Campaign Against Venezuela Continues in the Washington Post and the Washington Times

[XXPANTHAXX]

Editorials published in the Washington Post and the Washington Times on
February 12th and 13th respectively show deep disdain for the Venezuelan
people. Both editorials belittle Venezuelan citizens by portraying them
as sheep unable to act unless motivated by bribery or punishment,
incapable of judging whether or not it is in their interest to approve
an amendment that would allow public officials to run for reelection for
consecutive terms.

Faced with a lack of valid arguments with which to discredit a proposal
that is of a democratic nature, the Washington Post and the Washington
Times have opted for subterfuge in order to disqualify the very real
possibility that the people may vote in favor of approving the proposal.
For having dealt such an insult to the Venezuelan people, these
newspapers must at a minimum offer an apology.

Particularly shameful is the Washington Post's use of the deplorable yet
isolated vandalism of a Caracas synagogue on January 30th. It attempts
to ignore the swift and decisive condemnation of that repugnant act by
the government of Venezuela, the ongoing investigation into the crime
(those responsible have already been detained and facing due process),
and subsequent statements by representatives of the Jewish community in
Venezuela expressing satisfaction with the support we offered.

The Post exposes its true intentions by going so far as to use this
incident as evidence of a supposed campaign of "intimidation" against
some groups that simply does not exist in Venezuela. These intentions
are made even more clear by the fact that, the same day the Post
editorial was published, the President of the Israelite Association of
Venezuela Elias Farache, and I, as Minister of Foreign Relations, held a
joint press conference at the synagogue.

On this occasion, the Jewish leader expressed his appreciation for the
swift action taken by the Venezuelan government not just to condemn the
crimes, but also to conduct an investigation and prosecute those
responsible.

The Post ignores the reality that this unfortunate incident has served
to bring closer the Venezuelan government and the Jewish community. This
was the sentiment expressed in a letter sent to me by Mr. Farache in
which he emphasized his recognition of the positive intervention by
Venezuelan officials and "the words of the President of the Republic
that offered an absolute and total condemnation of the attack we
suffered," which he called "a message of peace and tranquility for our
congregation." It must also be said that Mr. Farache, on behalf of the
community he represents, acknowledged the work of the country's Corps of
Penal and Criminal Investigations.

It is truly lamentable that the Washington Post and the Washington Times
maintain a stubborn commitment to spreading all manner of lies and
distortions about the reality of Venezuela. Their's is a campaign that
drives them even to ignore the fact that the political opposition in
Venezuela controls more than 70 percent of the broadcast spectrum and
the majority of newspapers throughout the country. This is just one more
example of the shameless and continued campaign against my country.

As much as they may try to obscure the truth, no one can in good faith
deny the advances made by the Venezuelan people over the last ten years.
I admit that we have challenges ahead, but it is callous to discredit
our progress.

International organizations including the United Nations Economic
Commission for Latin America have recognized that we now have the lowest
rate of socioeconomic inequality in the entire region, and one of its
highest rates of human development. This fact alone contradicts the
irresponsible portrayal of Venezuelans provided by these newspapers.

The fictional campaign against our brothers in the Jewish community has
now been fabricated and used against us. This, however, is nothing more
than the continuation of a very real campaign propagated against a
government that represents an alternative to the backwardness brought
about by the savage capitalism that is beginning to show its true
rottenness. It is a campaign designed to discredit the good example of
the achievements made by the Bolivarian Revolution in the last ten
years, in a peaceful and democratic manner.

Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Relations
Nicolás Maduro
Caracas, February 13th, 2009