Chavez Expulsion of Evangelical Missionaries From Venezuela
Paranoia, coupled with a socialist political agenda, has resulted in the expulsion order of Christian missionaries from the country of Venezuela by President Hugo Chavez. Fox News reports that missionaries with the New Tribes Mission (NTM) organization have been ordered to leave the country due to claims that the group is tied to the United States CIA in preparation for a military invasion:
Ironically, in defense of the mission group, tribal leaders of the groups NTM has ministered to have stood up, calling for the expulsion order to be rescinded:
On the surface, one might think that Chavez, who has garnered a good deal of support from Venezuela's poor for his Bolivarian Missions, would applaud the work of groups like NTM in his country. After all, Chavez appears to be deeply concerned for his people and has implemented many initiatives to change the landscape for the poor of Venezuela (considered good if you are a supporter of leftist, socialist governmental policies as many in the U.S. and European Union are). However, Chavez 's commitment to Socialism makes certain that he is no fan of those who believe that teaching people to "fish for themselves" is a better alternative to handing out government produced "fish". Chavez has called Venezuelans to choose between "capitalism, which is the road to hell, or socialism, for those who want to build the kingdom of God here on earth."
Apparently, the problem lies even deeper, as evidenced by Chavez's ties with Cuban Communist dictator, Fidel Castro. For some time, accusations of corruption have been lodged against the Chavez administration regarding his Bolivarian Mission. Though Chavez wants to see social reform brought to his country in order to aid the poor, he wants it done solely through Casto's Communist providers:
With such a shortage of aid providers, one would think groups like NTM would be considered partners in the battle against poverty in Venezuela. However, it appears that Chavez is most interested in indoctrinating his people into his own brand of socialism and making sure that foreign influences, like the NTM, are replaced by his own form of "kingdom building."
Of course, the NTM expulsion was also aided by the recent careless word of televangelist, Pat Robertson, who advocated the assassination of Chavez by U.S. forces. Following Robertson's "apology," the Chavez administration promised to "more closely scrutinize and curtail foreign evangelical missionary activity." With Robertson handing them a gift by providing a reason to become more openly suspicious of evangelical groups, they are using it as a smoke screen to make good on that promise and further advance his Castro-backed, Socialist agenda.
This is not the first time that NTM has faced problems with the Venezuelan government. Several times in the past accusations have flown, but never amounting to anything substantive, suggesting the government simply wants the Christian mission organization's influence over the people to end.Chavez — who has repeatedly claimed the United States is plotting to invade his oil-rich country — two weeks ago ordered New Tribes missionaries to leave, accusing them of exploiting indigenous communities and having links to the CIA through "imperialist infiltration."
Ironically, in defense of the mission group, tribal leaders of the groups NTM has ministered to have stood up, calling for the expulsion order to be rescinded:
Many indigenous leaders in Amazonas state defend the group, and on Friday hundreds marched through the southern town of Puerto Ayacucho to protest Chavez's decision. Some said they support government efforts including the granting of collective property titles to Indian groups but don't see the sense in kicking out missionaries who help the tribes.Clearly, the missionaries, who have maintained a constant presence in Venezuela since 1946, have come to mean a great deal to the tribal people. Providing them with physical necessities along with the application of the Gospel of Christ, the missionaries of NTM have come to be called "friends".
Speaking through an interpreter, Tute, the tribal leader, said the Joti people have come to know the white missionaries as neighbors.If clear and solid evidence of wrong-doing were to emerge regarding NTM, they should be forced to leave. There is no place for those who claim to carry the message of salvation through Christ but secretly have a secondary mission of spying for a government agency. However, that kind of proof being leveled against NTM is highly unlikely.He said the villagers, who still speak only Joti, have not been pressured to abandon their beliefs and customs. They still hunt with blow guns and cook cassava over stone hearths in the ground.
But some changes have come: The missionaries have invented a way of writing the Joti language, and many Joti have learned it.
The missionaries say they stretch their donated funds to cover expenses of flying in food and supplies and airlifting tribe members to medical attention in emergencies via a short, grassy airstrip.
"There was never anybody who helped us like this before," Tute said. "It pains me to think of losing them."
On the surface, one might think that Chavez, who has garnered a good deal of support from Venezuela's poor for his Bolivarian Missions, would applaud the work of groups like NTM in his country. After all, Chavez appears to be deeply concerned for his people and has implemented many initiatives to change the landscape for the poor of Venezuela (considered good if you are a supporter of leftist, socialist governmental policies as many in the U.S. and European Union are). However, Chavez 's commitment to Socialism makes certain that he is no fan of those who believe that teaching people to "fish for themselves" is a better alternative to handing out government produced "fish". Chavez has called Venezuelans to choose between "capitalism, which is the road to hell, or socialism, for those who want to build the kingdom of God here on earth."Apparently, the problem lies even deeper, as evidenced by Chavez's ties with Cuban Communist dictator, Fidel Castro. For some time, accusations of corruption have been lodged against the Chavez administration regarding his Bolivarian Mission. Though Chavez wants to see social reform brought to his country in order to aid the poor, he wants it done solely through Casto's Communist providers:Critics of President Hugo Chávez Frias and the social and political agenda of his Movement for the Fifth Republic have alleged that the Cuban Misión Barrio Adentro I medical professionals are agents and propagandists acting for the ruling Communist Party of Cuba. They allege that these professionals were invited to Venezuela by the Chávez administration to indoctrinate the wider Venezuelan population. The Venezuelan Ministry of Health says that Cuban professionals were needed because it was unable to find a large enough supply of adequately-trained Venezeulan doctors willing or able to serve in impoverished districts and barrios. Venezuela's barrios are often crime-ridden, lack such basic services as water and sewerage, and are thus unattractive prospects to the predominantly affluent and upper class Venezuelan physicians. The Venezuelan Medical Federation, the largest association of medical doctors in Venezuela, has lobbied vigorously against Mission Barrio Adentro, and is currently locked in a legal dispute with the Chavez administration over the legitimacy of the Cuban doctors' licensure and practice. The other programs likewise been criticized as inefficient and incomplete by opposition figures. (see Criticisms)
With such a shortage of aid providers, one would think groups like NTM would be considered partners in the battle against poverty in Venezuela. However, it appears that Chavez is most interested in indoctrinating his people into his own brand of socialism and making sure that foreign influences, like the NTM, are replaced by his own form of "kingdom building."
Of course, the NTM expulsion was also aided by the recent careless word of televangelist, Pat Robertson, who advocated the assassination of Chavez by U.S. forces. Following Robertson's "apology," the Chavez administration promised to "more closely scrutinize and curtail foreign evangelical missionary activity." With Robertson handing them a gift by providing a reason to become more openly suspicious of evangelical groups, they are using it as a smoke screen to make good on that promise and further advance his Castro-backed, Socialist agenda.Labels: David C. Price
posted by DAVID C. PRICE at 10/31/2005 09:45:00 AM
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1 Comments:
Thanks for your constuctive critisism of Chavez. There are so many people who take cheap shots at him and don´t really seem to know the issues.
I think his parinoia of invasion is justified. I have seen past media clips of Powel and Rumsfeld practically stating that the 2002 failed coup was not the end of their opperations in Venezuela. These comments were in a documentary called ¨The Revolution Will Not be Telivised¨ wich is common on bittorent sites.
I love Chavez. I am visiting Venezuela now, though I return to Canada tomorrow and I can tell you he is extremely popular here.
One article recently published highlights the enourmous economic succes Chavez has had in Venezuela: http://www.cepr.net/columns/weisbrot/2005_11_01.htm
It shows that while his comments in speaches may be colourful, his actions are very economicly sound.
I actually think that Pat Robertson has saved Chavez by giving him more media attention to highlight the U.S governments intrests in Venezuela.
I aplaud you for being the one blogger I have read who is inteligently critical of Chavez.
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