Carta abierta al profesor Noam Chomsky

 Estimado Profesor Chomsky:

Somos un grupo de ciudadanos venezolanos que vivimos en el área de Boston y que simpatizamos con su análisis en temas como la política exterior imperialista estadounidense, la influencia de los medios corporativos y la explotación de los países en desarrollo. Sin embargo, desde hace algún tiempo, hemos notado su participación en actos públicos en apoyo al gobierno de Chávez. Esta ha sido una gran sorpresa para nosotros. Su fuerte crítica a las estructuras de gobierno autoritario y en la defensa de la democracia participativa parecen estar en contradicción con las políticas gubernamentales de Chávez, las cuales podríamos definir como militaristas, estatistas, corruptas, polarizantes e insostenibles económica y ecológicamente.

Estamos de acuerdo con usted cuando afirma que depende de nosotros el pueblo venezolano, juzgar al gobierno de Chávez, independientemente de lo que puedan pensar los demás. Sin embargo, su estatura en el mundo como un líder intelectual con una gran cantidad de seguidores entre las personas de mentalidad progresista no puede pasarse por alto. Por lo tanto, le invitamos a reflexionar sobre los temas que le presentamos a continuación, los cuales, a nuestro juicio, revelan claramente la naturaleza contradictoria de la retórica de Chávez versus sus acciones. Con el debido respeto, sus declaraciones de apoyo al gobierno de Chávez son inaceptables para nosotros y no pueden considerarse irrelevantes, ya que dá credibilidad internacional a un gobierno que no sólo está en constante violación de los derechos constitucionales de sus ciudadanos, sino que cada vez actúa de manera más represiva.

An Open Letter to Professor Noam Chomsky

Dear Professor Chomsky:


We are a group of Venezuelan citizens living in the Boston area who sympathize with your profound analysis on such subjects as imperial American foreign policy, corporate media influence and the exploitation of the developing world. However, for some time, we have noticed your participation in public events in support of the Chávez government. This has come as a surprise to us. Your strong criticism of authoritarian government structures and your advocacy for participative democracy seem to be in contradiction with Chávez's governmental policies, which are militaristic, statist, monopolistic, corrupt, polarizing, and economically and environmentally unsustainable.

We agree with you when you say that it is up to us, the Venezuelan people, to judge the Chávez government irrespective of what others might think. However, your stature in the world as a leading intellectual with an immense following among progressive-minded people cannot be overlooked. Therefore, we invite you to reflect on the issues presented below which, in our opinion, clearly reveal the contradictory nature of Chávez's rhetoric and actions. With all due respect, your statements supporting the Chávez government are unacceptable to us and cannot be considered irrelevant, as they lend international credibility to a government that not only is constantly violating the constitutional rights of its citizens, but is increasingly operating in a repressive manner.

Oswaldo Alvarez Paz

Recent actions by the Venezuelan government are seriously undermining freedom of speech in Venezuela. Two recent cases show the blatant disregard for free speech and civil liberties:

1.- A well known Venezuelan politician: Oswaldo Álvarez Paz was arrested for saying: "Venezuela has turned into a center of operations that facilitates the business of drug trafficking." For this "insolence" he was promptly charged with conspiracy, spreading false information and publicly inciting to the violation of the law. This statement that is shared by most Venezuelans, has been confirmed by reports issued by international intelligence organizations. For example, the US Government Accountability Office July 2009 report stated: "drug trafficking through Venezuela is increasing". It is also well known that "illegal armed groups continue to find safe haven in Venezuela and receive support from Venezuela". Despite the danger that these criminal groups represent for Venezuelan citizens, Hugo Chávez and his officials have been supporting them publicly.

International community taking note of increasing deterioration of human rights in Venezuela

Two short links:

Amnesty International released on April 1 an alert calling Venezuelan authorities to stop targeting government critics following a series of politically motivated arrests: Venezuelan government deliberately targeting opponents.

The New York Times published an article today entitled: Criticism of Chávez Is Stifled by Arrests which focuses on Judge María Lourdes Afiuni's arrest ordered by Chávez on national TV.

Clip art credit: jcartier
And here is the rest of it.