We rarely hear about Latin America, except the almost obligatory bashing of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and American attempts to assassinate him. When Chavez recently spoke at the 60th UN General Assembly, his words resonated - despite his questionable human rights record:
"We the people now claim - this is the case of Venezuela - a new international economic order. But it is also urgent we see a new international political order. Let us not permit that a few countries try to reinterpret the principles of international law in order to impose new doctrines such as "pre-emptive warfare..."
No wonder America is rattled.
Now some intriguing news from Chile about the use of online technology to engage the population in the democratic process. Any number of politicians and commentators are discussing the country's future and reject the individualist mentality running rampant in the West.
There is another way.
"We the people now claim - this is the case of Venezuela - a new international economic order. But it is also urgent we see a new international political order. Let us not permit that a few countries try to reinterpret the principles of international law in order to impose new doctrines such as "pre-emptive warfare..."
No wonder America is rattled.
Now some intriguing news from Chile about the use of online technology to engage the population in the democratic process. Any number of politicians and commentators are discussing the country's future and reject the individualist mentality running rampant in the West.
There is another way.
11 Comments:
The reason "America"(for me that means the Corporate Government) is rattled is because the good people of Venezuela actually have a Democracy for and by the people.
Exactly how many American attempts have there been to assasinate Chavez?
When the matter of Chavez being democratically elected six times was raised, a spokenspoerson for the White House retorted that so was Hitler.
Chavez is frustrating the US because he has been empowered by the spike is oil prices (not to mention the confirmation fo the massive reserves under Venezuela).
He is siocialist in a position where he is not having to play bow, and that combination amounts to a US big oil nightmare.
Yes I'd just like to stand up and say that I'm not an individual
I'm sure the US is quaking with terror at the prospect of edicts issued by a demented third-world commie with a military so inept it can't even maintain internal order, let alone stage a coup and tip El Presidente' out on his crazy arse.
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Questionable human rights record? To what are you referring? It seems you're buying into the US line.
Far from it. There are many issues related to the V's human rights record, if Amnesty and HRW are to be believed. This isn't the whole picture - what country is perfect, after all? - but it's worth mentioning...
It is amusing you are buying into the Amnesty and HRW line. I know how nicely Amnesty reports about Israel and Palestine Dispute. I have read an article by Paul De Rooij on Counterpunch. And HRW Is a shameless Propagandist of Us Govt on Most important issues. HRW Supported NATO War on Yugoslavia. Quite shamelessly HRW Carried water for US State Department.
Chavez's so called HumanRights Abuses are not greater than even the most law abiding states in the present world.
You should know better than lazily naming Amnesty and HRW on this issue. Just Ask Alexander Cockburn what he thinks of Vivanco of HRW.
Send me through any comments re V. I am aware of the issues with HRW and Amnesty, but really, are we claiming there are no human rights abuses in V? And that HRW is solely a tool of the US? Please.
Perhaps V is no better/no worse than other countries, but that doesn't mean that those abuses shouldn't be noted.
Of course they should be noticed, but there is no such thing as Chavez's personal 'questionable human rights record'. One shouldn't feel the need to include this in any comments one makes about Chavez for fear of being called a fellow traveller of or some such denigrating term. To say that his words 'resonated despite his questionable human rights record' implies that his words could have less value because of the questionable character of the person making them. Of course this type of criticism could easily be levelled at Mugabe who recently also criticised bush, blair et al aswell, but the fact of Chavez's domestic record informs and emboldens his criticism because he practises what he preaches.
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