How will Chavez's "new" Venezuela affect the DR?

[Chip00]

I just read that latest sad news about the recent developments in Venezuela. It appears that Venezuelan troops fired on protesters who were gather to voice their opposition to the cancellation of RCTV - a television which has been on the air since 1953 and has consistently been opposed to Chavez's regime.

The station was taken over by state run TVES where the government put adds proclaiming, "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone." Chavez also ironocally said that he "is democratizing the airwaves by turning the network's signal over to public use."

Is this just a beginning of a "new" type of "supposed" democracy in LA where the people loose their right to express their opinion and views? Also, violence is becoming increasingly rampant as evident on the daily news in Venezuela, inspite of it's immense social programs.

How will this affect the DR given it's close relations with Chavez? I understand that the DR gov't. actually passed a law last year proclaiming it illegal to defame the president.

Also, what are the other chances in the region other countries will be enticed into trying this "new" type of democracy, as Chavez calls it? What will be the eventually effect the DR?

[Chris]

It won't affect the DR whatsoever. We may perhaps get a few educated Venezualan's coming to live here. The closure of the TV station is more a sign of the internal divisions in that country. This bbc report has more balanced coverage than the usual talking-head, 'milking the wee-wee out of it' unadulterated slop coming from cnn. Apparently other stations have not had their licenses revoked. BBC NEWS | Americas | TV row widens Venezuela's rift

What may affect the DR in time, is the consistent movement across a number of Latin American countries to a more socialist democrat style of government.

Personally, I think we are seeing a fascinating period in Latin American history. Just perhaps something new will be born that is more fitting than the systems of government we have currently. Just imagine, perhaps a system of government that does not depend on bloodshed and the military-industrial complex for its own survival. Yeah! Chris ... Hope on! Play 'Imagine' again!

[Funnyyale26]

What people around the world don't understand is that the Venezuelan constitution backs Chavez's right to grant OR NOT la concession to channels. So the press/media many times has been biased and doesn’t explain this. I do not see why or how this should be a concern to other Latin American nations, because this is an internal issue of Venezuela. He has friends all over Latin America and most governments have refrained from even commenting on this. I feel sorry for the people who lost their job in that channel, not for the CEO because he was the one who instigated a coup d'etat for Chavez in 2002, so for Chavez, this is payback I guess. Just like Chavez, paid his due when he attempted a coup against a Venezuelan president in 1992, as he was jailed for 2 years.

I have heard that RCTV was only serving the interests of the oligarchs, and that the programs promoted things that Chavez want to eradicate from Venezuelan society like discrimination, drugs, guetto music (reguetton).

I sympathize with Chavez and his program but I think he should have listened more to what the country wanted, if that channel was constantly attacking him the best way to combat was not by not renovating the concession, I think the best way would have been to darle una bofetada sin mano a la prensa de la oposición; that is, to demonstrate through his own good works that he is not what the opposition thinks about him, that he is not a dictator, that he is in fact a socialist and not a Castro. Through this action, he is just loosing his popularity in Venezuela and around the world and he is demonstrating to the Venezuelan media that he is what they claim he is.


As to Venezuelans coming to the DR? Great, unlike the Haitians they will bring investment and prosperity, which in turn is good for us.

[A.Hidalgo]

I am a firm believer of freedom of the press....but I am torn between my belief and what brought Chavez to this situation. I agree with Chris that this happening will not affect the DR. What needs to be done is to find a balance between capitalism and socialism with free enterprise but coupled with progressive ideas for the social good.

The last link is an interesting article about the swing by many LA countries to the left, but with an emphasis on no need to panic, as this is a historical process started many decades ago that is trying to find solutions to poverty among other problems found in many of these LA countries.

Quote from The Guardian

Mr Chávez, a former paratrooper who was elected by mostly poor Venezuelans in 1998, was briefly ousted in a 2002 coup backed by RCTV and three other channels. When streets filled with people demanding his return the channels showed cartoons. They also promoted a strike which paralysed the country for months.

(my highlight)

I wonder if something similarly happened elsewhere, how would that government react.


Another quote that is not reported in the mainstream press.

Some leftwing politicians, academics and commentators in Europe and the US have backed the government.

Police stop protest as anti-Chávez TV channel taken off air | Special reports | Guardian Unlimited

The right side of Latin America's left | csmonitor.com

[A.Hidalgo]

Originally Posted by Funnyyale26

As to Venezuelans coming to the DR? Great, unlike the Haitians they will bring investment and prosperity, which in turn is good for us.

I agree with some of what you wrote but much of the wealth made from the sugar industry in the Dominican Republic was from the backs of Haitians. As the matter a fact as we speak many of the foods eaten in the DR have been picked by their labor. Oh and I almost forgot, the construction industry also benefits from their work.

[Kyle]

i need to check my research but wasn't there a riff between the DR and Venezuela over a United Nations seat ?

[cobraboy]

Originally Posted by Kyle

i need to check my research but wasn't there a riff between the DR and Venezuela over a United Nations seat ?

Not sure I'd call it a "riff". More like competing intrests for a Security Council seat.

[cobraboy]

Why is the world surprised at what Chavez did? Does anybody really believe democracy is more important to the guy than dictatorial power? He's been given basically total power by his congress...

Somebody explain to me how he's NOT a dictator?

He has nationalized the oil industry in Venezuela. The companies he's basically stolen from are NOT commiting to additional investment for their minority interests there (lots of info out there about this subject). Already there are problems with the oil supply there now that the cash-poor Venezuelans are now in control. They have neither the capital nor expertise to run those operations efficiently.

The DR depends on Venezuela for their petroleum products. That is where a future problem may be.

We'll see. But IMO, I'm more pessimestic that optimistic about the future of Venezuela, and the trickle across to other LA countries and the DR.

[Robert]

Lets close this before it becomes a complete mess.

Closed.