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| Caribbean-Latin America |
| HRW: Venezuela must end prosecutions of dissenters |
| 2010-03-27 |
| The global human rights non-government organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in a news release that the arrest of former governor of the state of Zulia Oswaldo Álvarez Paz, and of Guillermo Zuloaga, president of TV station Globovisión, in retaliation for public statements that were critical of the government is a serious blow to freedom of expression in Venezuela. At least HRW noticed. That's more than they usually do. "To prosecute someone for speech, which is protected in any democracy, is a dangerous precedent," said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. "The violations of free speech are likely to be compounded by a trial that falls far short of due process protections, given the government's political takeover of the Supreme Court." According to the state-run news agency Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, Zuloaga has criticized President Hugo Chávez for undermining freedom of expression by closing media outlets. Meanwhile, according to state-owned Radio Nacional Venezuela, Venezuela's attorney general is currently investigating Zuloaga for "the crimes of dissemination of false information, offense and vilification of the President of the Republic." "For years, Chávez has been pushing legislation to restrict free speech." He added: "Now we seem to be entering a darker period where these draconian laws are being implemented," Vivanco said. |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #5 At least HRW noticed. That's more than they usually do. It's fund-raising time and they're aiming for new |
| Posted by: Pappy 2010-03-27 16:06 |
| #4 Did h-beast have smoke comin out her ears when she said it? I have an image of Nomad saying "Error, errorrrr..." |
| Posted by: M. Murcek 2010-03-27 11:59 |
| #3 Harrrrumph harrrrumph harrrrumph... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2010-03-27 11:27 |
| #2 Embargo their ass. It worked on the other Commie island. no..... wait.. Well it could. We must be patient. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2010-03-27 11:22 |
| #1 They don't need no steenking prosecutions - just executions. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2010-03-27 09:41 |