Forbes calls for US oil embargo on Venezuela ... can it be true?

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 23, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel has rejected assertions from Forbes magazine that real democracy doesn't exist in Venezuela and according to one Venezuelan news agency, the magazine's incredible call on the US government to order an oil embargo on Venezuela. 

Rangel retorts, "I consider Forbes' assertions to be impertinent and completely out of touch with the Venezuelan reality." 

As for the Human Rights Watch (HRW) report on freedom of expression in Venezuela, the Vice President says the opposition in Venezuela can fall back on exercising all its rights, especially freedom of expression ... the Armed Force (FAN) has a democratic and constitutional vocation ... the government respects public liberties and human rights as never before in Venezuela's history." 

Rangel insists that the media content law that HRW general secretary Vivancos referred to is not the one that was approved in the second National Assembly(AN) sitting ... "I know Vivancos ... he's intelligent and it's clear we are not talking about the same draft law."

Venezuelan human rights group PROVEA general coordinator, Carlos Correa admits he has some complaints against the new media content law, the principal being that restricted viewing hours are far too long. 

"Restricted timetable covers 12 0f 24 hours broadcasting ... the volume of protection is far too high along with the discretional penalizing power which is exclusively in the State's hands." 

The public, Correa states, will be directly affected by the measure because it will not be able to enjoy absolute freedom of expression.