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It's bad enough that Venezuelan president Chavez has committed Human Rights violations against his own citizens, he now also blaintly lied about the reason for wanting to expell the American Missionary Group.
Chavez accused the misionary group of exploiting the native communities in Venezuela. Well, apparently he doesn't speak for the native communities. Jose Kayupare of the Puinare tribe challenged Chavez's claims. Jose Kayupare said the New Tribes Mission has helped Indian communities ravaged by malaria and other diseases in Venezuela, sometimes airlifting the sick to medical assistance, when the government and others had abandoned them.
It's bad enough Chavez abandons his own native community, he now also lies on their behalf.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-15-indianschavez_x.htm
Posted 10/15/2005 7:50 PM
Venezuelan Indians denounce Chavez expulsion order
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Members of a Venezuelan indigenous tribe on Saturday criticized President Hugo Chavez's order to expel a U.S. missionary group he accused of links to the CIA, saying the decision goes against the interests of their impoverished communities.
Jose Kayupare of the Puinare tribe challenged Chavez's claims that the Sanford, Fla.-based New Tribes Mission constituted an "imperialist infiltration" that was exploiting native communities.
"For those of us who live in the jungle, this really is a decision that the majority of indigenous people in Amazonas (state) don't support and that we are not going to accept under any circumstances," Kayupare told reporters.
He said the New Tribes Mission has helped Indian communities ravaged by malaria and other diseases in Venezuela, sometimes airlifting the sick to medical assistance, when the government and others had abandoned them.
Chavez has accused the missionaries of ties to the CIA and collecting "strategic information" on Venezuela — charges the group denies. Although Venezuela is a key oil supplier to the United States, relations between the two countries have long been strained, and Chavez has repeatedly accused Washington of supporting efforts to oust him.
The government has also said the group has built luxurious camps next to poor Indian villages, circumvents Venezuelan customs by flying in and out of dozens of private airstrips with their planes, and is conducting mining studies in the gold-rich region.
"Why don't they ask (the Indian communities) ... if they've really been abused?" asked Domingo Gonzalez, an indigenous Venezuelan working with the group.
"The indigenous Venezuelans need to be heard, not to be spoken for," Gonzalez said, accusing the government of being "the ones who really harm and oppress them."
The country's top evangelical organization, The Evangelical Council of Venezuela, issued a statement defending the missionaries' work and denying the group had any ties with the U.S. government or was working for profit.
It said the group, aside from its missionary work, was involved in programs to help Indian communities preserve their languages and bilingual programs to teach them Spanish.
Amazonas Governor Liborio Guarulla, acting on Chavez's decision, on Friday ordered New Tribe missionaries in the area to leave.
The New Tribes Mission, founded in 1942, specializes in evangelism among indigenous groups and has 3,200 workers worldwide in 17 nations. Its 160 members working in Venezuela include Canadian, British and U.S. citizens, as well as about 30 Venezuelans.
It's bad enough that Venezuelan president Chavez has committed Human Rights violations against his own citizens, he now also blaintly lied about the reason for wanting to expell the American Missionary Group.
Chavez accused the misionary group of exploiting the native communities in Venezuela. Well, apparently he doesn't speak for the native communities. Jose Kayupare of the Puinare tribe challenged Chavez's claims. Jose Kayupare said the New Tribes Mission has helped Indian communities ravaged by malaria and other diseases in Venezuela, sometimes airlifting the sick to medical assistance, when the government and others had abandoned them.
It's bad enough Chavez abandons his own native community, he now also lies on their behalf.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-10-15-indianschavez_x.htm
Posted 10/15/2005 7:50 PM
Venezuelan Indians denounce Chavez expulsion order
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Members of a Venezuelan indigenous tribe on Saturday criticized President Hugo Chavez's order to expel a U.S. missionary group he accused of links to the CIA, saying the decision goes against the interests of their impoverished communities.
Jose Kayupare of the Puinare tribe challenged Chavez's claims that the Sanford, Fla.-based New Tribes Mission constituted an "imperialist infiltration" that was exploiting native communities.
"For those of us who live in the jungle, this really is a decision that the majority of indigenous people in Amazonas (state) don't support and that we are not going to accept under any circumstances," Kayupare told reporters.
He said the New Tribes Mission has helped Indian communities ravaged by malaria and other diseases in Venezuela, sometimes airlifting the sick to medical assistance, when the government and others had abandoned them.
Chavez has accused the missionaries of ties to the CIA and collecting "strategic information" on Venezuela — charges the group denies. Although Venezuela is a key oil supplier to the United States, relations between the two countries have long been strained, and Chavez has repeatedly accused Washington of supporting efforts to oust him.
The government has also said the group has built luxurious camps next to poor Indian villages, circumvents Venezuelan customs by flying in and out of dozens of private airstrips with their planes, and is conducting mining studies in the gold-rich region.
"Why don't they ask (the Indian communities) ... if they've really been abused?" asked Domingo Gonzalez, an indigenous Venezuelan working with the group.
"The indigenous Venezuelans need to be heard, not to be spoken for," Gonzalez said, accusing the government of being "the ones who really harm and oppress them."
The country's top evangelical organization, The Evangelical Council of Venezuela, issued a statement defending the missionaries' work and denying the group had any ties with the U.S. government or was working for profit.
It said the group, aside from its missionary work, was involved in programs to help Indian communities preserve their languages and bilingual programs to teach them Spanish.
Amazonas Governor Liborio Guarulla, acting on Chavez's decision, on Friday ordered New Tribe missionaries in the area to leave.
The New Tribes Mission, founded in 1942, specializes in evangelism among indigenous groups and has 3,200 workers worldwide in 17 nations. Its 160 members working in Venezuela include Canadian, British and U.S. citizens, as well as about 30 Venezuelans.