Venezuela has become a battleground of media warfare this weekend with the government sponsoring the Latin American meeting against media terrorism and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA) holding its annual meeting at the same time and in the same city, Caracas.
Bolivarian News Agency (ABN) director and event organizer, Freddy Fernandez says journalists on the continent have an old debt to pay their peoples in the quest for professional and ethical standards that will change the current media reality to something far more just and transparent.
Canadian journalist, Jean Guy-Allard calls the IAPA "info-traffickers." Speaking to Las Ultimas Noticias, the journalist argues that the media owner's organization, as well as Reporters without Frontiers have been created and fed by the CIA and respond entirely to the interests of the United States of America. Guy-Allard dismisses the IAPA's claim to be defenders of freedom of expression and human rights, highlighting its open support for terrorist tendencies against Latin American peoples. A concrete case, The French-Canadian cites, is IAPA support for Venezuelan owner/journalist, Patricia Poleo, currently in Miami and wanted by Venezuelan justice for alleged links in the case of assassinated public prosecutor, Daniel Anderson. As regards the journalism in Cuba where he resides, the visiting journalist controversially concedes that while journalism in Cuba is not exactly free, it is a "militant press" and its position will not be normalized unless the economic blockade is be lifted.
Communication & Information (Minci) Minister, Andres Izarra has opened the Latin American meeting against media terrorism in Caracas. During his speech, the Minister has insisted that information transnationals continue to dictate and control domestic private media sources by imposing false currents of opinions about real events and worst of all, it would appear to be an unending phenomenon. Highlighting the power of the press, Izarra tells his audience that while nobody elects it, it has the power to shape public opinion and the opinion of the majorities. "It is a reproducing and 'unproducing' thought machine and a determining factor in the political preferences of the majorities, even though it goes against the interests of the same majorities. Regarding the barrage of media terrorism against Venezuela, the Minister cites the latest onslaught in Colombian broadsheet, El Tiempo regarding the supposed seizure of uranium in Colombia.
During the opening ceremony, Cuban veteran journalist, Ernesto Vera has called for decent journalism to lead the advance of progressive movements on the continent.
Venezuelan Culture Minister, Francisco Sesto insists on countering the arguments of the media transnationals in the field of ideas and arguments. It is important, he contends, not to underestimate the role of the media terrorists and seek answers. The Culture Ministry, Sesto proclaims, is doing its bit with a radio station, a weekly newspaper and the monthly magazine. Sesto has announced the creation of a "media factory" to produce material for radio and TV.
National Assembly (AN) deputy and head of the parliamentary United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) block, Mario Isea says his colleague, Wilmer Azuaje has "excluded himself" from the party by using alleged corruption on the part of President Chavez' brothers as campaign fodder. The party will review Azuaje's political performance, Isea announces, and the parliamentary block will accept the party decision. Isea maintains that Azuaje has set up an individual agenda and the AN comptroller committee will process any denunciation, if presented responsibly but will not facilitate anyone putting on a show.
Executive Vice President, Ramon Carrizalez has denied versions that six newly-borns have died as a result of poor medical attention at the Concepcion Palacios Maternity Hospital in Caracas. Carrizalez reports that 4 women entered the hospital with their babies stillborn and two other women were sent to private clinics and the babies are in a satisfactory condition. A special commission set up to solve problems at the maternity has told the Minister that there are serious problems in the anesthetics department because many of the operators have left to seek better salaries abroad. Venezuelan Medical Federation (FMV) vice-president, Dianela Para says the deaths are a consequence of hospital conditions, complaining of a lack of resident doctors as well as favorable working conditions, social benefits and private security.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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