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Eva Golinger disproves Venezuela’s Information Minister statements

By Aleksander Boyd

London 06 Oct. 04 – Andres Izarra is the new daft information minister. His mediocrity is no impediment for his ascent to revolutionary Olympic heights. Let us remember that the sine qua non requisite to escalate positions rapidly in Venezuela’s neo fascist regime is a supra humane gluttony for Chavez’ feces. Thus we see how ‘vernacular men’ actually excel in their attempts to win the contest of who is the most servile of them all. Assemblymen promoting indefinite presidential re-election; electoral directors throwing all sorts of obstacles for electoral participation; justices of the Supreme Court contravening their own precedent; army generals bossed around by Cubans in their own turf; in sum a remarkably appalling show of lack of dignity and absolute absence of self esteem and honour.

In his new role Izarra has a radio programme called “Comunication in Revolutionary Times”, which is aired -of course- by the official radio news network Radio Nacional de Venezuela. In today’s show he commented upon the statements of James Hill with respect to the latter’s comments upon Venezuela’s failure in combating guerrilla groups in the frontier with Colombia. I shall not dwell on his perceptions in that regard but rather on a short paragraph at the end of the article as published by Venpres [MCI : afirmaciones de Hill desentonan con las de Colin Powell]:

“Finalmente informó que han aparecido en la página de la estadounidense Eva Golinger, nuevos documentos que demuestran que Estados Unidos, financió a la oposición por casi 23 millones de dólares. También se encontraron nuevos documentos que revelan que Usaid y DAI, organizaciones que pertenecen al departamento de Estado, han canalizado fondos igualmente para Súmate.”

“Finally he informed that new documents posted on the website of American Eva Golinger show evidence of the USA’s funding to opposition groups mounting to nearly $23 million. New documents also demonstrate that USAID and DAI, organizations related to the State Department, have funnelled funds to Sumate.”

Shocked by the new revelation I wrote a quick note to Eva Golinger questioning that statement, and you have guessed it, I shall reproduce the exchange here for your enjoyment. Conclusion: when it comes to information never ever trust the Venezuelan official version.

From: Aleksander Boyd
Date: 06/10/04 22:43
To: Eva Golinger
Subject: In need of a calculator?

You guys truly crack me up and I must thank you for that!! This is from today programme of the daft misinformation minister (source Venpres):

"Finalmente informó que han aparecido en la página de la estadounidense Eva Golinger, nuevos documentos que demuestran que Estados Unidos, financió a la organización Súmate por casi 23 millones de dólares. También se encontraron nuevos documentos que revelan que Usaid y DAI, organizaciones que pertenecen al departamento de Estado, han canalizado fondos igualmente para Súmate."

So now Sumate's has passed from receiving 54 + 80 k to 23 million? Look for your name in the immediate future in Google...

Kind regards, A. Boyd

From: Eva Golinger
Date: 06/10/04 22:47
To: Aleksander Boyd
Subject: Re: In need of a calculator?

Boyd: I never said that no have I presented information a such. USAID has given approximately $25 million to political activities, but up until now, the only information pertaining to Súmate is the NED $53,400 grant and the USAID $84,480 grant. I have never stated otherwise nor am I responsible for other's misstatements.

Eva Golinger

From: Aleksander Boyd
Date: 06/10/04 23:03
To: Eva Golinger
Subject: Re: In need of a calculator?

From your press release:

The name, Súmate appears on a grant intended to encourage “electoral participation” in the recall referendum, citing $84,840 as the total grant amount. Combined with the NED grant of $53,400 given to Súmate in 2003-2004, the organization that is now crying fraud about the recall referendum against President Chávez, the results of which have been recognized as absolutely credible by the Carter Center and the U.S. Department of State, has received, at minimum, more than $200,000 in just one year for promoting its attempts to remove Venezuela’s President from office. [53.400 + 84.840 = 138.240 hence the reference to the calculator...]

Eva, let us cut the crap and get to the issue:

What article of Venezuela's legislation has been breached by Sumate and others? Should the test be the receipt of foreign monies -which I hereby challenge you to demonstrate its illegality in the case of NGOs-, why was your idol not prosecuted for illegally accepting $1.5 million from BBVA? Why don't you condemn the Carter Center for having received monies from USAID?

From: Eva Golinger
Date: 06/10/04 23:23
To: Aleksander Boyd
Subject: Re: In need of a calculator?

Boyd: the reason I put the $200,000 figure was because the total grant from DAI/USAID to Súmate was about $150,000 - but a little less that half was put by DAI for the project - Súmate probably benefited from that money too. In any case, I can accept a miscalculation there and go for the $138,240 figure since that is the most straightforward. But the $23 million figure cited today did not come from my website or my mouth, for that matter. I am not responsible if others misread the information.

Actually, I am more interested in the methodology of US intervention used in Venezuela, which is what I am researching, than charging the Venezuelan groups with violations of law. I have nothing to do with that. If the fiscal sees a violation of law, then it is within her purview to charge the individual with a crime. You are well aware of the article of legislation that is cited by the fiscal. I do not pretend to have other legislation up my sleeve nor at any point have I clamored for charges to be brought against Súmate or other groups. My investigation is merely making public US intervention tactics in Venezuela and those that work within their strategy. At no point have I ever proclaimed that my investigation is intended to put anyone in prison, nor have I ever even commented on the charges brought against Súmate, other than possibly to admit their existence. But I am not a Venezuelan lawyer and do not pretend to judge the actions of the fiscal in a public debate with you.

As to the Carter Center, it is hard to imagine them not receiving USAID considering that Jimmy Carter was always one of the principal proponents of USAID being used in that manner. It is no surprise that Carter receives USAID funds for his work on elections interventions in Venezuela. My own personal opinion is that USAID funds, which are taxpayer dollars, should not be used for these types of interventions but rather strictly humanitarian aid purposes (famine relief, basic development - housing, agriculture, etc.). I do believe that it compromises the Carter Center's objectivity to receive USAID funding for its work in Venezuela because it makes it subject to US Government demands.

But Boyd, you are writing to the wrong person. I have never proclaimed that the members of Súmate should be charged with a crime in Venezuela. I suggest you direct your questions to the fiscal in charge of the case or to those who have publically supported the charges. My focus here is on US intervention.

Good luck.



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