Gustavo Coronel replies a letter from Daniel Burnett
www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, February 28, 2003 By: Gustavo Coronel
VHeadline commentarist Gustavo Coronel writes:
In a recent letter from Daniel Burnett, comments on my editorial: "President's Chavez Bedside Manners." Mr. Burnett and I have exchanged some messages before, and I find him very articulate and persuasive. However, we are not watching the same "ball game," he from New York and I from Venezuela.
Mr. Burnett finds Chavez "very funny" ("he had me rolling in laughter"). I consider him a clown. And so do the people of Maracaibo, where he went to give a speech and tried to talk in the regional accent of the locals. Not well accepted since presidential humor should not be at the expense of others. Presidents are Statesmen, not clowns. Mr, Burnett adds that he rather listens to Chavez than to Ortega. I say that the tasks of government are no oratorical tournaments. In fact, the less blah-blah the better.
Mr. Burnett makes two claims I strongly disagree with. One, that the "cadenas" on TV imposed by Chavez have been the result of the anti-Chavez propaganda in the commercial media. Two, that Chavez would be truly governing if it was not because of the opposition efforts to "overthrow" him. The truth is exactly the opposite. Chavez is a charlatan and he can not be stopped from talking. When he started his term he had the support of most sectors, including the media.
- The first Information Director of his government was Mrs. Otero, the wife of the Editor of "El Nacional". Otero was with him. Pena, the director of "El Nacional" was his Secretary to the Presidency. Gustavo Cisneros and VENEVISION were with him. TELEVEN likewise.
As Chavez started to abandon plural democracy and became intent in leading Venezuela the Cuban way, these people and many others who had supported him broke ranks. Chavez, Mr. Burnett, can not govern because he is an incompetent. Picking a fight with all sectors is the way to build up the excuse that you concede to him so generously.
Mr. Burnett rightly criticizes Chavez's vocabulary, except for the word "coupster," as applied to the opposition. The only real coupster we have had in Venezuela during the last 10 years has been Chavez, who led a bloody coup in 1992 against a democratic government, causing more than 100 innocent deaths.
This coup failed because he was a coward then.
Today, millions of Venezuelans want him out democratically ... not "overthrown" ... by means of an election which he has refused to accept. Gaviria and Carter have recommended this solution to him and he has rejected them as well. He says that "even if 99% of the people vote against me, I will not resign." How is this for democracy, Mr. Burnett?
For Mr. Burnett "Chavez is generally quite calm, composed and soft spoken during his speeches." Obviously we are not watching the same man. His words are invariable mordant, his manner vulgar, his way to deal with dissenters inconsiderate. He is no President but a person intent on promoting hate and resentment.
Mr. Burnett says that "the same people who made economic policy during the last half century are now leading the opposition". This is inaccurate.
Economists like Ochoa, Vivancos, Guerrero, Gustavo Garcia, Francisco Rodriguez, the leading current critics of the "Mickey Mouse" economic policies of Chavez are young people, not connected with past politics. On the other hand, Chavez' economic advisers are members of the pliocene generation: Maza Zavala, Mieres, Castellanos, Parra, Giordani, Bastidas, Vallenilla.
I must say that I respect Daniel Burnett's commentaries and opinions. He is sharp and very civilized. If he comes to Venezuela soon I would like to meet him personally and show him my version of the country.
Gustavo Coronel is the founder and president of Agrupacion Pro Calidad de Vida (The Pro-Quality of Life Alliance), a Caracas-based organization devoted to fighting corruption and the promotion of civic education in Latin America, primarily Venezuela. A member of the first board of directors (1975-1979) of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), following nationalization of Venezuela's oil industry, Coronel has worked in the oil industry for 28 years in the United States, Holland, Indonesia, Algiers and in Venezuela. He is a Distinguished alumnus of the University of Tulsa (USA) where he was a Trustee from 1987 to 1999. Coronel led the Hydrocarbons Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) in Washington DC for 5 years. The author of three books and many articles on Venezuela ("Curbing Corruption in Venezuela." Journal of Democracy, Vol. 7, No. 3, July, 1996, pp. 157-163), he is a fellow of Harvard University and a member of the Harvard faculty from 1981 to 1983. In 1998, he was presidential election campaign manager for Henrique Salas Romer and now lives in retirement on the Caribbean island of Margarita where he runs a leading Hotel-Resort. You may contact Gustavo Coronel at email ppcvicep@telcel.net.ve