellana un excelente periodista, amigo y padre. Basta ya al asesinato de Periodista en Honduras.

:( sad, I lost a friend, Georgino Orellano, an excellent journalist, friend, and father. Enough with the murders of Honduran journalists.

The next day following Orellana's murder, Alejandra Quiroz (@thepurplebug) a journalism student commented on how the traditional media provided sensationalist coverage of the journalist's body, without going in-depth about the causes of the crimes:

Verguenza me da estudiar periodismo encontrar fotografias de Georgino Orellana en La Tribuna y La Prensa!!! ¿Y el respeto!?

I am ashamed of studying journalism to find photographs of Georgino Orellana in the (newspapers) La Tribuna and La Prensa. Where is the respect!?

Up until the end of April the following journalists had been murdered: Nicolás Asfura (42 years-old), television reporter Joseph Hernández (26), television news correspondent of the program “Abriendo Brecha” David Mesa (51), Nahum Palacios (34), who had asked for protective measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights for the threats he received from the military after the coup, the journalist Bayardo Mairena (52) and his assistant Manuel Juárez (54) from Excelsior Radio, radio commentator Luis Chévez Hernández (23), and Georgino Orellana (48).

In addition, on April 23, there were various social collectives who called for answers for the disappearance of Oscar Flores, an activist who had marched in all of the protests against the coup that removed former President Mel Zelaya. Flores carried a sign that counted the days of “resistance” and days after the denouncement, he appeared alive showing signs of torture after his disappearance.

Juan Carlos Rivera of the blog Mirada de Halcón [es] re-published a post from Reporters Without Borders, which states that this year Honduras has been classified as the most dangerous country for members of the media. In addition to denouncing the murders, they denounced the death threats against journalists that led to 3 journalists leaving the country in exile.

For activist Juan Almendárez, the murders are of journalists that were against the coup, and have been silenced so that the country's powerful preserve the status quo after the government of Roberto Micheletti. His writes the following text “Why Murder the Word? [es]”

Cuando el discurso oral o textual del pueblo amenaza a la oligarquía, fiel servidora del coloniaje del poder mundial; los dirigentes y simpatizantes populares son perseguidos, torturados y asesinados.

El periódico voselsoberano fue objeto de obstrucción por el bloqueo cibernético. El control de la comunicación, lo mismo que todas las entidades estratégicas de energía eléctrica térmica y acuosa; están bajo el control de los jerarcas militares que participaron en el golpe.

When the oral or textual rhetoric of the people threatens the oligarchy, the faithful servant of the colonial world power; leaders and sympathizers are persecuted, tortured and murdered.

The online newspaper voselsoberano was the target of cyber-blockade. The control of communication, like all strategic entities of thermal and water energy; are under control of the military leaders who participated in the coup.

Its website still remains down at the moment.

The threats have not stopped and members of Radio Progress, a station in the city of San Pedro Sula, have received phone calls and messages that attempt to intimidate their communication work. The station was known for remaining on the air during the military repression and document many of the accusations of Human Rights violations that have yet to be investigated. The station belongs to the Honduran Jesuits and other Latin American religious orders that have joined together in protest and sent a letter to the Lobo government.

EXIGIMOS al régimen de Porfirio Lobo Sosa, y a los cuerpos represivos del Estado que únicamente responden a los intereses de la oligarquía; que cesen la persecución, hostigamiento, amenazas a muerte y asesinatos a periodistas y a miembros de la Resistencia Popular a nivel regional y nacional, en total irrespeto a la libertad de expresión y a la vida, y prueba de ello es la muerte violenta de periodistas.

WE DEMAND that the regime of Porfirio Lobo Sosa and the repressive state bodies that only respond to the interests of the oligarchy to stop the persecution, harassment, death threats, and murders of journalists and members of the Popular Resistance on a regional and national level, in total disregard for freedom of expression and of life and proof is the violent deaths of journalists.

The station's director, Father Ismael Moreno, SJ, better known as Father Melo, has also received death threats [es] for providing protection to Irma Melissa, a girl who denounced that she was a victim of rape by the Honduran police during a protest. The blog of Sic Semanal – Centro Gumilla republished the statement [es] by the Jesuits in Honduras calling on investigations on the threats against Father Melo.

President Lobo announced that he has asked for international help to investigate the crimes. Nevertheless, many feel that the state security forces are heavily involved in these threats against those who spoke out against the coup and against those that continue to call for Zelaya to return to the presidency. In the meantime, many in the Honduran media still feel that restrictions have been placed on their work and that this information is not being reported in the international press.

Translation by Eduardo Ávila

Venezuela: The Proposed Media Crimes Law

Luis Carlos Diaz — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:23:34 +0000

Luisa Ortega Díaz, the Attorney General of Venezuela, presented a proposal for the “Law Against Media Crimes” on July 30 (read text here [es]) that some bloggers and journalists say seriously threaten freedom of expression in the country. The media has often been in the center of the battlefield during the country's political conflicts. Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has been very critical of many media outlets accusing them of destabilizing the country and spreading false information. As a result, Ortega Díaz states, “It is necessary that the Venezuelan state regulates freedom of expression.” However, she continues that the government does not seek to limit this freedom, but only regulate it.

Photo by Alé and used under a Creative Commons license. http://www.flickr.com/photos/alele/3779476136/

The current Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but it also indicates that there must be some limits and responsibilities. However, this bill increases the number of crimes that may be committed by those in the media. The bill contains 17 articles that states that owners of media outlets, journalists, sources, and anyone that participates in any communication media, may receive up to 4 years in prison if the published news causes a public panic in the population or disturbs the peace, security, or independence of the Venezuelan State. The same punishment can be applied for those manipulating information, as well as those that harm “the mental health or public morals.”

It is these vague terms that concern many Venezuelan bloggers and journalists. They argue that the loose interpretation of these crimes may allow the government to crack down on any members of the media that criticize the government. It would be up to the government's discretion to determine what actions fit within the framework of the new law. Many of the country's bloggers and journalists are quite concerned about how such a law might be applied and what it would mean for journalism in Venezuela.

One such person is Journalism professor Moraima Guanipa, who comments on Twitter that the bill is a [es] “new attempt to establish censorship and self-censorship through the penalization of journalistic work.”

A couple of bloggers were among those that are using citizen media tools to create videos to provide their thoughts on the bill. Blogger Naky Soto made a viral video explaining how the bill strengthens the punitive character in the practice of journalism. Another blogger, Jogreg Henríquez of the blog Circulemos [es] created a video to alert the dangers that “anyone” could go to jail because of the government's loose interpretation of the regulation. The video is subtitled into English:

Other reactions from Venezuelan twitterers:

Kira Kariakin @kirakar

Dicen que George Bush asesoró a Luisa Ortega Diaz (la Fiscal) en su propuesta de Ley de delitos mediáticos…

They say that George Bush advised Luisa Ortega Díaz (the Attorney General) for the proposed bill of the Law against media crimes…

@lobohombreriera

Leo la ley de delitos mediáticos. A ver quien es el guapo que puede definir lo que es “salud moral”. Vaya país. #FreeMediaVe

I read the law of media crimes. Let's see who is the one that can define “moral health” What a country! #FreeMediaVe

Analiz Suárez @anairinna:

Junto a la Ley de delítos mediáticos, deben -a su vez- crear una mega carcel, para que puedan meternos a todos :) ¿no que no?

Along with the Law Against Media Crimes, they should also build a mega prison, so that they can fit all of us there, right?

@nabifer:

esto de la Ley de Delitos Mediáticos no deja dormir. Yo creo que no nos estamos percantando de la magnitud del asunto. #freemediave

This Law Against Media Crimes keeps one up at night. I think that we are not realizing the magnitude of the situation #freemediave

The blog Panfleto Negro [es], which recently celebrated its 10 year anniversary as an online collective, comments that a law like that will also affect the State.

Finalmente, en Venezuela se legalizará la censura, una avanzada heroíca de la derecha conservadora y fundamentalista. El único aspecto positivo consiste en la posibilidad real de hacer limpieza. Desde ya en panfletonegro esperamos que apresen al Presidente, a todo el tren ministerial y a los miembros relevantes de la Asamblea Nacional, así como también a todos los reporteros de los canales del Estado y de los medios privados, por los delitos que cometen diariamente según este proyecto de ley.

Finally, censorship will be legalized in Venezuela, a heroic advance by the conservative and fundamentalist right-wing. The only positive aspect consists of the real possibility of cleaning things up. Here at (the blog) Panfleto Negro, we hope that they arrest the President, all of the ministers, and the relevant members of the National Assembly, as well as the the reporters from the State stations and from the private media, for the crimes that they commit on a daily basis according to the this bill.

In addition, the blogger at Slave to the PC [es] makes an announcement: “I declare myself a delinquent. Ladies and gentlemen, soon I will be a delinquent. Every time that I criticize some governmental action in this blog, I will be running the risk of being tried by the ‘Venezuelan justice’ system.” He added that the other risk is self-censorship:

La idea de criminalizar la información es un reflejo claro de que este Gobierno está en decadencia. La justificación de querer poner límites a la libertad de expresión muestra un rechazo impresionante a la democracia. El debate, la discusión y, lo mas importante, la voz de cada quien, quedan suspendidos hasta nuevo aviso. La autocensura será la solución de los entregados. La búsqueda y muestra de la realidad será la bandera de los que lucharán. Caerán algunos, de eso estoy seguro, pero no podran callarlos a todos.

The idea of criminalizing information is a clear reflection that this Government is in decline. The justification for wanting to place limits on the freedom of expression shows an incredible rejection of democracy. Debate, discussion, and most importantly, each person's voice, have been suspended until further notice. Self-censorship will be the solution for those who have surrendered. Searching for and showing reality will be the causes of those who will fight. Some will fall, of that I am sure, but they cannot silence everyone.

On the other hand, Michel, a pro-government blogger, uses the same argument as the Attorney General in saying that freedom of expression should be balanced with the citizen security and cites the irresponsibility of some media outlets [es]:

La fiscal general señaló que es necesario regular la actividad de los medios y brindarle una protección apropiada a los ciudadanos, quienes lucen indefensos ante el uso irracional del poder que actualmente ostentan los medios de comunicación social.

The Attorney General says that it is necessary to regulate the media's activity and provide the appropriate protection to the citizens, who appear defenseless against the irrational use of power held by the media.

Finally, journalist Carlos Correa, director of the NGO Espacio Público [es] writes about what is at stake:

Dada la importancia de la libertad de expresión en una sociedad democrática, debe el Estado garantizar y promover su ejercicio, no limitarlo mediante leyes que buscan silenciar los medios de comunicación o todo intento de expresión libre y crítica.

Given the importance of freedom of expression in a democratic society, the State should guarantee and promote this exercise, not limit it through laws that attempt to silence the media or any attempt of free expression and criticism.

Venezuela: Following the Local Elections Online

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 15:14:41 +0000

Today Venezuela is taking part in elections for mayors and governors. These elections will paint the political map between States and Municipalities aligned with President Hugo Chávez or not. These results depends largely on Chávez’ popularity and can determine whether he tries to reform the Constitution once again allowing for reelection in 2012.

Venezuelan bloggers and twitter users are covering the election with the tag #23N (November 23). One can see the various tweets that are already using this tag.

A few weeks ago, a campaign was launched to encourage people to vote, and to use citizen media to talk about the elections. This video is called “Create Your Own Network” and the translation:

Did you know you can be electoral observer on November 23?

You don't need to ask permission from the CNE (National Electoral Court) or any political party

You don't need to fill out a form or wear any credential

You just need to commit yourself with your network of friends, neighbors, family and colleagues

Circulate information of which you are a witness

Send messages from your cell phone or via the internet

Use your cell phone, your camera, internet connection, your blog, and if you don't have one, this is a good time to create one, your Facebook

Create your own network of citizens

Vote and Observe!

To see all of the videos, visit Hector Palacios at Rayas y Palabras [es], who was one of the organizers of the video campaign, along with Karelia Espinoza of Explikme [es], Luis Carlos Díaz of Periodismo de Paz [es], Naky Soto Parra of Zaperoco [es], Iria Puyosa of No Suma Cero [es], and Jogreg Henriquez of Circulemos [es].

Venezuela: The Launch of the Simón Bolívar Satellite

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:09:42 +0000

After three years in the making, the government of Venezuela placed a geostationary satellite into orbit. Launched from China, the satellite will be used for telecommunications projects for the country and for Latin America. The Simón Bolivar satellite, named for the national liberator, will be in operation for 15 years and will serve for connectivity, telephone and television transmissions around the southern continent that have depended on the infrastructure of the United States.

For hours, Venezuelan bloggers watched the transmission on the state television channel, while the rocket was launched. They also watched President Hugo Chávez take advantage of the event to campaign politically for his candidates running for local mayors and governors in the November 23 elections. The satellite, as are all political events, is a symbol for discussion.

Yosmary de Rausseo [es] republished the official information, the launch videos, and accompanied the note with the following message, “Long live the Bolivarian Revolution and the advanced policies of Hugo Chávez.”

On his blog, Horacio of UnoConTodo [es] is reminded that the country still has a lot of social debts that have not been resolved and that it a “satellite for an elite” He also shows a photograph of a 5-year-old child searching for food in the garbage.

Guillermo Amador also writes about the changes that will tkae place in the country as a result of the satellite, and that soon there will be local names like Space Shuttle Arepa 3000, in reference to the music video of the band Los Amigos Invisibles. Guillermo hopes that the satellite will be “run by the most prepared, and not by the most loyal and “committed [es] ” in the government so that it does not go to waste.

Romulo Rodriguez, an astronomy blogger [es], approved of the launch and wrote that Venezuelan technicians were trained to control the satellite. He sees it as a positive thing that television signals will reach more people, even if they are state-run channels.

To end, humorist Laureano Márques, responded to the way that president Chávez used a scientific event for politics when he referred to his ideology and his candidates.

El Presidente afirmó: “¿Qué tiene que ver un satélite con el socialismo? Una empresa capitalista lanza un satélite para hacer dinero. Este es un acto de liberación e independencia (…) para construir el socialismo dentro de Venezuela y para cooperar con otros pueblos”, cosa que me parece extraordinaria.

Lástima que los chinos no piensen igual y hayan cobrado a Venezuela 241 millones de dólares, a los que se suman 165 millones por la construcción de las dos sedes terrestres de control.

Electores, el próximo 23 de noviembre, cuando estén solos con sus conciencias, recuerden que ahora, desde lo alto del espacio, el Libertador os contempla.

The President stated, “What does a satellite have to do with socialism? A capitalistic company launches a satellite to make money. This is an act of liberation and independence (…) to construct socialism within Venezuela and to work together with other countries,” something that I think is great.

It is a shame that the Chinese do not think the same when they charged Venezuela 241 millions of dollars, which is added to the 165 million of dollars in the construction of the two ground control sites.

Voters, on November 23 (election day), when you are alone with your conscience, remember that now, from high up in space, the Liberator is watching you.

Venezuela: The Expulsion of Human Rights Watch

Luis Carlos Diaz — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:13:03 +0000

Armed military soldiers searched for José Miguel Vivancos, spokesperson for the international NGO Human Rights Watch, and expelled him from Venezuela hours after releasing the report at a press conference, “A Decade Under Chávez: Political Intolerance and Lost Opportunities for Advancing Human Rights in Venezuela,” which included critical commentary about the administration of Hugo Chávez.

The Venezuelan government's response to what it called, “another foreign aggression by U.S. Imperialism” was quick, convincing, and maybe even provided evidence of the political intolerance cited in the report, which is one of the fundamental features of contemporary Venezuela.

The report does not say anything that the Venezuela opposition has not already said, and in reality, Vivancos’ statements were nothing new.

However, for being an foreigner and the international legitimacy of the NGO caused for his immediate exit. In addition, recently the Venezuelan government expelled the U.S. ambassador in solidarity with the expulsion of the U.S. ambassador in Bolivia.

Iria Puyosa in her blog Resteados [es], she publishes some portions of the HRW report in a post called “Please, Don't Watch or Fuck You,“

Venezuela no logrará obtener un progreso real y sostenido hacia el fortalecimiento de su democracia; ni tampoco ser un modelo útil para otros países de la región; mientras su gobierno continúe despreciando los principios de derechos humanos establecidos en su propia Constitución.

[...]

El capítulo 2 documenta de qué forma el gobierno ha:
- Despedido a opositores políticos de algunas instituciones estatales y de la compañía petrolera estatal y puesto sus nombres en listas negras;
– Ha negado a algunos ciudadanos el acceso a programas sociales como consecuencia de sus opiniones políticas; y
– Discriminado contra los medios de comunicación, los sindicatos y las organizaciones de la sociedad civil en respuesta a sus críticas o a su actividad política.

Venezuela will not achieve real and sustainable progress towards the strengthening of its democracy; it will also not be a useful models for other countries of the region; while its government continues to look down upon the principals of human rights established by its own Constitution.

[...]

Chapter 2 documents the way that the government has:
- Fired political opponents in some of the state institutions and of the state petroleum company and blacklisted them;
- Denied some citizens access to social programs due to their political opinions; and
-Discriminated against the media, unions, and civil society organizations in response to their criticism o their political activity.

Even though the blogs that support the government have decreased in activity over the past months, there are other spaces that these opinions are expressed. On the site Aporrea [es] there have been articles directly attacking Vivancos and the role of HRW (calling them employees of the CIA and destablizers), responding to the report as if it was a document from the United States, and even some authors such as Francisco Sierra Corrales proposes the need to redefine “Human Rights”

Podemos decir que no sólo los estados o gobiernos son los únicos sujetos activos o los únicos susceptibles de violar los derechos humanos o garantías sociales sino que lo puede hacer el Imperialismo Yanqui, como primer factor de poder mundial. Por ejemplo, el terrorismo mediático y las desestabilizaciones políticas son impulsadas y monitoreadas por Washington, en contra de nuestros pueblos, en especial en contra de los gobiernos de centro-izquierda y centro-derecha que han empezado a surgir en nuestro continente en lo que va de siglo.

We can say that the state or governments are not the only active subjects or the only suspects in violating human rights or social guarantees, but something that the Yankee Imperialism can do, as well. For example, media terrorism and the political destabilization is impulsed and monitored from Washington, against our people and especially against center-left and center-right governments, which have been taking power on our continent since the beginning of the century.

In other political forums, a revolutionary forumist called Achue2 comments:

Con una diplomacia subliminal nos quieren convencer que se cometió un abuso contra este “martir” de los Derechos Humanos. Acá se le dio cuerda [oportunidad] suficiente a este señor. Tiene 10 años viniendo en tiempos electorales a subvertir el orden interno con calumnias y falacias apoyando a una tolda politica… perdió el equilibrio y la veracidad.

With a subliminal diplomacy, they want to convince us that an abuse was committed against this Human Rights “martyr.” Here they gave this man enough of an opportunitiy. He has been coming here for the past 10 years during election season trying to subvert the internal order with slander and fallacies supporting a political structure …he lost balance and truthfulness.

For those blogs, historically identified as opposition to Chávez, this impasse is only one more step towards intolerance by the military government in Venezuela. In other opinions, not so black and white, Rómulo Rodríguez comments on his blog Romrod [es] that he does not agreement with the way that someone making criticism was taken out of the country:

No me importa realmente quien es este señor Vivancos, no lo conozco ni me interesa. Pero lo que si me importa es que el gobierno venga y nos diga como y por que lo que se dice en el reporte es falso. Punto por punto si es posible. Responder con la expulsión de estos señores lo que me hace pensar es que como que tienen la razón y por esto es que los botan. Una torpe bravuconada. [...]

¿No hay discriminación política? ¿No hay intolerancia? ¿Hay un completo respeto a las minorías?”

I don't care who this Mr. Vivancos is, I don't know him and I don't care. What is important to me is that the government comes and says what in the report is false. Point by point if possible. Responding with the expulsion of these men makes mr wonder whether they were right and that is why they are thrown out. A clumsy and brazen move. [...]

Isn't there political discrimination? Isn't there intolerance? Is there a complete respect for minorities?

Petrusco participates in the comments section and enters into the discussion at the blog Periodismo de Paz [es] regarding the legitimacy of HRW and its political interests by coming to the country and to present its findings:

El día que la HRW demuestre su imparcialidad y eficiencia lanzando informes duros y contundentes en contra de gobiernos como el de Estados Unidos o Israel y realizando acciones serias y eficientes en función de esos informes entonces si valdrá la pena creerles lo que se vengan a leer aquí o en donde sea.

The day that HRW demonstrates its impartiality and efficiency by releasing tough and thorough reports against government like the United States or Israel and takes serious and efficient actions in regards to those reports, then will it be worth it to believe what they came to report here or anywhere else.

Are they attacking the message or the messenger? Read the report here and make your own conclusions.

Thumbnail photo by «•*٠ кιτ-кaτн .٠*•»

Venezuela: Government Halts Proposed Education and Intelligence Policy Changes

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 20:09:53 +0000

In 2007, when President Hugo Chávez announced that he was going to begin the “5 engines for the construction of socialism in Venezuela,” he did not know that one year later that he would be changing speeds or in some cases, going in reverse. The socialist revolution in the petroleum-producing country appears to have some difficulties in the attempt to govern in order to resolve the country's most serious problems.

Meanwhile, concerns and issues appear each week like fireworks, dispersing one's attention. There have been many bumping of heads with the Venezuelan government ever since it lost last December's referendum aimed at reforming the national Constitution. This is part one in an article collecting some viewpoints of Venezuelan bloggers regarding Chavez’ recent policy changes regarding education and intelligence.

Laws

Due to the discomfort from many teachers across the country, the new Bolivarian Educational Curriculum was halted, which had included several “socialist” ideological components that was to be included in the students’ studies. Blog Al Agua [es] attended one of the classes for teachers and comments:

Resulta pavoroso el hecho de que se pretenda ideologizar la educación venezolana a partir de un palimpsesto de imágenes nacionalistas, frases hechas de corte castro-comunista y lugares comunes de la indefinible politiquería oficial. Terrible el hecho de que se mantenga a los educadores sometidos a esa vejación a punta de amenazas sobre su futuro profesional.

It is scary that one would attempt to ideologize Venezuelan education through the palimpsest of nationalistic images, Castro-like and Communist phrases and places common to the official undefinable politics. It is terrible that these educators are subject to thise type of humiliation to a point where their professional futures are threatened.

RomRod [es] also said that there lacked debate from public opinion, and that the law was not analyzed carefully:

Como corderitos todos van a la jornadas donde les están inyectando a los docentes de este país el nuevo currículum bolivariano mesmo.

Like sheep, everyone goes to work where the same new Bolivarian curriculum in injected into the country's teachers.

A month later, due to the underground displeasure from the teachers’ unions, the government withdrew the educational program that included remnants of the Constitutional reform that was not approved.

The National Assembly also decided to reverse some laws that it had changed to control the motorized traffic anarchy [es] and the high bus fares. After two large protests that collapsed the center of Caracas [es], both measures were cancelled. In addition to the raise in fares, the bus drivers called for justice for the kidnapping of an owner of a transport line. Days later he was murdered.

A Country of Informants

Another episode that had a lot of repercussions in the Venezuelan blogosphere was the decreed Law of Intelligence and Counterintelligence impulsed by Chávez through this entitled power. In Venezuela, the president was given the power to legislate and take on Congressional powers, in which the laws are not debated or approved in consensus by the citizens. This time, the debate took place after the fact and soon after, the sound of the streets and the internet sounded in the ears of the president. The Law of Intelligence and Counter-intelligence denominated the Toad Law (because a toad has a big mouth capable of telling others), turned Venezuela into a country of spies. The blogosphere was very active and said things like this:

The blogger Panfleto Negro [es] said “Todos seremos sapos” (We Will All Be Toads):

Como todos sabemos la defensa contra los crimenes contra la “seguridad nacional” ha sido la coartada usada por todos los gobiernos con ansias totalitarias – asi se escuden bajo ropajes democraticos – para acabar con sus adversarios politicos, con las demandas de los sectores sociales y mantener al resto de la poblacion en estado subalterno mediante la represion y la autorepresion impulsada por el miedo y la desconfianza mutua que son los unicos productos de una ley tan inhumana.

We all know that the defense against crimes against “national security” has been the alibi used by all of the governments with totalitarian yearnings – that is how they hide under democratic clothing – in order to get rid of their political adversaries, and attend to the demands of the social sectors and maintain the rest of the population in a subordinate state through repression and self-repression caused by fear and mutual distrust, which would be the only products of such an inhumane law.

Iria Puyosa of Resteados [es] adds her thoughts on an especially troubling part of the proposed law:

“Este 28 de mayo salió en Gaceta Oficial la Ley del Sistema Nacional de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia. Our very own Homeland Security Act, our Venezuelan Patriot Act. El Artículo 6 asigna las competencias al Sistema Nacional de Inteligencia y Contrainteligencia, entre otras cosas incluye:

“Identificar, prevenir y neutralizar toda actividad interna o externa ejecutada por cualquier factor que pretenda atentar contra la seguridad, la soberanía nacional, el orden constitucional y las instituciones democráticas.”

Es decir, casi cualquier cosa que usted se pueda imaginar que no le guste al gobierno”.

On May 28, in the official Gazette the Law of the National System of Intelligence and Counterintelligence was released. Our very own Homeland Security Act, our Venezuelan Patriot Act. Article 6 outlines the responsabilities of this system, which includes:

“Identifying, preventing and neutralizing all internal or external activity conducted by any factor that attempts to attack against security, national sovereignty, constitutional order or democratic institutions.”

In other words, almost anything that you can image that the government doesn't like.

Khandika of Enigma Express [es] writes about a country of frogs and traitors. He also includes a piece of graffiti that says “Big Brother is Watching You.”

Me acuerdo de un profesor de la UCV que nos decía: venezuela es un nido de traidores. Y nosotros tomábamos la frase a manera de mamadera de gallo. Pero regresemos al tema de sapos y traidores. O más sutilmente de inteligencia y contrainteligencia. De ahora en adelante los informantes y colaboradores serán recompensados por el Estado acobijados bajo la nueva política de inteligencia y contrainteligencia. [...] El fin último, en ambos casos, es de todas maneras el mismo: la obtención de información acerca de los enemigos. En este caso los enemigos, son los enemigos de la revolución.

I remember a professor from the UCV who would tell us: Venezuela is a nest of traitors. We took that phrase like a joke. Coming back to the topic of frogs and traitors. Or more subtle regarding intelligence and counterintelligence. From now on, informants and collaborators will be compensated by the state sheltered under the new policy of intelligence and counterintelligence [...] Now in both cases, it is the same: the collection of information about one's enemies. In this case the enemies are enemies of the revolution.

Even though different political spokespersons appeared defending the law, the reversal was already in place. Chávez left his supporters with their defense on their lips and ordered the withdrawal of the law under the argument that the law is not bad, but there are components that generate fear through the use of the internet, text messages, television, the press and the radio. He continued by saying that there no dictatorship in place that no one would be obligated to say anything more that they want.

Jeanfreddy of Hay Que Ser Irresponsable [es] writes about the strategic halt to the law and Chavez’ change of tone:

¡Alerta! Vuelve aquella labia de “por amor”. Como novio arrepentido, que viene por debajito porque se sabe culpable, es capaz de hacer las cosas más insólitas, bellas y conquistadoras, para mostrarse como alguien diligente, conciliador y hasta justo. Quizás cambiado.

Caution! The rhetoric of “love” returns. Just like a contrite boyfriend, who comes crawling back because he knows he was wrong, he is capable of making things more unheard, beautiful and conquering, to show himself to be someone diligent, conciliating and even fair. Maybe even changed.

Thumbnail photo by Rufino Uribe and used under a Creative Commons license

Venezuela: Left in the Dark

Luis Carlos Diaz — Fri, 02 May 2008 03:41:48 +0000

More than 13 states and the most important cities of Venezuela were affected by a power outage last Tuesday, leaving many without electricity for several hours [es]. The subway system of the capital city of Caracas collapsed and left thousands of people having to walk through city streets already crowded with vehicles (photos). In spite of the difficulties, some bloggers were able to record some thoughts on the day's events through Twitter and their blogs, even though internet service remained slow in those places that still had electricity. Even cell phone service was unable to meet the demand throughout the emergency.

Photo by Benitex and used with permission

The power outage has yet to be explained by the authorities, and during the past weeks there has been a series of protests over the power outages in the western and southern part of the country. The fluctuation of voltage has affected electrical appliances, television sets and refrigerators in those houses without surge protection. As seen in this news article [es], a protestor asks, “now, who will pay for my television?” Venezuela contains a giant network of hydroelectricity that provides energy to the entire country via companies that have been recently criticized by the government. The process of “state-ization” of those services that the government considers “strategic” for national soverignty has also been criticized because neither the quality of the service, nor the maintenance of the service has been guaranteed. The country is going through a national phenomenon that points things in that direction, and it reveals the system's capacity to control emergencies.

Álvaro Rafael of Planeta en Fuego [es] indigently analyzes the responsibildiad about the power outage and the political discourse:

Si este apagón hubiera ocurrido estando las empresas eléctricas en manos de empresas privadas ¿no habría sido «suficiente motivo» para que el Gobierno nacional haya pedido la expulsión de sus dueños privados en beneficio de una supuesta «recuperación nacional»? El apagón ocurrió estando las empresas eléctricas en manos del Estado, ¿no es motivo para que nosotros, los ciudadanos afectados, pidamos la expulsión de quienes nos desgobiernan de tales empresas (y hasta de la administración del Estado)?

If this power outage would have happened when the electric companies were in the hands of private companies, wouldn't it have been enough for the national government to ask for the expulsion of the private owners for a supposed national recuperation? The power outage happened when the electric companies were in hands of the State. Isn't it enough for us, the affected citizens, to ask for the expulsion of those who poorly manage those companies (and even the state administration)?

On the other hand, Carlos García of Carlos Zombie [es] narrates and photographs his experience in his attempt to leave Caracas and get home. Like others, he had to not only deal with the failure of the Caracas metro system, but also had to walk several kilometers to reach one of the bus terminals to take a bus to one of the satellite cities because the electric train was also closed:

al llegar a la hoyada vi que mucha, pero mucha, mucha gente habia tenido la misma idea que yo y llego caminando, por lo que la multitud se incremento a niveles apocalipticos, la falta del tren hace que la hoyada viva momentos de pelicula de zombies. al final me monte en una camioneta a coñazo limpio y fue cuando pude venirme a casa, no sin antes calarme una mamarra cola para salir de ccs.

Reaching the station of La Hoyada, I saw many, many people that had the same idea that I did and arrived walking. The amount of people increased to apocalyptic levels. The lack of trains made the station of La Hoyada look like a zombie movie. At the end, I boarded a truck after pushing and shoving and that is how I made it home, not without standing in a long line to leave the Ccs

JuanCPovE [es] provides a long chronicle of how he had to descend 26 flights without elevator and how he found out about the national situation without radio or TV.

De tanto marcar mi celular logré comunicarme con mi primo ya que en la empresa donde el trabaja mantiene contacto con varias oficinas a lo largo del país y me confirmó que el apagón no sólo había ocurrido en Caracas (¡Rayos!, yo creía que era sólo en una zona de la capital), sino que en otras ciudades del país, posiblemente en toda Venezuela.

After repeatedly dialing my cell phone, I was able to communicate with my cousin. In the company where he works, he is constantly in contact with various offices throughout the country and confirmed that the power outage did not only take place in Caracas. (My goodness! I thought it was only in the capital city), but also in other cities of the country, and possibly all of Venezuela.

In addition to the long hours of standing in traffic, violence in the streets, traffic accidentss, and the general desperation to make it home, other episodes were part of the daily humor when one lives in relaxed socities.

The Twitterosphere had some interesting dialogues between those that followed along via cell phone or on unaffected electric networks:

Jeanfreddy: I am going over to Facebook, where there is light.

Anibal: It is very funny to see an ad of “Motherland, socialismo or death” connected to the system of emergency lights

Juliana B: I am annoyed. How did people live before? I am picking up candles.

Finally, the flickr user MaLu did not let the power outage get in her way of her beauty routine (used with permission):

Venezuela: Agreement Reached in Santo Domingo

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:02:21 +0000

Editor's Note: Kira Kariakin and Laura Vidal contributed to this article.

The gathering of Latin American presidents from the Rio Summit, which took place in the capital city of the Dominican Republic, has become one of the most impactful meetings for the integration of the continent. The previous agenda was not followed because three countries were in conflict. Instead of important discussions regarding energy and petroleum, cooperation and poverty and other issues typical of these meetings, the eyes and voices of the continent was in charge of stopping the escalation of a regional conflict with an unpredictable end.

The three countries, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela had three political and military actions during the week and with three presidents with different personalities and objectives. What was once a single republic between 1819 and 1831 and founded by Simón Bolívar is now divided into three, and with territories in a more cultural, rather than administrative sense.

The debate in Santo Domingo was long, filled with emotion, and conducted well by the leaders of the region in attendance. The primary topic, which took precedence over any other topic on each president's agenda: peace is needed in Colombia in order to construct peace in South America.

Ecuador reclaimed its sovereignty. Colombia reclaimed its right to defend its people from insurgent, armed and narcotrafficking groups that have been attacking them for decades. And Venezuela is counting on negogiating the release of those kidnapped by the FARC through political means, and not through arms, as well as an end to an internal war that has not been resolved for 60 years in Colombia. That is why Chávez felt attacked by the assasination of the guerrilla leader Raúl Reyes, who acted as negotiator for these deals.

Santo Domingo served as a stage to present positions and create compromises for governability and unite forces for the construction of peace in the region. The blogosphere also served as a stage for Venezuelan bloggers to express their thoughts on the brewing conflict.

The prospect of war with neighboring Colombia was not very appealing and Liberal Venezolano [es] writes:

Venezuela no está en condiciones, ni militares ni económicas, para enfrentar un conflicto bélico con Colombia, ni con nadie más si a ver vamos. Con una economía que no es capaz, bajo el peso del yugo socialista chavecista, de proveerse internamente de manera decente, no hace falta ser un genio para concluir que una confrontación bélica, incluso de escala moderada, sería catastrófica para Venezuela y más bien podría causar la caída del propio Chávez, derribado por quienes hasta ahora han sido sus mejores aliados: los más pobres, quienes están descontentos ya de por sí con la situación económica actual.

Venezuela is in no position, neither in militarily, nor economically, to face a bellicose conflict with Colombia, not even with anyone else. With an incapable economy, under the weight of the Chavista socialist yoke, it doesn't take a genius to conlude that a confrontation, even a moderate one, would be catastrophic for Venezuela and could even cause the fall of Chávez himself, caused by those who have been his strongest supporters: the poorest, who are discontent already with the current economic situation.

Slave to the PC [es] agrees:

Hugo Rafael no quiero tu guerra, primero y ante todo porque no es mía, este país que tanto amo llamado Venezuela no ha sido atacado por nadie, ni violada su soberanía, nuestro líderes no han sufrido atentado alguno y nuestra independencia como nación autónoma sigue intacta, por lo tanto no tengo razón alguna para participar en un enfrentamiento armado donde no se han medido las consecuencias para el continente, los pueblos afectados directamente y sus modos de vida. ¿Cuál es el empeño de inmiscuirse en asuntos colombianos constantemente?, ¿Qué se busca con los insultos hacia el presidente colombiano Álvaro Uribe?,¿Cuál es la hipocresía de andar hablando de violaciones de soberanía, cuando Venezuela y Ecuador son oasis para los guerrilleros colombianos?, ¿Qué se persigue con un estado de guerra en nuestro país?, la situación es critica mis querido amigos, estamos a las puertas de un conflicto que costaría muy caro a los países implicados, sensatez es el nombre del juego.

Hugo Rafael, I don't want your war, first and above all, because it is not my war. This country called Venezuela, which I love, was not attacked by anybody or its sovereignty was violated. Our leaders did not suffer an attack and our indpedence as autonomous nation remains intact. Because of that I have no reason to participate in armed conflict in which the consequences for the continent, the people direcly affected and their lifestyle have not been measured. What is the insistence in constantly meddling in the affairs of Colombia? What do you hope to acheive with the insults towards the Colombian president Álvaro Uribe? What is the hypocrisy when speaking about violations of sovereignty, when Venezuela and Ecuador are an oasis for the Colombian guerrillas? Why are you seeking a state of war in our country? The situation is critical, my dear friends, we are close to a conflict that will be very costly for the countries involved. Common sense is the name of the game.

Rom Rod [es] does not understand the support for the FARC by the Venezuelan government.

Pero siguen en pie preguntas que parece que nadie en nuestro gobierno quiere responder. El para que es la movilización militar. Que es lo que realmente se pretende con ella. El por que si nuestro gobierno está claramente apoyando a un grupo con tenebrosos antecedentes como las FARC, pasando por encima del pueblo colombiano que eligió a Uribe…Me parece algo sencillamente siniestro apoyar a un grupo insurgente de otro país simplemente porque no me gusta su gobierno.

The questions remain, which no one in our government want to respond. What is the reason for the military mobilization? What is really accomplished with it? Our government is clearly supporting a group like the FARC, with a sinister record, overstepping the Colombian people tht elected Uribe…It is sinister to support an insurgent group from another country simply because one doesn't like their government.

Explíkme [es] wonders about how the relations between the two countries might be affected.

Nuestro gobierno no tiene idea del daño político, democrático, comercial y económico que nos está ocasionando, Venezuela tiene un alto número de Colombianos residentes que contribuyen a nuestro desarrollo, además de todo el intercambio comercial a través de convenios y el que se hace en la frontera, que ya ha empezado a paralizarse y que le puede costar al aparato productivo binacional una gran pérdida que puede llegar a ser irrecuperable.

Our government has no idea of the political, democratic, commerical and economic damage that they are causing. Venezuela has a large number of Colombian residents that contribute to our evelopment, and above all, the commercial exchange through agreements and what takes place on the border has begun to stop and it could cost the bi-national productive apparatus a large economic lost, which could be irretrievable.

Other bloggers think that the Venezuelan government should be concentrating on other things, such as internal issues. Manuel Miranda writes [es]:

Hugo Chávez y sus seguidores andan agitando los tambores de la guerra con Colombia, cuando la verdadera guerra es interna, el implacable enemigo se llama inflación y el gobierno está perdiendo todas las batallas en este frente desde que tengo uso de la memoria…El Banco Central de Venezuela publicó ayer el IPC del mes de febrero (la medida preferida de inflación del BCV), el cual vino 2,3% más alto que en enero y ya acumula una variación de 5,8% en lo que va de año. Por estas mismas fechas el año pasado, la inflación acumulada era de 3,4%; lo cual es un mal augurio para la fantasiosa meta inflacionaria del gobierno… La verdadera guerra es contra la inflación… Y la estamos perdiendo

Hugo Chávez and his followers are banging the drums of war with Colomba, when the real war is internal. The relentless enemy is called inflation and the government is losing all of the battles on this front, and it has been this way as far back as I can remember…Yesterday, the Central Bank of Venezuela published the IPC for the month of February (the preferred measure of inflation from the CBV) and it was 2.3% higher than January and already has risen 5.8% since the beginning of the year. This time, last year, the inflation was at 3.4%, which is a bad sign for the fantasy goal of inflation of the government…. The real war is against inflation … and we are losing.

Finally, some bloggers like Carla Mariela of ICARO [es] wanted to send messages to the people of the three countries involved in this tension.

Amigo colombiano, ecuatoriano y venezolano:
Vamos a demostrar que los lazos que unen a nuestros pueblos de Ecuador, Colombia y Venezuela son más fuertes que los egos de nuestros gobernantes.
Vamos a demostrar que condenamos el terrorismo y respetamos la soberanía
Vamos a demostrar que ningún gobierno nos va obligar a dispararle a un hermano de nuestros países.
Vamos a demostrar que somos más, muchos más los que no concebimos a Latinoamérica en guerra
Vamos a demostrar que pese a la historia, no estamos condenados a ella
Vamos a demostrar que nuestras diferencias son nuestro valor, que nuestra diversidad es nuestra riqueza
Vamos a demostrar que hoy germina una generación que anhela crecer en paz
“Pasa la voz, pasa la bola”
Sugerimos que si quieres multiplicar el poder de este mensaje, puedes copiarlo en tu blog, reenviarlo por Facebook y a través de mensajes de correo electrónico

Colombian, Ecuadoran and Venezuelan Friends:
Let's show that the bonds that unite the people of Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela are stronger than the egos of our leaders.
Let's show that we condemn terrorism and respect sovereignty
Let's show that no government will force us to shoot another countryman of our countries.
Let's show that we are more, many more of us that don't imagine a Latin America in war
Let's show that in spite of history, we are not condemned to it
Let's show that our differences are valuable, and that our diversity is our treasure
Let's show that today a generation blooms, that longs to grow up in peace
“Pass the ball, pass your voice”
We suggest that if you wish to multiply the power of this message, copy it in your blog, forward it on at Facebbok, and through emails.

Venezuela: Blogger Picks Political “Oops” Moments

Luis Carlos Diaz — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:57:46 +0000

The blogger More Baker in the blog Siglo Veinte Cambalach [es] compiled the best moments of the show that is national politics. In a list of phrases from public figures that defined the agenda of news, jokes and laughs from Venezuela in 2007.

Of course, with a president like Hugo Chávez some might say that the potential to be amazed grows with each new controversy. More Baker writes, “In our hearts and in our minds, these words, acts and gestures remained etched in our mind, left our mouths wide open, made us laugh and angered us.”

Here are her choices for the top 12 “oops” moments in Venezuela, with some background information and explanations for each:

12. “You feel offended because you want me to say what you want me to say and I don't go for that.” Answer from an interviewee to the journalist Carla Angola when she tried to conduct a subjective and unbalanced interview in favor of the opposition.

11. “Of those surveyed, 77.8% have knowledge of and have had access to the Constitutional Reform and 55.4% of those surveyed supported the Constitutional Reform without needing any information,” said the president of the National Assembly (parliament) even though a month later Hugo Chávez would ask for a referendum about socialism and his indefinite reelection.

10. “We did not come to the National Assembly to play politics,” said by Yon Goicoechea, the leader of the opposition student movement, when they spoke at the National Parliament on was covered by all of the radio and television channels, and before leaving so as to not have a debate with the pro-government students.

9. “By not registering the United Socialist Party (PSUV for its initials in Spanish) with the National Electoral Council for the elections of mayors and governors for the next year, it is inevitable that the V Republican Movement would be exhumed,” even though the Socialist Party was not created, President Chávez sent Deputy Francisco Ameliach to the Disciplinary Tribunal after asking that he use the old party because the new one did not exist. Not having a political party had an effect during the Chávez defeat.

8. “Damn coward, liar!!!” were the shouts from the deputy, Iris Varela, while she hit the journalist Gustavo Azócar on his television program because he published a story about the death of her newborn son and the effect that it had on the explosive personality of the deputy.

7. “The Reform Project is a labor of love of president Chávez,” a phrase from one of the many passionate supporters of the president and used during the campaign in support of the proposal to change the Constitution so that Chávez could remain more time in power. This sentimentality is part of political debates.

6. “On my knees, I ask you, President: return RCTV to us. I symbolize the people,” phrase from actor Franklin Virgüez, while kneeling to ask that the private channel's signal to be renewed.

5. “Sir, what do you have in the suitcase?” “Oh, books. Only books … and some pamphlets of San Joaquín.” The joke that arose from the scandal between Venezuela, Argentina and the United States after a Venezuelan citizen arrived in Argentina with a suitcase containing $800,000 that was not declared in customs. There still are no answers regarding this case of corruption.

4. “We thank Hugo Chávez because by using the word “mierda” (shit), it accomplished the same as when Uslar Pietri used the word “pendejo.” The former minister of Communications and Information, William Lara attempted to clarify the President's public insult when the President said that the opposition's victory was a “victory of shit,” which bothered many people. The minister equated Chavez with a Venezuelan literary figure and later with the Colombian Gabriel García Marque, who had used the word “mierda” in his works. During his tenure, the public official appeared to be Chavez’ minister of propaganda.

3. “Um, but, um, um, um,” just as Looney Tunes’ Porky the Pig would stutter, the minister Pedro Carreño would do the same, when a journalist asked him why he talked about bringing socialism to Venezuela, if he used Luis Vuitton ties and Gucci shoes.

2. “Why don't you shut up?” phrase from Juan Carlos de Borbón, King of Spain to President Chávez during an event in Chile. It made the world go around.

1. “If they kill me, and I die…” a denunciation made by opposition leader Manuel Rosales, known for his clumsy words, who was trying to give himself political importance.

Venezuela: Why Don't You Shut Up?

Luis Carlos Diaz — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 07:47:58 +0000

In a matter of hours, the phrase of the weeks has become a ringtone for cellular phones, parodies on YouTube and it is the latest slogan adopted by the Venezuelan opposition, which has not chosen one campaign against president Hugo Chavez. “Why don't you shut up?” were the words of the King of Spain, Juan Carlos I, when Chávez incessantly interrupted the right to speak from the Spanish president, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero during an Ibero-American summit, which took place in Chile last weekend.

Hugo Chávez had referred to the ex-president of Spain, José María Aznar, as “fascist” on repeated occasions, for which Zapatero asked for the right to speak during the meeting in order to demand respect for the ex-president and the people that voted for him, even though Aznar is an adversary in Spanish politics. In the middle of his words, Chávez insisted on interrupting to say that he would also ask for respect from Aznar because the King intervened for 2 seconds to say, “Why don't you shut up?” and from there the headlines on hundreds of newspapers, radio and television in Venezuela, Spain and the world. This sub-titled video shows the incident.

In the blogospheres and the Twitter messages of Ibero-America, the issue has continued to be commented upon in distinct manners. President Chávez has been characterized by his popularity and for not being indifferent to anybody…he is also well known for his long speeches on radio and on television. His Sunday television shows last seven hours. The phrase has become an act of justice for those that are against him. Enigma Express [es] complied hundreds of blogs that made fun of “Why don't you shut up?”SlaveofthePC [es] dedicated a poem to the episode:

¿Por qué no te callas y nos dejas en paz?
No te das cuenta que ya no te queremos más
¿Por qué no te callas y aprendes a respetar?
Fuera de Venezuela nadie te va a tolerar
¿Por qué no te callas y acabas con la corrupción?
Rodeado de ladrones has pretendido hacer nación
¿Por qué no te callas y nos devuelves a Venezuela?
Tu discurso de odio ha destruido esta hermosa tierra

Why don't you shut up and leave us in peace?
Don't you realize that we don't like you anymore
Why don't you shut up and learn to respect others?
Outside of Venezuela no one will tolerate you
Why don't you shut up and end corruption?
Surrounded by thieves, you have pretended to form a nation
Why don't you shut up and give Venezuela back to us?
Your words of hate have destroyed this beautiful land.

Karelia writes [es]:

“Por fin alguien le dice algo en la cara”: “Chávez no deja hablar a nadie y mucho menos escucha, por eso estamos como estamos. Necesitamos mandarlo a callar en casa, y eso tiene que salir de nosotros como ciudadanos, porque no puede ser que la voz del Estado y del Gobierno (que se ha convertido en una) sea la única que se escuche y que además nos hable gritado [...]. Por hoy y porque hizo algo que en muchas ocasiones le ha provocado a millones de venezolanos, ¡que viva el Rey! XD”

Finally someone says something in his face. Chávez does not let anyone talk and listens even less, that is why we are like this. We need him to shut up at home and that should be from us as citizens, because it cannot be that the voice of the State and of the Government (which has become one) be the only one that you hear and that talks to us by shouting … today and as he has done on many occasions by provoking millions of Venezuelans. Long live the King! XD

The Spanish political analyst, Ignacio Escolar wrote that this episode was a lesson for Aznar [es]:

Dice Zapatero que el Gobierno de España ‘siempre ha respetado, respeta y respetará a todos los gobernantes elegidos democráticamente'. Discrepo. Ese ‘ha respetado’ se referirá sólo a los últimos tres años y medio. Hugo Chávez tenía algo de razón cuando criticaba el papel que jugó el Gobierno de Aznar durante el golpe de estado de 2002 en Venezuela, aunque no fuese ni el día ni el interlocutor ni el lugar oportuno para ese debate.

Zapatero says that the Government of Spain has ‘always respected, respects and will respect all those that govern who are elected democratically'. I disagree. The ‘has respected’ only refers to the last three and a half years. Hugo Chávez was partly right when he critcized the role that the Government of Aznar played in the Veneuzlan coup of 2002, even though he was not there that day or was he the one being spoken to that day for that debate.

Nevertheless, a large part of the Spanish press harshly attacked the Venezuelan president for his declarations and supported the King's reaction. The most jocular, but also offensive video against the Venezuelan president has attracted more than 430,000 visits and 1,400 comments in less than 2 days. It is a parody of a classic Venezuelan song in the Spanish rhythm of paso doble called “Long live, Spain,” but instead it says “Why don't you shut up?” It shows the president as an ape, which has been used to refer to him by his internal and external adversaries.

One one hand, there have been articles written against the King, the Monarchy and the press by bloggers that support President Chávez saying that it was a lack of royal respect and by a colonizing attempt by the King of Spain. Okrim Al Qasal from the blog Okrim Opina [es] says that the problem has to do with the revolution proposed by Chávez, which touches upon interests that are intolerable to world powers.

Cuando algún líder, en este caso Chávez, se sale mínimamente de este guión de títeres acartonados que tan bien quedan en las pantallas de CNN con su lenguaje de pseudotolerancia del tipo “te respeto si estimulas el libre mercado, si no eres un tirano dictador”, entonces estalla la polémica. Si alguien cree que el Rey mandó callar a Chávez sólo por su acertada y justa descripción de PP Aznar, se equivoca. La Revolución Bolivariana y la propuesta de Reforma están tocando intereses muy, muy estratégicos. Se huele en el ambiente.

When a leader, in this case Chávez, strays even minimally from the script of puppets that appear on the screens of CNN with their language of pseudo-tolerance like, “I'll respect you if you stimulate free markets, and if not you are a tyrant dictator,” then controversy erupts. If someone thinks that the King told Chávez to shut up only because of his correct and fair description of PP Aznar, then he is wrong. The Bolivarian Revolution and the reform proposals are touching interests very strategic. You can smell it in the air.

On the other hand, journalist José Roberto Duque places the magnifying glass on the constitutional and democratic aspects on the King of Spain by placing a series of photos [es] with the deceased dictator, Francisco Franco and says:

Dedico esta foto al antichavismo “amante de la democracia” [...] Aquí van otras foticos (cortesía de Mauricio Rodríguez) del sujeto que se cree ungido por su origen, y cuyo Por qué no te callas ha sido tan celebrado por los sabios amantes de la democracia y la libertad en Venezuela y el mundo.

I dedicate this photo to the anti-Chavism “lover of democracy” … Here are other photographs (courtesy of Mauricio Rodríguez) of the man that thinks himself anointed by his origin and whose “Why don't you shut up?” has been celebrated by the wise lovers of democracy and freedom in Venezuela and the world.

Reindertot, a young Venezuelan blogger, titles his post “Juan Carlos and the small virtual victory of the readers of Hola! [es]” in reference to the a famous entertainment magazine edited in Spain.

Resulta que esta bien para Juan Carlos ser grosero y maleducado, pero no para Chávez. Vaya paradoja. Chávez es el inculto, el mono, el macaco mayor, el zambo, el que DEBE CALLARSE. Pero Juan Carlos, el cual además no estaba metido en la conversación directa Chávez-Zapatero, de repente si puede gritar lo que le venga en gana y ser vitoreado por los medios y los pequeños opositores los cuales se han autoconvencido de que han obtenido una “pequeña victoria” en las palabras del Rey español, cuando evidentemente sufrirán otra derrota electoral en diciembre. Casi conmovedor.

It appears that it is fine that Juan Carlos can be rude and impolite, but not Chávez. What a paradox. Chávez is the uncultured, the monkey, the older macaco, the zambo, he is the one that should SHUT UP. But Juan Carlos, who wasn't even in the direct conversation between Chávez – Zapatero, apparently can yell whatever he wants and be cheered by the media and the opposition that have convinced themselves that they have achieved a “small victory” in the words of the Spanish King, and who will evidently suffer another electoral defeat in December. It is almost moving.

In the middle of political polarization, this is another event of global notoriety about Venezuela, which is being interpreted from within the country with two views absolutely distinct and exclusive of the same reality. The phrase from the King is the new joke and slogan for Chávez’ opposition and also another argument for his backers to continue with the approval of constitutional reform in December.

Translation by Eduardo Avila

Venezuela: Second Annual Blogstock

Luis Carlos Diaz — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 13:49:30 +0000

Over the course of two days, the Venezuelan blogosphere [ES] gathered for the second year at a site far from the capital to celebrate with musical bands and alcohol. Blogstock is “the” party. There are no lectures or symposiums to define the digital world, nor some conclusion reached for the use by internet users. It was all about a celebration of a gathering of digital camaraderie and it was a party on full-blast [ES].

In its second consecutive year, Blogstock gathered dozens of bloggers, Twitter-users, Flickr-users and other forms of information citizens (infocitizens) for a night of concerts, drinks and food, Venezuelan-style.

The event was streamed online for those that stayed at home. There was also a Flickr tag to tell the whole story. “You are not ready for this,” was the slogan that gathered people by the initiative of “Los Guaraos” (aka the “disorganizers), who summarized the event with videos [ES]. The event also counted on a meme to list of things to bring to the event, to avoid contigencies, such as the items shown by Impulsos y Sentidos [ES].

David Luna, the photographer, said that the gathering was [ES]:

Una noche bastante divertida, entretenida, llena de muchas anécdotas, de compartir con personas que solo leemos de vez en cuando y ponerle rostro a la mayoría de los nicks que abundan en la blogosfera.

It was a fun and entertaining night. It was full of stories shared by people that we read from time to time, we were able to put faces to the nicknames that are abundant in the blogosphere.

This takes place in Venezuela? This could be asked of those who follow the political happenings in the country. Inti of Equizopedia [ES] provides the answer:

Mientras el mundo exterior piensa que Venezuela va hacia el socialismo más “extraño” y “extremo” jamas visto, mucha gente aquí no se toma las cosas muy en serio. La mejor virtud del venezolano (a su vez el peor defecto) es que aquí la gente es feliz. Pocos habitantes del planeta tierra viven tan contentos, como los nacidos en la patria de Simón Bolívar. Quizás el petróleo, la (fuera de toda regla y estadística) cantidad alucinante de mujeres bellas, la cerveza o el ron, ayudan en definitiva a que la vida acá sea increíblemente más “relajada” que en el resto de los países. Y hasta en la pasión vertiginosa política que nos tiene atrapados actualmente, buscamos la manera de seguir viviendo, riendo, disfrutando y rumbeando. Y como en todos lados, hay gente más y menos responsable con sus actos. Algo tiene este desenfadado país, que es difícil de copiar, y más explicar.

While the outside World thinks that Venezuela is heading for a “stranger” and “extreme” form of socialism never seen befote, many people here don’t take things so seriously. The best virtue of a Venezuelan (also his worst defect) is that here the people are happy. Fewer people on the earth live as content than those who were born in Simón Bolívar’s homeland. Maybe it’s the petroleum, the incredibly beautiful women (more than statistics), beer or rum, helps make life incredibly more “relaxed” than in other countries. Even with the dizzying politics that currently has us trapped, we look for ways to continue to live, laugh, enjoy and party. And here as in other places, there are people who are more or less responsible for their actions. This uninhibited country has something that is difficult to copy and even less, explain.

The Venezuelan blogosphere continues its way with necessary joyful rituals and distractions, for the good of personal tranquility. Hopefully it will take place again in 2008 or next Christmas.

Venezuela: Bloggers Mobilize For and Against the End of Transmission of Radio Caracas Television.

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sun, 27 May 2007 14:25:35 +0000

The television channel Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) has enjoyed the ability to transmit over an open television frequency for the past 53 years. It is the oldest television channel in the country, and its license for the use of the frequency will expire. The Venezuelan government decided not to renew the license, just as we have written in the past.

The debate in the country continues to be the same: on one side the opposition to the Chavez government considers that this has to do with political retaliation in punishment for the channel's role of political opposition, and on the other hand, the Chavistas support the measure because it can now “liberate” the open television signal from a channel that has destabilized the country through its propaganda.

There is very little gray area in a situation so polarzied, but the best thing is to read both sides.

The Venezuelan blog directory To2blogs.com opened a special section about RCTV and is collecting all of the posts that the Venezuelan bloggers are writing about the subject. This tells us about the importance of this governmental action in the morale of the Venezuelan blogosphere, because in itself, the process is another opportunity for political confrontation, as we have become accustomed to. Blogs have been created especially about the topic, those that are in favor the measure (RCTV from the inside) or against it (I am with RCTV).

Up until now, there are more than 2,000 articles just in that site alone. There is a wealth of opinions about this conflict.

A channel without signal is a closed channel?

Within the political correctness language, “the non-renewal of the channel's license” means that it cannot transmit over open signal, which will affect the channel's economic standing and also the viewers will not be able to see it. The channel will not close, but it is restricted to transmit over cable, but because there is also no Digital TV technology in Venezuela, it ends this discussion.

Freedom of speech, public or private

The internal debates within each blog, such as the one at Slave to the PC [ES] with more than 200 comments, center upon whether the measure against the private channel represents a violation of freedom of speech.

Kira Kariakin comments:

Para mí la cuestión radica en los principios que mueven una sociedad que se precie de democrática y en esos principios están incluidos no solo la libertad de expresión, sino el derecho a la disensión, al juicio justo, a la defensa, a la protesta, al trabajo, a la propiedad privada, entre tantos otros que con este retiro de la concesión de la señal para RCTV se violentan. Luego de sentado un precedente como éste no habrá marcha atrás en cuanto a la libertad de expresión en los medios.

For me, the question is based on the principles of a society that enjoys democracy, and within those principles they also include not only freedom of speech, but also the right to dissent, to a fair trial, to a defense, to protest, to work, to private property, among others, which are some of the ones that are threatened with the withdrawal of RCTV's license. After a precedent is set like this there is no turning back in regards to the media's freedom of speech.

Iria at Resteados [ES] criticizes the quality of the channel and thinks that the problem of freedom of speech goes beyond whether or not it stays on the air:

RCTV sigue siendo hoy, el canal que hace 12 años dejé de ver por razones éticas y estéticas. No ha cambiado en estos meses desde que Chávez le dictó la sentencia de cierre.

Así que no tengo más que repetir: “Yo no estoy con RCTV”.

RCTV continues to be the channel that I stopped watching 12 years ago for ethical and aesthetic reasons. It has not changed during the months that Chavez gave its sentence of closing.

So, I have nothing else but to repeat, “I am not with RCTV”

Lubrio asks at El Espacio de Lubrio [ES] whether opinions and protests are really restricted in Venezuela, and provides an example of the opposition march on May 19, in which there was not a single repressive event.

La oposición marchó el 19 de mayo de 2007 en defensa de RCTV. Miles de opositores marcharon pacíficamente, algo que no pasa en dictaduras. Sin embargo, varios líderes opositores hacen llamados a que el 27 de mayo la población debe permanecer en las calles creando desestabilización para sacar al gobierno, lo cual es transmitido con normalidad en Globovisión y RCTV. Hasta llaman estúpido al Presidente Chávez.

The opposition marched on May 19, 2007 in defense of RCTV. Thousands of members of the opposition marched peacefully, which is something that does not happen in dictatorships. However, various opposition leaders are making calls that on May 27 for the population to remain in the streets creating destabilization in order to remove the government, which is a message transmitted with normalcy on Globovision and RCTV. They are even calling President Chavez stupid.

This week appears to be the end of the line for the channel. The license expires at midnight on May 27 and another Public Service station designed by the state called Tves will begin to broadcast. This is another station in the hands of the state, in addition to the official station and another four that are broadcasting on a national level.

Caracas is particularly tense and filled with protests and mobilizations for the past week. Vendors, actors and workers of the channel, university students, politicians, television viewers and members of political parties have all taken to the street … all in favor or against the shutdown of the station. Marches and gatherings are separated by geographic and ideological distances. The opposition is actively distributing audio of the protest (mp3) via the internet on the nights of the 26th and 27th in order to sound an alarm in favor of freedom of speech. The government has released the National Guard and Armed Forces in the city since Friday to prevent any public disorder.

On Monday morning, another intense reason for the political conflict will have taken place. The communications war in Venezuela will continue, even though the opposition will have one less channel at its disposal.

For a photoset, visit h_xavier's Flickr.

Whiskey We've Got, But Where's the Meat?

Luis Carlos Diaz — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 17:30:45 +0000

Carnicería by Luis Carlos Diaz

Venezuela is one of the principal oil-exporting countries of the world. However, petroleum is not edible and, lamentably, Venezuela's national food industry is not able to feed its population. So Venezuela is, since its economy stopped having an agricultural focus at the beginning of the 20th century, a country that imports almost everything it consumes, with the exception of a few internal industries producing basic necessities.

The lack of understanding of how these commercial channels operate means that periodically citizens find themselves with a shortage of some products. From 2006 onward, the shelves of Venezuelan markets and supermarkets have been seasonally empty of things like coffee, sugar, milk, chicken, beef, pork, cheese, sardines, oil, beans, caraotas (black beans, the base of our typical dish), and rice, among others. Other products such as the spare parts of vehicles or some medicines are also scarcely available, as Mario Concha reveals in his article Anorexic Revolutionary.

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Chavez Plans to Revoke Station's Broadcast License in Venezuela

Luis Carlos Diaz — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 02:14:10 +0000

Los Amigos Invisibles con Patricia [at RCTV] by Alfredo Izaguirre F.

Hugo Chavez, shortly after his re-election in December for a term of 6 more years of governance, announced that the license of a television channel, whose editorial line tends toward opposition, will not be renewed. Channel RCTV, with 52 years of operation, will have its transmission limited and it will no longer be able to broadcast over public spectrum, which puts its sustainability at risk. For that reason before the expression “closure of channel” and “no renovation of licensing” is a difference in what can be considered legitimate state procedure.

In the Venezuelan blogosphere, reflecting the current political division, opinions are split on one side or the other. Within the Venezuelan context, political debate circles around the emotional sensibility of each faction, which is why the arguments of both sides seem to be subject to the same reflections made by politicians.

On the one hand, the reasons of the Government to not renew the broadcasting license are based on the participation of the television station in the attempted coup d'etat of 2002 and oil sabotage of that same year. Also, the channel has maintained a critical and propagandistic editorial line against the government of Hugo Chavez. The president alleges that some constitutional laws and media-based legislation have been violated, although, up until now, no cases have been filed.

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