“It is shameful that Chavez’s actions to usurp power and impose Castro-style control over the media have been met with barely a whimper from most member-states of the Organization of American States, an organization that is supposed to promote and protect democracy in the Western Hemisphere.”

The Americano

U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on news that Venezuela’s National Assembly approved laws imposing draconian regulations on the internet and telecommunications, and called on member-states of the Organization of American States (OAS) to stand up for democracy in Venezuela. This latest maneuver against democracy comes days after Chavez received authority from the chavista-packed Venezuelan assembly to rule by decree for 18 months.

Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

“It is shameful that Chavez’s actions to usurp power and impose Castro-style control over the media have been met with barely a whimper from most member-states of the Organization of American States, an organization that is supposed to promote and protect democracy in the Western Hemisphere.”

“Dictators are most terrified by the will of people yearning for freedom. Chavez is obviously frightened at the prospect of having to work with a legislative branch not entirely packed with his loyalists, but instead including those elected by the Venezuelan people to speak for them and stand up for what they want and believe in.”

“By ramming through a provision granting him power to rule by decree for 18 months, and another placing severe restrictions on media freedoms, it’s obvious that Chavez will do all that he can to preserve and extend his tyranny in Venezuela.

“The OAS and its member-states must make it clear that they stand with the Venezuelan people, who are rejecting the Chavez agenda more and more each day. Choosing to take no side in the battle between tyranny and democracy in Venezuela only helps the tyrannical side.”

NOTE: This week, Venezuelan assembly approved a law prohibiting television, radio, or internet messages that “incite, promote or justify crime, the equivalent of war propaganda, fomenting anxiety among the citizenry or that alter the public order.”

The Americano/agencies

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