Monday, April 21, 2008

Dear VHeadline colleagues and contributors...

I was woken up at 3.20am this morning by a telephone call from a tried and trusted friend who has told me that VHeadline is officially "blacked" by powerful elements within the Venezuelan government despite our many years efforts to promote Venezuela's democracy, constitutionality and the rule of law.

I have no reason to doubt the veracity or sincerity of my friend's information especially considering that, of late, many others among us have been very much concerned over the influence of corrupt individuals and power groupings both outside and within the Chavez administration who are making every effort to enrich themselves and to attempt to destroy what President Chavez has indeed achieved over the last nine years of his administration.

Earlier, I had received a number of emails alerting to the fact that the Bolivarian Revolution is in clear and imminent danger from 5th columnists who are either in the pay of the United States of America or violently radical members of the Venezuelan opposition -- or indeed both!

It has now been confirmed to me that as an editorially independent e-publication, VHeadline is seen as a danger to the designs of those 5th columnists and traitors within the administration since they are unable to control our output and are generally worried by our enthusiasm for democracy over any fanatical belief in the ideals of either the opposition or Chavismo per se. We are labeled Chavista by the opposition and escualidos by the Chavistas while what we seek to do is to carve a middle path for democracy and the Venezuelan people irrespective of who may or may not be elected President at this point in time or history.

I have also had it confirmed that the funding of Danny Glover's movie on a little known Haitian freedom fighter (to the tune of $30 million) was excessive by any movie industry standards and is most probably indicative of pay-offs to manipulators who have facilitated the funding through the good offices of the National Assembly.

I am also troubled by the fact that foreign investors in North America (especially with regard to the gold mining sector) are growing more and more impatient about incessant and inexplicable delays in the awarding of permits to begin mining operations that would contribute thousands of jobs in the most depressed regions of Venezuela while government officials seem to be travelling hither and thither effectively doing nothing to achieve much-needed progress for the Venezuelan people. It is equally obvious that certain individuals have pocketed large sums of money that should otherwise have been dedicated to the Venezuelan people.

In this respect I venture to say that Venezuelan democracy is in mortal danger and that something needs to be done about it (like yesterday!) before it is too late.

Naturally, the impetus for a cleansing of the administration, and opposition sectors working against the legitimate government of Venezuela, needs to come from the grassroots people of Venezuela and it is refreshing to see that there is already a plethora of movements beginning to exert the influence of the Venezuelan people from the bottom up as was (hopefully is!) President Chavez' declared thesis on how the Venezuela of our aspirations should be governed.

It is alarming to see how corrupt individuals have taken over the essential
political functions of embassies and consulates internationally and are working
against the better interests of the Venezuelan people, often as a result of
infiltration by local security services such as MI5 and the CIA.

It is therefore that I feel that, although all of us involved with VHeadline are driven by a deeper affection for the country and the people of Venezuela, we cannot simply be blind to the deviations and distortions that come from within the administration while highlighting the over-kill of deviations and distortions perpetrated by the United States, Spain and other foreign govenrments which seek to subjugate and plunder the Venezuelan people of what by sovereign right is theirs.

We cannot do it alone! WE have to do it with the support of the Venezuelan people ... the true patriotic grasroots Venezuelan people who are presently unaware of the dirty dealings going on behind their backs otherwise they would most probably take immediate remedial action just the same as they did to demand and require the return of President Hugo Chavez Frias in the aftermath of the April 2002 coup d'etat by US-funded traitors in the political and commercial opposition.

I therefore ask your advice as a colleague and contributor to VHeadline, individually and confidentially to let me know what you feel that we, collectively, should do to ensure that VHeadline can continue to fight for Venezuela's democracy, constitutionality and the rule of law.

I am assured that the answer lies in the hands of the Venezuelan people and that they, sooner or later, will make their feelings known through the ballot box. Their next opportunity is in the November elections but with current trends of infiltration and sabotage within the administration itself, I am fearful that Venezuela's democracy will never reach that opportunity or that the democratic will of the Venezuelan people will not be accepted in such circumstance.

Ergo the urgency of the question: What to do?

Should we fight on with vigor or simply fold up our tents and go away?

I think you know my own particular stance in this matter -- please don't hesitate to let me know yours,

regards
Roy S. Carson
roy.s.carson@gmail.com



4 comments:

  1. Greetings Roy, Your NEWS is disturbing, but I can't say that it was not expected! Venezuela is a major player on the world's energy markets. It role will oly increase. The NEWS from the oil patch has NOT been getting the proper coverage by the media. All we hear about is the escalating price of crude and the pump price rapidly appreoaching $4.00 per gallon.

    My recent column covered the shift mix of US oil and distillate imports fro the month of February. While the Saudis are holding their production, their % of products and crude tothe US market increased. Venezuela sales while up in Dollar pricing has once again declined in volume. This should be very disturbing to the US consumers.

    The MIddle East is one major incident away from exploding. When THAT happens Canada, Mexico, and Venezuela will be even more in the spotlight for meeting the energy needs of this hemisphere - not just for the United States.

    Did you notice how much is now coming tp US/ us for Nigeria? Last Friday's spike in prices ( to $117) was creditied to the growing turmoil there. This will ONLY increase.

    In these times the role of VHeadline in getting the truth before the public is all the more important!

    Fred C asklet@rochelle.net

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  2. Roy
    First, copy your email to the ambassador.
    Second, you have a problem you cannot solve and that is you accept everthing for publishing as part of your philosophy. I see something written by Mr Tellis, read a couple of lines and delete it. I see something written by Franz Lee with which I thoroughly disagree but at least, unlike Tellis, it is well argued and I read on.

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  3. Roy, I don't mean to be a pessimist, but c'mon. I think it's taken too much of your time and effort, to continue trying to defend or "shed light on the truth" of a revolution that, as the greek god Cronos, has eaten and continues to eat its children. Don't you think that if there was still anything or any elements worth saving or defending, they would have stood up for VHeadline's independent work, especially after all the calls, editorials (even in Aporrea), articles and efforts you have made? I mean, seriously.

    It's important to shed light on Venezuela's truth, but if it has become too financially and emotionally draining, and no part of the government wants to even acknowledge the value of your work, then why bother? I say switch to exclusively being a blogger, like those apatridas Caracas Chronicles, and counter their point, sharing your point of view and your thoughts on this, without having to worry about censoring yourself. Even the Oil Wars blogger (a hardcore cheerleader of the revolution) is seriously disappointed in many things that have been happening here.

    The whole VHeadline situation is just sad and it just gives fodder for oppositionists to say "another one bites the dust" and "here's another chavista 'pidiendo cacao' like many others". Man, if Baduel, a guy who literally saved Chavez from death and demise, jumped ship and was called a traitor; along with another icon of the revolution such as Luis Tascón (hello? La Lista de Tascon), who was kicked out of PSUV... yet sites like venezuelanalysis and others continue to get funding for just pandering to their pseudo-revolutionary ears... doesn't that tell you the state of affairs?

    It's easy to get caught up in the popular mindset of "es que Chavez no sabe" or "a Chavez lo tienen engañado", exempting him and many of the alleged "good guys" from any fault. But c'mon, do they really not know or are they just turning a blind eye?

    Remember the following?

    - Walter Martinez, one of the best journalists out there, who, as yourself, worked for the truth and to promote understanding of international affairs - as soon as he denounced corruption on his show, he was turned into vapor, completely ostracized for about 2 years, until he finally asked for forgiveness (how low must he have gone!) and appeared recently on VTV saying he's working on a show in an Armed Forces channel, and saluting Chavez by saying "Ordene Comandante!"... that's when Chavez kind of gave him a nod, and MAYBE, he'll be back on air.

    - Francisco Ameliach - he denounced some bad stuff about some random military members, and he, too, fell from grace. In the end, he had to ask for forgiveness to the Lord of the Revolution, and assure everyone that "Chavez es el único líder" in a press conference.

    - Jose Manuel Coa from VTV - he refused to read one of MinCI's communiqués, and once again, he incurred in the wrath of the revolutionaries. More asking of forgiveness, and now he's recently back.

    - Diogenes Carrillo also from VTV.....who knows what the fuck happened to him and he was intimate with Mario Silva.

    Nobody who continues denouncing the revolution and its unfair shenanigans get back into the game. They just don't want to hear it! The only criticism that is accepted and can be repeated is the one that Chavez makes.

    Even Ultimas Noticias gets a bad rap sometimes, Chavez and his acolytes say "se echaron a perder", because they denounce things; they regard Diario Vea (a veritable mouthpiece) as "good journalism". What the fuck is that, man? Ultimas Noticias is like one of the best newspapers out here in these times of polarization. It's a good thing they have lots of private funding and EVERYONE reads it, otherwise, who knows what would have happened to them? Or Las Verdades de Miguel? Mario Silva (as you know, a high up PSUV directive) despises Miguel Salazar - do you think that newspaper is going to go anywhere, especially if it weren't for private funding?

    Bottom line is - they've taken the "you're either with us or against us" mindset, and I think it's only going to get worse. I say get out now, you've tried enough, and it pains me to see you making so many efforts that will not be retributed, not by them, not by "chavistas de a pie", not by the opposition, and not by those who already have made up their mind about Venezuela from abroad.

    I can't believe that after the editorial you sent, after the letter to the Washington Post, they're still so blind as to continue blocking VHeadline's existence. Well, enough is enough, man. This revolution is going to collapse from within, thus validating Donald Rumsfeld's bitter words from the past, due to corruption, failure to listen to positive and constructive criticism, internal decay, and a general disappointment from the base; ah, in addition to their severe lack of ideological commitment and countless contradictions.

    I know this e-mail may be falling on deaf ears, because I know how stubborn you are :P but I speak from the heart, and as your good friend.

    Good luck, though, but honestly, assess the situation appropiately.

    Sincerely,

    ReplyDelete
  4. Roy: that's really bad news!

    Typically a Monday: I've today been banned too at ICH at Halocom. We're finding which crook is doing this.

    But VHeadline is something which I never thought it would be taken out.

    It's quite clear that infiltration is on a much bigger scale than at the time with Allende, who's 'Grupo Amigos Personales' did not only cover his armed guards (like el Chino) but there were just too many of those long haired freaks coming into the country and popping up in La Moneda, with a Bronx or Brooklyn accent swearing to God that they were supporting Allende and his ideology. Well, we've seen what happened.

    Anyhow, I send your letter around the globe and let's hope for the best.

    The cowards and collaborators who do this, aren't even worth a bullet.

    Take care, we'll really need it.

    Best regards,


    Henk Ruyssenaars
    Chairman
    Foreign Press FOundation
    Amsterdam

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