Human Rights Watch - Hugo Chavez Sucks.

[thundley4]

SpartanDem (1000+ posts)             Thu Dec-23-10 11:17 AM
Original message
Human Rights Watch- Venezuela Legislative Assault on Free Speech, Civil Society
   
(Washington, DC) - Three laws just approved by the Venezuelan legislature pose serious threats to free speech and the work of civil society, Human Rights Watch said today.

Changes to the laws governing broadcast media were approved on December 20, 2010, by the National Assembly, in which allies of President Hugo Chávez have an absolute majority. The changes introduce sweeping restrictions on internet traffic, reinforce existing restrictions on radio and television content, and allow the government to terminate broadcasting licenses on arbitrary grounds. A law approved on December 22 would prohibit human rights groups from receiving foreign funding or fostering public dialogue in Venezuela with international advocacy groups.

"Chávez and his supporters are once again ratcheting up the government's power to punish critics," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. "And their intolerance for dissent now has a new target: the internet."

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/12/22/venezuela-legisla...

Chavez just tries to grab more and more power

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x60993

David__77 (1000+ posts)           Thu Dec-23-10 11:28 AM
Response to Original message
1. I get uncomfortable when I hear the phrase "civil society."
   
It seems like often it's a battering ram for Western geopolitical interest. I agree with Venezuela's right to regulate the in-flow of foreign funds, but perhaps a more targeted route would work. Certainly it is reasonable to register the NGOs as foreign agents, as the US has done many times.

Nuclear Unicorn   (1000+ posts)           Thu Dec-23-10 11:40 AM
Response to Original message
2. Obviously HRW is a CIA front group. They should be banned.

Yes, he did have a sarcasm tag.

EFerrari   (1000+ posts)             Thu Dec-23-10 11:46 AM
Response to Original message
3. Jose Miguel Vivanco is not a good faith actor.
   
He is full of sh!t, is always meddling with the ALBA countries, and has been the target of protests by Latin American scholars around the world. Of course he's complaining. That new law will make it impossible for him to run his game in Venezuela.

Kill the messenger, how dare he besmirch Stooooopid Beth's lover.

cherokeeprogressive   (1000+ posts)             Thu Dec-23-10 12:27 PM
Response to Original message
4. Well FOH's (Friends of Hugo) would obviously tell you Human Rights Watch is a poopyhead.
   
Everything Herr Hugo is doing is for the good of the people, and the good of Venezuela. That Herr Hugo is Der Elected Leader in Venezuela at the moment Der Elected Leader is given permission to rule by decree is completely coincidental.

Human Rights Watch is a poopyhead, I tell ya.

RZM (1000+ posts)           Thu Dec-23-10 12:36 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. It's sad to watch people make excuses for a leader just because they like him
   
But it's certainly nothing new. Hugo has done some good things, but that doesn't mean actions like this should be minimized, justified, or ignored. I'm glad to see HRW isn't reluctant to condemn the 'other' Hugo in strong terms.

Beth is taking more heat these days for her unswerving devotion to Hugo.  Still I think most DUmmies would rejoice if Obumbler tried to do these things.

[compaqxp]

I still support him, I imagine he would do a better job then Obama is.

[Rebel]

I still support him, I imagine he would do a better job then Obama is.

I think both suck ass.

[dandi]

I still support him, I imagine he would do a better job then Obama is.

Then why aren't you there?

[jukin]

Mambo Chimp had a huge lead but the 111th communist democrat controlled congress and our own Dear Leader almost caught up in less than two years.  He beat Jugo to government censuring of the internet.

[Happy Fun Ball]

He's doing a good job of showing everyone how not to run a country. People here can look to that country and see just what happens when socialism takes over.

[DumbAss Tanker]

I still support him, I imagine he would do a better job then Obama is.

That's kind of a low bar, but I find it troubling that anyone professing sanity would say they support him.  He's Mannie Noriega Mk. II with double Commieness added for that extra-special Red color.

[BlueStateSaint]

That's kind of a low bar, but I find it troubling that anyone professing sanity would say they support him.  He's Mannie Noriega Mk. II with double Commieness added for that extra-special Red color.

 

Damn, DAT, you are en fuego today!

[true_blood]

I still support him, I imagine he would do a better job then Obama is.

Like Wasp said, how come you socialist/communist loving goons don't move to where your favorite dictators reside and make yourselves at home? It's been done and those people are living your dreams. Go give it a try and see how how fun it is. Why try to change the best Country on the planet?