In today's edition of the Independent newspaper, Charley Allan wrote the following:
Sir: Your caption to the picture accompanying the report of Peru's presidential election result (6 June) describes the Venezuelan president as a dictator. President Chavez has won nine electoral processes in a row, including the recall referendum in 2004 in which he gathered almost 60 per cent of the vote. As the propaganda drive to re-demonise Chavez in the run-up to December's election gets into gear, you should be more thoughtful in how you portray this independent leader and true democrat.
I have just e-mailed the following to the Independent:
Sir: Charley Allan's letter claiming that President Chavez is a "true democrat" (8 June) on the basis of his election victories is a flawed argument. Adolf Hitler won three consecutive multi-party Reichstag elections in the early 1930's (although the last of these victories is notably contentious), yet there is a virtual consensus that he was a dictator. It is not whether you are democratically elected (in a free and fair election or sham contest) that makes you a democrat, but ones refusal to abuse that power and responsibility that determines whether you actually are a true democrat.
No doubt self-proclaimed 'democrats' such as Red Ken Livingstone, George Galloway and Jo Salmon will rally to Chavez's defence.
2 comments:
if so, i find it difficult to understand why there is 'consensus'?
I take it your version of 'dictator' is someone who assails a strict set of property rights?
this slur reminds me of the whole 'Neson Mandela is a terrorist' campaign.
A dictator is one who abuses his or her power and authority to subvert the liberties and freedom of choice of everyone expect themselves.
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