Ten years of Chavez: What are your experiences?

The British web site, in its English version, makes a biased request against president Chávez, by signaling that the relation of the sector that supports him, adulates him and that those who oppose him, hates him: it would seem as if no one in Venezuela genuinely likes him. It asks the users of the service if President Chávez is “a good advocate for the poor” or if, to the contrary, he “becomes increasingly autocratic”.

In a note published on the web site, BBC News invites users living in Venezuela to share their experiences about the past ten years of government of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez.

The invitation is being published in English language and is not being reproduced in the Hispanic version of the important British news portal BBC Mundo;thus, the experiences that are being provided are being restricted merely to those persons living in Venezuela who do speak English, omitting the major portion of those who are most interested: the Venezuelan people.

Although it is true that some Venezuelans speak the English language and that this is the most studied foreign language in Venezuela, Shakespeare's language is certainly not del dominio (the dominant language) of the great majority who are satisfied with the achievements of the national head of state.

Regarding the BBC request that asks the users of the news service if President Chávez “a good advocate for the poor” or if, to the contrary he “becomes increasingly autocratic”:

Consulted about the note, the ambassador of Venezuela to the United Kingdom, Professor Samuel Moncada, severely criticized the fact that, in the first place, the note of BBC has been exclusively published in English language.

“By means of that publication it is being tried in some way to confuse the users of this news service in the sense that BBC would be soliciting (asking for) the authorized opinion of those who live in Venezuela. However, to place the note in English language, severely restricts the possibility that a majority of people would express themselves”, said Moncada.

Likewise, the Venezuelan diplomat pointed out that the social strata that represents majority support for President Chávez depend to a minor degree on the internet and have less access to IT means that would allow them to participate in the requested opinion poll made by BBC.

“Nevertheless, we ask our comrades who feel satisfied with the achievements of these ten years of government to participate in the request made by BBC, or by contacting the BBC correspondents in Caracas, or by writing to the portal BBC in Spanish (BBC Mundo) with the purpose to express their opinion and those who can express themselves in English to do so on the portal of BBC News”, the Venezuelan ambassador invited.

“The Venezuelan people should exercise their right to protest about the request made by BBC to the Venezuelan people in a language that is not their own language. In this regard, we welcome the notion that BBC wants to better know the opinions of the Venezuelan people, situated in any part of the national political spectrum. We believe in the principle of participative and protagonist democracy consecrated in our constitution. We believe that this BBC initiative was a bit more than an indelicacy to solicit that opinion in English language. Likewise, the evident bias of the note cannot be perceived other than disingenuous on the part of this important news enterprise”, he added.

Editor’s Note (from Axis of Logic): The following is the exact wording that showed up on the BBC website a few days ago. However, while the BBC has retained the request, it has removed the form to be filled out by respondents. The form has been replaced with the following note, apparently after being challenged by respondents and the Venezuelan Ambassador to the UK:

“Thank you for your comments. We are no longer looking for contributors.”

It will be interesting to see whether or not the BBC follows through by publishing the responses they have received to their request or whether on the other hand, they will ditch the entire matter. If they abandon this effort to defame President Chavez, it will no doubt be due to this challenge and the respondents who have replied with positive messages about their president.

- Les Blough in Venezuela

The original wording of the BBC invitation (in English) to comment on the presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias.

BBC NEWS: Ten years of Chavez: What are your experiences? Hugo Chavez has been president of Venezuela since 1998. Do you live there? What do you think of his leadership? The former army paratrooper came to power in 1998 and has been the subject of adulation and loathing both at home and abroad ever since. Venezuelans are split between a majority who says he speaks for the poor, and those who say he has become increasingly autocratic. We want to hear from people in Venezuela about life under Hugo Chavez. Do you live in Venezuela? Has Mr Chavez been a good advocate for the poor, or just an old-style autocrat? What would you like Venezuela's future to be? If you want to contribute, tell us about yourself and your experiences. Send us your details using the form below. Please include a contact number if you are happy to receive a call from us. Name Your E-mail address Town & Country Phone number (optional):

Translated for Axis of Logic by Iris Buehler, Translator in Merida, Venezuela and revised by Les Blough, Editor

© Copyright 2008 by AxisofLogic.com

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Original Source (in Spanish) - Rebelion