Latin America
Related: About this forumBolivian journalist Fernando Vidal set alight on air
29 October 2012 Last updated at 22:34 ET
Bolivian journalist Fernando Vidal set alight on air
A Bolivian radio journalist has been attacked by unidentified assailants while he was conducting a radio show in the southern city of Yacuiba.
Staff at Radio Popular said four masked men broke into the studio and poured petrol over presenter Fernando Vidal and set him alight.
Mr Vidal and another staff member are being treated for burns.
Relatives said Mr Vidal had been reporting on smuggling in the border area when the attack happened.
More:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-20132700
[center]
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tDZjN1Zpo9k/UI70ZTmJmmI/AAAAAAAAI5c/J916wMF_06c/s1600/periodista+boliviano+Fernando+Vidal.jpg
Fernando Vidal, owner, director of Radio Popular[/center]
Google translation:
Government condemns bombing at Radio Popular and journalist Fernando Vidal
Radio Fides
Last Updated Monday, October 29, 2012. 17:17 h.
General repudiation serious attack against Radio Popular facilities Yacuiba and journalist Fernando Vidal who was seriously injured along with an official of the media who have third-degree burns. The Ministry of Government condemned this and announced that it was investigating the criminal attack.
"The Ministry of Government condemns assassination attempt on journalist Fernando Vidal Popular Radio FM 95.1 operating in the border town of Yacuiba, Santa Cruz and informs the public that it has ordered an accelerated and rigorous investigation to find those responsible and submit to the relevant judicial authorities, "said a statement released Monday.
According to the press release this portfolio of state "will follow a thorough investigation by the Bolivian police and the prosecution to verify the clarification of the case and punishment of those responsible ejemplarizadora".
Meanwhile the governor of Santa Cruz, Ruben Costas authorities demanded an immediate investigation into this serious violation and believes that the attack had to do with the opinions that poured into its program.
"My solidarity with the owners and radio journalists Yacuiba People, which this morning was the victim of an attack. I advocate the speedy recovery of Fernando Vidal, I demand to state authorities and objective urgent investigation to punish the criminals who threaten people for expressing their ideas, "said Costas through your Facebook account.
ANDRE CHRISTOPHER / FIDES GROUP
http://www.radiofides.com/noticia/seguridad/Gobierno_condena_atentado_explosivo_a_Radio_Popular_y_a_periodista_Fernando_Vidal
(Short article, no more at link.)
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)Mojorabbit
(16,020 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,076 posts)aired on his radio program. Yep, that's about what you'd expect from this sack of poo.
Wikipedia:
Rubén Armando Costas Aguilera (born October 6, 1955 in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Santa Cruz) is the governor of Bolivia's Santa Cruz department for the Truth and Social Democracy party. Previously he served as prefect (the same office, which has been renamed by the 2009 constitution) on behalf of the Autonomy for Bolivia party.[1] He was one of the nine Bolivian prefects directly elected in the general elections of 2005. This election was the result of several negotiations and large, peaceful public demonstrations in Santa Cruz. The 1967 Bolivian constitution said that prefects can only be appointed by the president, but because of the negotiations and popular desire, the Bolivian Congress approved Law 3015 to formalize the prefect election process.
Since he took office, he has been strongly critical of the government of President Evo Morales because of political, ideological and regional differences, also, his supporters claim that Morales is opposed to give the country's eastern departments more autonomy, as voted in a 2006 referendum, however, as it was written in the referendum's ballots the autonomy has to be approved and legislated by the constituent assembly. The constituent assembly produced a draft constitution which is rejected by large sectors of the population, especially in the eastern departments, and therefore tension between Costas and Morales has increased significantly. Shortly after the 2008 recall vote, Costas caused controversy when he attacked Morales, calling him a "dictator" and using the slur "macaco" (monkey).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rub%C3%A9n_Costas
[center]
Rubén Costas, Santa Cruz[/center]
Racist Rhetoric in Bolivia
~snip~
Such ethnic slurs have no place in modern politics and yet the United States continues to openly support backward and racist figures in South America who hurl such insults with wanton abandon.
Take for example the case of Rubén Costas, an opposition figure in Bolivia. Speaking to his followers last month, Costas called indigenous socialist President Evo Morales a macaca. Costas has also insulted Morales as an animal and a monkey.
Fair skinned and European looking, Costas hardly resembles Bolivias indigenous president Morales. Elected Prefect of the energy-rich, western department of Santa Cruz in 2005, Costas has become a key advocate for greater regional autonomy and a thorn in the side of the La Paz government.
Costas, like many of his white and mestizo racist followers, regard the Indians in the highlands with contempt. The Santa Cruz politician would like to retain control over the lucrative gas industry and deprive the cash-strapped government in La Paz of much needed revenue.
~snip~
Speaking in a plaza full of his supporters, Costas said Bolivia should say no to the big foreign monkeys. It was an obvious racial barb aimed at Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, a key Morales ally (physically, Chávez has indigenous-African features).
More:
http://www.zcommunications.org/macaca-gaffe-rears-ugly-head-in-bolivia-by-nikolas-kozloff
[center]
Rubén Costas' region's treatment of Native Bolivian citizens.
Rubén Costas, his scumbag powerful pal, Croatian-Bolivian Branko Marinkovic
Unión Juvenil Cruceñista, Santa Cruz fascist Youth Movement,
who commit criminal violent assaults upon the native Bolivian
people who are unfortunate enough to have born in the same area.[/center]
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)Didn't the Governor just state the obvious? Or do you think it was a robbery attempt and they just happened to pick a radio host while he was on air?
Judi Lynn
(160,076 posts)You have every right to withhold your comment until you have something to add which matters.
naaman fletcher
(7,362 posts)You have the right not to get pissy when questioned about a dumb comment you made
flamingdem
(39,300 posts)Judi Lynn
(160,076 posts)Oct 30, 3:37 PM EDT
Bolivia radio host attacked on air
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) -- Bolivian authorities say they have arrested three men for an arson attack that badly burned a radio journalist while he was on the air.
Fernando Vidal was in intensive care in the eastern city of Santa Cruz Tuesday, under treatment for burns suffered Monday in a midday attack on his station in Yacuiba, a city of 120,000 that borders Argentina.
Son-in-law Esteban Farfan says Vidal was interviewing two women about alleged corruption among customs police when masked men entered the studio. He said one splashed around gasoline, the other set it alight and a third fired shots in the air. He said Vidal was burned trying intervene.
Vidal is a former Yacuiba mayor who uses his daily radio program to denounce corruption in a city along a cocaine smuggling route.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_BOLIVIA_RADIO_HOST_ATTACKED?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
(Short article, no more at link.)