And there goes Venezuela

[Humodour]

R.I.P.

 

Venezuela's Last Opposition TV Owner Arrested

 

AP is reporting the owner of Venezuela's only remaining TV channel that takes a critical line against President Hugo Chavez was arrested Thursday. 'Guillermo Zuloaga, owner of Globovision, was arrested on a warrant for remarks that were deemed "offensive" to the president,' Attorney General Luisa Ortega said. This comes on the heels of last week's story titled Venezuela's Chavez To Limit Internet Freedom.

 

http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/03/25/231...ested?art_pos=1

[lord of flies]

What a surprise, the owner of a TV Channel which supported a military coup d'etat against the country's democratic leader is arrested by that same leader. More news on this "anti-democratic" move as it develops.

 

Hours earlier, ruling-party legislators had requested a probe of his behaviour regarding comments he had made at a media industry gathering in the country about the 2002 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

[Oblarg]

What a surprise, the owner of a TV Channel which supported a military coup d'etat against the country's democratic leader is arrested by that same leader. More news on this "anti-democratic" move as it develops.

 

Hours earlier, ruling-party legislators had requested a probe of his behaviour regarding comments he had made at a media industry gathering in the country about the 2002 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

 

Regardless, "remarks that were deemed "offensive" to the president" is a pretty pathetic reason to arrest someone.

[lord of flies]

What a surprise, the owner of a TV Channel which supported a military coup d'etat against the country's democratic leader is arrested by that same leader. More news on this "anti-democratic" move as it develops.

 

Hours earlier, ruling-party legislators had requested a probe of his behaviour regarding comments he had made at a media industry gathering in the country about the 2002 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

 

Regardless, "remarks that were deemed "offensive" to the president" is a pretty pathetic reason to arrest someone.

What if those remarks were "**** this wonderful President even though he's been democratically elected, I literally love undemocratic military putsches because they aren't run by ebal socialests"?

[Gorgon]

Chavez is paranoid with good reason. What's next, a 'thought police', mass arrest and internment camps for known Capitalists and associates, lulz.

[Oblarg]

What a surprise, the owner of a TV Channel which supported a military coup d'etat against the country's democratic leader is arrested by that same leader. More news on this "anti-democratic" move as it develops.

 

Hours earlier, ruling-party legislators had requested a probe of his behaviour regarding comments he had made at a media industry gathering in the country about the 2002 coup attempt against Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

 

Regardless, "remarks that were deemed "offensive" to the president" is a pretty pathetic reason to arrest someone.

What if those remarks were "**** this wonderful President even though he's been democratically elected, I literally love undemocratic military putsches because they aren't run by ebal socialests"?

 

Not warrant for arrest, unless they can prove that he had a hand in the coup.

 

Really, if the statements are as ridiculous as you're making them seem, the president shouldn't have much to fear from them.

[Gorth]

Sounds a bit like Sri Lanka where elections are "Winner takes all" and the loser gets dragged away in handcuffs and done away with. What happened to good old Roman gladiatorial fights? Lets reintroduce arenas for politicians. That ought to leave us only with the truly passionate and the idealists (and the vicious brutes, but you can't win them all).

[Raithe]

.... and now I'm getting flashbacks to the board game "Junta"

[Wrath of Dagon]

It went a long time ago.

[I want teh kotor 3]

Chavez is totalitarian scum, just like every other Commie leader.

[lord of flies]

Chavez is totalitarian scum, just like every other Commie leader.

Chavez is a democratically elected socialist. The government of Venezuela is now arresting a man who directly supported a military putsch.

 

Which one of us is right?

Me.

 

[213374U]

Nah. He had voiced his support for the putsch. That by itself may not be a criminal offense, and it's not the same as being involved in the coup itself.

[Guard Dog]

No wonder Obama likes Chavez so much. I'd bet he'd LOVE to do that here in the US.

 

 

Kidding of course!

Edited March 26, 2010 by Guard Dog

[I want teh kotor 3]

Chavez is totalitarian scum, just like every other Commie leader.

Chavez is a democratically elected socialist. The government of Venezuela is now arresting a man who directly supported a military putsch.

 

Which one of us is right?

Me.

 

 

Democratically elected totalitarians are still totalitarians, and therefore scum.

[lord of flies]

Nah. He had voiced his support for the putsch. That by itself may not be a criminal offense, and it's not the same as being involved in the coup itself.

How exactly could he have supported the coup any more than he did, other than having been a conspirator? In his position as the head of Globovision he refused to show or recognize the anti-putsch protests in the country, he stated that he supported an undemocratic group's undemocratic seizure of power, etc. If FOX News got behind some military coup and then Obama wound up back in the Presidency, would you be surprised or outraged if he attempted legal action against them?

Democratically elected totalitarians are still totalitarians, and therefore scum.

You're confusing totalitarians with people who believe in helping others and using the government as a positive institution. I understand the confusion, since you can't really empathize with the latter. Edited March 26, 2010 by lord of flies

[I want teh kotor 3]

Surprised, no. Outraged, yes.

[Oblarg]

Chavez is totalitarian scum, just like every other Commie leader.

Chavez is a democratically elected socialist. The government of Venezuela is now arresting a man who directly supported a military putsch.

 

Which one of us is right?

Me.

 

 

While I think LoF is sugar-coating it a bit, calling Chavez "commie scum" is ignorant

Edited March 26, 2010 by Gorth
Lets keep it less personal

[lord of flies]

PS: He's being arrested for spreading false information, not "being offensive."

[I want teh kotor 3]

And therefore Commies need to surpress free speech to stay in power, making them-- guess what-- totalitarian scum.

 

@Oblarg: I never called him "Commie scum." I called him "totalitarian scum" which I prefer here because it includes Commies but isn't limited to them.

[lord of flies]

And therefore Commies need to surpress free speech to stay in power, making them-- guess what-- totalitarian scum.

What? Does this have anything to do with anything other than your strawman view of socialism?

 

The man is being arrested for using his news station to distribute false information in order to create a panic, which is a violation of Article 296 of the Penal Code of Venezuela.

[I want teh kotor 3]

And therefore Commies need to surpress free speech to stay in power, making them-- guess what-- totalitarian scum.

What? Does this have anything to do with anything other than your strawman view of socialism?

 

The man is being arrested for using his news station to distribute false information in order to create a panic, which is a violation of Article 296 of the Penal Code of Venezuela.

 

No, it comes from my belief that personal freedoms -- including free speech- are of far greater importance than arbitrary national laws, and that the only role of government is to ensure the continuation of those same freedoms. That's (part of the reason) why I hate Communism and all other totalitarian governments.

Edited March 26, 2010 by I want teh kotor 3

[lord of flies]

No, it comes from my belief that personal freedoms -- including free speech- are of far greater importance than arbitrary national laws, and that the only role of government is to ensure the continuation of those same freedoms. That's (part of the reason) why I hate Communism and all other totalitarian governments.

Okay, so, you're just posting **** that doesn't have anything to do with the topic at hand while you decry EVIL SOCIALIST TOTALITARIANISM A BLOO BLOO.

[Guest The Architect]

PS: He's being arrested for spreading false information, not "being offensive."

 

Source?

[lord of flies]

PS: He's being arrested for spreading false information, not "being offensive."

 

Source?

See here (or here if you can read Spanish).

 

The original report was apparently for an admission of guilt with respect to Zuloaga's involvement in the 2002 coup d'etat, by Manuel Villalba (see here or here if you can read Spanish).

[Zoraptor]

It was so much more simple in the days of Pinochet, Galtieri et al. Have coup, execute opponents, rape torture and murder dissidents and still get to have some nice nosh with Maggie (well, so long as you don't try to invade Las Malvinas at least) or Ronnie every once in a while... Happy days.

 

It's sad that the modern equivalent is so girly-man: have coup, deport President, get friend of coup to stall any and all negotiations by shouting "we'll handle this, don't worry" at the top of their lungs then "oops guys, took too long we'll just have to have an election anyway", an election held with the military shooting at anyone supporting the old president and suppressing all opposition press, and with a military appointed Uncle Tom opposition figure that results in an astounding and astonishing win for the coup candidate. Then shout "fair and free" (while still shouting the opposite about Iran where the circumstances are almost identical- except of course who one's friends are).

 

AKA the Honduras method.