Vargas Llosa: Venezuela moving to Cuba-like regime

[Bacchus39]

seems like the Chavez fan club here wouldn't have a problem with this statement. not that any of them are from Venezuela of course.


Vargas Llosa: Venezuela moving to Cuba-like regime

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090528/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_vargas_llosa

CARACAS, Venezuela – Peruvian author Mario Vargas Llosa warned Thursday that Venezuela is headed toward a dictatorship under President Hugo Chavez, and the country may eventually resemble Cuba's communist-led autocracy.

The acclaimed writer, who was questioned when entering Venezuela on Monday and told to limit his political statements, opened a pro-democracy forum by saying Chavez's government "is moving farther away from a liberal democracy."

"There's still space for criticism," Vargas Llosa told the forum in Caracas. But "the threat of a blackout in the area of liberties, freedom of expression and the press, has increased significantly."

Vargas Llosa and other guests were invited to speak at the forum organized by Cedice, a conservative, Caracas-based think tank that has come under criticism from Chavez allies.

They pledged to speak their mind despite warnings from officials, who also stopped other participants earlier this week and told them not to criticize Venezuela's government.

Without specifically referring to Vargas Llosa, Chavez said Thursday that visiting intellectuals have come to "offend" and "provoke" him. Using a popular Venezuelan maxim to downplay criticism from his detractors, Chavez said: "Eagles don't hunt flies."

"If there were a tyranny here, they would not have entered the country or they would be in jail," Chavez added.

Vargas Llosa also raised concerns over Chavez's repeated calls for sanctions against the television station Globovision — the only stridently anti-government channel left on the open airwaves.

Regulators are investigating Globovision for allegedly inciting "panic and anxiety" in its coverage of a minor earthquake on May 4, the latest of many government complaints against the station.

Critics have long accused Chavez of cracking down on dissent, but the socialist leader argues that Venezuela's democracy is healthier than ever.

[AlphaCentauri]

1. What? Vargas Llosa probing Venezuelan freedom of speech

I thought there was no freedom of speech in Venezuela

like the students who ask for freedom of speech and did have nothing to say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSGhYVfwCek
:eyes:

[Bacchus39]

2. what do you think about Chavez' goons telling Vargas to not criticize the government?

I think those who speak against Chavez have more to fear than Chavez from them.

[AlphaCentauri]

3. Actually Vargas Llosa is representing Miami not Venezuela

from his beach mansion he can't explain how to end poverty in latin america as he has done for the last 30 years with out tangible results.
For 25 years latin america adopted all the neo liberal dogma that Vargas Llosa promotes, resulting in more poverty, so do the poor in latin america should fear Vargas Llosa ideas? yes live is too short to wasted recycling failure.

[Bacchus39]

4. so what is wrong with hearing those ideas, and making a determination themselves?

Venezuelans don't have to accept his ideas. its not like the poor were his audience at the event anyway.

so freedom of expression is OK as long as it doesn't conflict with your views, right AC?

[AlphaCentauri]

5. I guess Kim Jong-il directing the democratic or republican agenda

would be OK to you as long as right wing republicans are let out to guide latin america.

[Bacchus39]

7. I have no idea what you are talking about, or why you fear free expression

Kim Jong-il is another one who wouldn't let certain "ideas" to be aired freely.

[struggle4progress]

6. Is Vargas Llosa still Peruvian? I thought he had Spanish citizenship & spent lots of time in London