[mobglob-discuss] protest today?

[michael a. lebowitz]

I haven't seen any local notices about this. This item comes from 
venezuelanalysis.com. Is it happening?
--------------------------------
Amnesty International's decision generates outrage
Canadians Call for Protest of the Censoring of Documentary About Venezuelan 
Coup
Friday, Nov 07, 2003Print format
By: Venezuelanalysis.com
Several Canadian groups are organizing an information picket this Friday 
outside the theatre where the local Amnesty International film festival is 
taking place.
The protest comes after last week's decision by the Canadian Pacific Region 
Chapter of Amnesty International to exclude the award-winning documentary 
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised from their Film Festival that is being 
held at the Pacific Cinematheque in Vancouver, Canada, from November 6-9, 
2003.
The documentary exposes the atrocious Human Rights violations committed 
during the April 2002 coup d'etat against President Hugo Chavez, and during 
the short dictatorship that followed.
The film was originally scheduled to be shown, but it was cancelled after 
right-wing Venezuelan opposition groups seeking to hide the atrocities 
committed by the short dictatorial government that overthrew Chavez, 
launched a campaign of emails and phone calls to pressure the Canadian 
Pacific Region Chapter of Amnesty International to not show the documentary.
According to Don Wright, the festival organizer, the screening of the 
documentary in Canada would further polarize the political situation in 
Venezuela, and potentially create more violence within the country. The 
Human Rights group claims that the documentary does not address Human 
Rights issues, but it is mostly of political nature. The film festival is 
also screening a film about the China-Tibet political conflict, which 
depicts the Human Rights violations carried out by the Chinese government 
against Tibetans.
Campaign
Several organizations are inviting to join an information picket this 
Friday at 6:30p.m. at the Pacific Cinematheque, outside the premiere film 
at the festival. There will be distribution of statements in opposition to 
Amnesty's decision and also of information regarding upcoming showings of 
the film.
The Cinematheque is located at 1131 Howe St. between Helmken and Davie. 
People are also encouraged to help with leafleting throughout the film 
festival this weekend, and to continue to contact Amnesty International at 
info at amnesty.ca and dwright at amnesty.ca to voice their opinions on the 
cancellation of this award-winning documentary.
www.StopWar.ca, a broad-based anti-war coalition in Vancouver, has also 
passed a motion and sent a letter of protest regarding the decision to pull 
the film.
A number of different statements and letters have been written condemning 
Amnesty's decision to pull the documentary The Revolution Will Not Be 
Televised from their film festival this weekend.
An on-line petition in support of the documentary is located at 
www.petitiononline.com/vendoc/petition.html
Over 3150 people have signed the on-line petition in just two days.
One of the statements to be distributed at the picket follows:
Protest Amnesty International Canceling the Film Showing of "The Revolution 
Will Not Be Televised"
The 8th Annual Amnesty International Film Festival has arbitrarily dropped 
a showing of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, the internationally 
acclaimed Irish documentary about the attempted coup d'etat against 
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in April 2002.
The reasons presented by Mr. Don Wright and Amnesty International don't 
stand up. They say the film is politically one-sided. They even contest 
there was a coup in Venezuela in April 2002!
In fact this remarkable documentary, shown on CBC Newsworld, captures in 
precise detail the outrageous illegal actions of the coup organizers, and 
the self-sacrificing mass actions of the people and rank and file soldiers 
in restoring constitutional law and the lawfully elected president.
By not showing this film, is not Amnesty International de facto taking the 
side of those trying to hide the reality of April 2002? What would have 
happened had the coup succeeded, and the self-imposed dictator managed to 
consolidate power? Within hours he had liquidated the Constitution, the 
Supreme Court, the Congress as well as the elected-President. How could 
Amnesty International forget what tragedy befell the people of Chile on 
September 11, 1973 when their elected-President was violently overthrown by 
the military?
It is not acceptable for an organization priding itself as a defender of 
democratic and human rights to shut down a film exposing one of the most 
blatant violations of human and democratic rights in our hemisphere just 
over a year ago. This is especially so while such activity continues under 
our very noses at this time. Should we be blind to the empire building 
activities of George Bush and his anti-democratic regime in the United 
States? Shouldn't we assume if this regime decides to organize a coup in 
Venezuela, or invade another country, it will, despite all public opinion 
or rule of law, just proceed to do so?
The film The Revolution Will Not Be Televised is a compelling document 
reminding all of us how frail democratic rights and liberties are under the 
shadow of the U.S. empire and the various privileged oligarchies profiting 
from its rule. To eliminate this film from the Festival in response to 
pressures from those who oppose President Chavez shows how far Amnesty 
International has strayed in this case from its purported aim: defending 
democratic rights everywhere, for everyone!
Please write or phone Mr. Don Wright at 604-313-4069 or e-mail 
dwright at amnesty.ca and express your opposition to the cancellation of The 
Revolution Will Not Be Televised.
Among the Human Rights violations shown in the documentary are:
·       The extra judicial killing of tens of pro-government activists.
·       The torture of pro-government supporters and government officials.
·       The kidnapping and unlawful detention of President Chávez for a 
48-hour period.
·       The arbitrary arrest and persecution of pro-government supporters 
and officials.
·       The violation of rights to political participation and 
self-determination by unjustly imposing an unelected de facto government on 
citizens.
·       The violation of freedom of expression and public access to 
information by perpetuating a corporate media-led blackout on information 
favoring the dictatorial government.
Showing of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised in Response to Amnesty's 
Cancellation:
6:30 P.M. Friday, November 28th
Simon Fraser University, Harbour Centre, Room 1900,
516 W. Hastings Street (at Richards)
For information about the documentary or to order a copy if it, visit 
www.chavezthefilm.com
See also:
·       ·       Censorship of Documentary by Amnesty International Sparks 
Campaign of Support


---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Office Fax:   (604) 291-5944
Home:   Phone (604) 689-9510


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