Chavez warns critical foreigners

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2007 ... 442266.htm

Hugo Chavez has made it clear that he will not allow foreigners to publically criticize him in Venezuela, and that he wants those who do so to face deportation. Foreigners can cause all sorts of trouble, as his friends the Chinese and Iranians know all too well. Foreigners are pure hassle, especially the likes of Amnesty International and the UN. Those who naively see this as yet another question mark over his intentions are obvioulsy tools of the neo-liberal imperialist establishment, and clearly fail to see that all sorts of things can be justified in order to protect against dangerous ideas. Of course, there are enemies within too.....but all in good time.

[A guy called Dave]

I think 'worrying drift' is the appropriate term...either that or the grumbling noise, Marge Simpson makes. He also wants textbooks to have the evils of capitalism removed from them, which is also...well..'worrying'?
It's been alleged that it may of been remarks from a Mexican conservative politician that sparked this off but you do kind of get the impression he's setting the agenda for constitution change and he wants nothing or no-one to be even remotely critical of what he's doing

[Oldira]

Good article in last weeks New Statesman ( a left leaning magazine) that catalogues the drift towards a totalatarian state in Venezula and the real possibility that a civil war is around the corner. Chavez statred out with good intentions but I have no doubt that his 'friendship' with that vile thug Castro has led him totally astray.

[Thac0man]

Awww, won't be long before he has his first purge, bless. Seems like only yesterday he was staging coups.

[meriwether]

In theory, he's not done a lot wrong so far. He wasn't dealing with a bunch of pussycats regarding his opposition, and nationalisation of industry doesn't exactly mark him out as an ogre.
But Im interested to see where he is going. I suspect he may upset some of his supporters and delight his opponents yet.

[irishpeoplearewhingers]

Awww, won't be long before he has his first purge, bless. Seems like only yesterday he was staging coups.

They grow up so fast.

[fergalr]

It really is entertaining to watch one of the darlings of the left drift further and further from democracy to demagoguery.
He's dreadful...tbh anyone who's best buds with Castro isn't going to be winning prizes for commitments to freedom.

[Akrasia]

It really is entertaining to watch one of the darlings of the left drift further and further from democracy to demagoguery.
He's dreadful...tbh anyone who's best buds with Castro isn't going to be winning prizes for commitments to freedom.

I wonder how the 'freedom loving' Americans would react if Venezuela was pouring cash into organisations in the U.S dedicated to overthrowing the Bush regime.

[fergalr]

Who mentioned America? Is this the knee-jerk reaction to any criticism of the Chavez government? Is it an excuse for the behaviour of the Chavez government?

[Akrasia]

Well, considering the biggest threat to the chavez government is subversion from outside, Uit is perfectly relevant to bring the U.S. into this.

Also because people who are virulently opposed to Chavez and call him a 'dictator' are almost all huge fans of the U.S. as 'beacons of freedom and democracy'