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polly7

(20,582 posts)
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 04:07 PM Jan 2014

Latest Human Rights Watch Report: 30 Lies about Venezuela

By Tamara Pearson

Source: Venezuelanalysis.com

January 28, 2014

"In the six pages that HRW dedicates to Venezuela in its World Report 2014, released this week, it manages to tell at least 30 serious lies, distortions, and omissions. Pointing out these lies is important, because many people believe that HRW is a neutral authority on human rights, and the mainstream press publish articles and headlines based on HRW report conclusions. Here are some of the headlines in both English and Spanish (translated to English) that have come out of the 2014 report:

Global Post – Venezuela intimidates opponents, media: HRW report , PanAm Post – Human Rights Watch: A black eye for Latin America , AFP – HRW criticises Venezuela in its annual report on human rights, El Economista – HRW: Democracy in Venezuela is fictitious, El Universal – Human Rights Watch report denounces persecution of media in Venezuela, El Siglo – Human Rights Watch: Venezuela is an example of “fictitious democracies”, El Colombiano: HRW describes Venezuela as a fictitious democracy , NTN24 – HRW warns that Venezuelan government applies “arbitrary” measures against media that is critical of its policies

The headlines which talk about a “fictitious” or “feigned” democracy, are referring to the start of the report, where HRW put Venezuela, along with other countries, under the category of “abusive majoritarianism”. There, HRW provides a very limited definition of democracy; “periodic elections, the rule of law, and respect for the human rights of all” and argues that Venezuela has adopted “the form but not the substance of democracy”. HRW cites Diosdado Cabello not letting legislators who didn’t recognise democratically elected President Maduro speak in parliament – yet the punishment seems soft, considering the crime.

Below, I’ve grouped the lies and omissions according to HRW’s own subheadings in its chapter on Venezuela. Unlike with other countries such as the US, HRW omits all of Venezuela’s human rights achievements in its assessment, and in reality a range of other subheadings would be deserving, such has right to have access to housing, people’s right to be consulted about policy, right of the poorer people to be heard in the media, right to education, the right to health care, to land, and so on. Of course, nowhere in the report does HRW mention the economic crimes committed by the business sector against Venezuelans’ right to access affordable goods (hoarding, speculation, etc)."

15 lies and distortions:

.....

15 omissions:

.....

Rest of article: http://zcomm.org/znetarticle/latest-human-rights-watch-report-30-lies-about-venezuela/

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Latest Human Rights Watch Report: 30 Lies about Venezuela (Original Post) polly7 Jan 2014 OP
Human Rights Watch tells the truth Socialistlemur Jan 2014 #1
That's nice. polly7 Jan 2014 #3
Oh, sure, but when HRW says something positive about any leftist government, you pass it off as true Marksman_91 Jan 2014 #2
No, I take everything from them with a grain of salt polly7 Jan 2014 #4
They ALWAYS defer to the official position of the US policy on leftist-led countries. Judi Lynn Jan 2014 #5
Yes, they do! polly7 Jan 2014 #6
So glad to see that one again, connected to your original post. Judi Lynn Jan 2014 #7

Socialistlemur

(770 posts)
1. Human Rights Watch tells the truth
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 05:18 PM
Jan 2014

I don't see anything wrong with the Human Rights Watch statement about Venezuela. It's spot on. The Venezuelan regime is quite abusive. Furthermore, one could argue its run by the Cuban dictatorship.

 

Marksman_91

(2,035 posts)
2. Oh, sure, but when HRW says something positive about any leftist government, you pass it off as true
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 05:40 PM
Jan 2014

polly7

(20,582 posts)
4. No, I take everything from them with a grain of salt
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 05:54 PM
Jan 2014

since first learning of their lies re Libya and now verify with other sources anything and everything they report.



Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
5. They ALWAYS defer to the official position of the US policy on leftist-led countries.
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 06:18 PM
Jan 2014

No exceptions, to my knowledge.

Has something to do with whom they're serving.

Occasionally they'll take a slightly independent step to try to "maintain" the appearance of independence.

I'm really looking forward to diving into this material you've posted today. Thank you, so much. I'm certain it will be something to keep for later reference.

polly7

(20,582 posts)
6. Yes, they do!
Wed Jan 29, 2014, 06:20 PM
Jan 2014

In reply, I used a link for a thread in which you provided some great information, and thank you for that.

Judi Lynn

(160,217 posts)
7. So glad to see that one again, connected to your original post.
Thu Jan 30, 2014, 04:02 PM
Jan 2014

Love it when someone breaks loose and tells the truth. We don't see that a lot, yet. Hope that's all going to change, in OUR lifetimes.

Thank you for adding it.

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