Simon Romero has made a mistake. The New York Times correspondent for the Andean region of the New York Times has listed some of the recent political prisoners of Chavez. People these days go to jail for less than that. Never mind him pointing out to the IACHR report on Human Rights violations in Venezuela.
As Milagros Socorro wrote the other day, it is becoming embarrassing not to be jailed in Venezuela.
I read it about 20 minutes ago. What are the inaccuracies?
ReplyDeleteNevermind my last comment, Daniel. I get it now. The mistake of 'thoughtcrime' as CaracasGringo put it.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, this is my third post. You can delete some or all of them, but I found this link on Simon Romero's Wikipedia page: http://egypt.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/87584/index.html
ReplyDeleteIt appears that his computer, and only his computer, was stolen from his apartment in Caracas in 2007.
This my opinion.Take it or leave it.
ReplyDeleteJudge Afiuni has chosen well.....survival instinct or intellect ?- Or both. The Dalai Lama and the music of Mozart will give her the much needed spiritual fortitude to help her through tough times.
Most assuredly we have to rely on our trusted bloggers, our own experiences, common sense, intuition, perception and personal knowledge to get closer to the 'truth'.
Many Journalists, because of the nature of their work, are stuck in reporting all sides of the " facts" and are underhandedly and esoterically told to confuse "facts" with truth because their credibility is on the line with every fact they report .
Those who rely solely( as many foreigners do) on the " credibility" of journalists are on the downside of awareness.
Employers tell their writers:
"Be sure of your facts. In sensitive stories, you will defend your decisions on the basis of this principle that your first obligation is to report the truth. So be sure of your facts before you make your decision"
Notice how cleverly they interchange the words: facts and truth.
Truth has a much broader meaning.Truth includes not only documented quotes, and happenings in the physical world.Truth includes tactics, undocumented happenings, motivations,trends, and day to day small occurrences in the present moment that none see but the one or few to whom it happens.
This is why journalism is getting dangerous to democracy as it stands today.We need journalists, but we need them to be less fearful of losing their jobs, and more independent from mainstream sources who are selling credibility instead of truth, and we need readers who at the very least can attempt to separate truth from facts, and put what is said by them in perspective.
As I have followed this blog for somem years, I watch the decline of the Venezuelan State, I see some parallels of the demise of Germany in the 1930's or Italy at the same time.
ReplyDeleteA "leader" takes over, creates a popular following, however in this case, the trains don't run on time and the military isn't strong but....some similarity exists.
It's like watching a sinister meltdown of a country's identity and a sadness at the inability of the people of thought to make a change. I really hope peaceful change can occur however, it may take more.
As to the Russian, Cuban and Iranian visitors, they cant' afford any deep incursions either monetarily or militarily. China could but it's trying to do a lot of things in a lot of places money too becomes the issue as well as lack of resources of the human nature,skill not bodies.
In the end the country must solve its own woes.
Good luck
Firepig, what is mainstream media for you? Fox New and CNN, NBC?
ReplyDeleteWhat is not? Some bloggers only?
Fisk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjoGLA4mVxU&NR=1
From 14:10 specially 15:40 to 20:00
Actually, up to 31:00
ReplyDeleteKepler,
ReplyDeleteMainstream media for me is almost all media, most especially the BBC.
Most of it is subtly misleading trash which is why we have so many Chavez apologists in both EU and the States.
Certain bloggers get closer to truth than any mainstream media in my opinion.But there are some bloggers whose ambition is far greater than their search for truth.
It is up to each of us to make the decision about trust.
But those who cannot see how easy it is to manipulate the news using carefully chosen " facts" only, will be open to to receive a distorted message.Certain kinds of politicians take advantage of this obvious fact.
Daniel: This article might interest you, and the blog:
ReplyDeleteIt's Always Sunny In Venezuela
April 10, 2010: Three years ago, Russian arms dealers stated that they expected to increase sales to Venezuela, from the then current $4 billion, to over $10 billion. They are close to their goal. A recent visit by Russian prime minister Vladimir Putin, sealed more sales deals, and brought the total, since 2001, to over $9 billion.
Why all the weapons? Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez achieved a measure of popularity with the voters by convincing them that the United States was about to invade. This threat, and Chavez's poll numbers, are less believable these days. Venezuela is running out of money, but Chavez takes comfort in new weapons, especially those being used to arm a new personal militia. Weapons may not be needed to stop yankee invaders, but they will also work against disloyal Venezuelans.
Since the end of the Cold War, Russia has sold weapons on a cash basis. No more generous terms. But that is changing, and last year, Russia offered Venezuela $2.2 billion in credit, for the purchase of more weapons. The Venezuelan spending spree has brought in dozens of Su-30 jet fighters, hundreds of armored vehicles (including T-90 tanks) and scores of artillery systems (mainly multiple rocket launchers.) There's also small arms (including a factory for making assault rifles), radios and other equipment. There are support aircraft, including transports and helicopter gunships. Negotiations are still under way to purchase new warships, including submarines.
With unemployment rising, there's no shortages of people trying to join the military. Those willing to profess undying loyalty to Chavez have an edge, and the senior ranks have already been purged of those who did not agree with the radical reforms Chavez wanted to impose on the military. These reforms were heavy on politics and theory, and short on training and experience. So all those new weapons are faced with a problematic future, in the hands of inept, but politically motivated, users.