Flashpoints Dec 10: Venezualan media called to task; Philippines; Trent Lott : Indybay

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INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
"Dec

photo/s from protest at Oakland Federal Building

Tuesday, Dec 10, 2002 - Start Audio

-00:00 Dennis Bernstein: introduction: right wing Venezualan media called to task.. resistance grows to US troops in the Philippines.. about Trent Lott's support for segregationist policies.
-00:50

Robert Knight and the Knight Report.. Robert: today nationwide protests against Bush's plans for war.. about Trent Lott's racist endorsement of 1948 Thurmond segregationist drive.. US spirited away the Iraqi report, contrary to every principle.. White House stands behind Trent Lott.. about Lott's non-apology.. Ari Flescher ducks response.. says president Bush *accepts his apology*.. Lott is a white supremacist.. and Tom Dashle originally agreed with Lott.. now audio: sounds of a rabbi, a priest, and two ministers arrested at anti-war protest.. "we're here as human beings, flesh of each other's flesh.. the right to live in peace.. we love our country dearly, and our prayer is she will live up to her ideals".. "awaken the American people of the need to protest".. "the time has come for the religious community to be a headlight instead of a taillight".. "I want to be with the peacemakers, not the warmakers.. this war is not necessary.. I would the president would devote as much time"
-07:10 Dennis: we continue coverage of the situation in Venezuala.. the upper classes going head to head with the poor supporters of Hugo Chavez..

now w independent reporter, sociologist, Gregory Wilpert:.. last night pro-government demonstrators surrounded TV stations, protesting the one-sided coverage.. the media labeled the peaceful demonstrations 'genocide'.. Dennis: (compares Reuters and UK Independent headlines about the story).. Greg: Reuters gets its coverage from the local "Hugo

media in Caracus.. the Independent is more objective.. their reporter has been to the barrios.. the Independent says Chavez faces a 'Pinochet-type opposition'.. Rueters supports the media's demonization of the lower classes.. only one station supports Chavez, a state owned station.. the other five stations.. have a grip.. sickening.. if you don't share their views, you have to be suspect of everything they say.. people just got tired of it.. children and elderly among the demonstrators, peaceful.. shows significant support for the government.. Dennis: the media gives the opposition the airwaves.. dark-skinned and lighter skinned, rich and poor.. Greg: the vast majority of the poor support Chavez.. he was democratically elected and should be able to serve out his term according to the constitution.. the interests of US government and Chavez opposition coincide.. now the US playing down its opposition to Chavez.. the US doesn't want turmoil in Venezuala at the same time as war in Iraq.. about the Venezualan oil company executives.. a large bureacratic overhang.. Chavez is trying to trim the bureacracy, that's why they went on strike.. Dennis: not a grassroots strike?.. Greg: No.. the union presented as spokesperson for the strike.. but the workers want to work.. the Chamber of Commerce funding the strike.. paying the workers to strike.. the stores are closing because management is closing the stores, not because workers not showing up.. I don't believe a coup will happen because of international repercussions, and because Chavez has cultivated the military.. doubtful he will resign, either.. but so many dirty tricks in this country.. like last Friday's shooting, maybe organized by extreme elements in the opposition.. last Friday a gunman opened fire on an opposition rally.. caught.. at first they said.. a crude video surfaced.. showing a pro-Chavez major with this guy.. but the government said they had proof that the gunman flew in from overseas just a couple hours before the shooting.. a film interview with family and neighbors at the man's house, a big oppostion poster in his room.. now both videos gone from the media, from the internet.. suspicious that they are completely suppressing this.. maybe dirty tricks on both sides.. who benefited from this attack?.. not the government for sure.. Dennis: a textbook case of agent provacatour.. curious though that the wire services didn't waste a moment blaming Chavez.. Otto Reich quoted on NPR today saying 'rage on the street' fueling all this..
-25:12 music break
-25:40 Dennis: the US global war of terror

made its way into the Philippines.. about human rights violations committed by US forces recently.. now w Maria Enriques.. of KARAPATAN (Alliance for the Advancement of People Rights in the Philippines).. "photo

Maria: on Jan 31 of this year.. US troops allowed to participate in actions against the Abu Sla(sp?)... US troops involved in a shooting.. raided a man's house.. immediately a soldier shot him.. another date, "photo

four farmers killed.. fleeing from a firefight.. caught, separated from the women.. the women heard gunshots.. one a 12 year old boy shot.. also a bombing of a fishing boat, two men killed, and a boy.. a US spyplace fingered the boat.. we hold the US troops responsible for all these violations.. training, advising Philippine elements.. US troops did not pull out, after July 31.. "photo

Dennis: absolutely illegal for US troops to be fighting on the front lines.. Maria: on Nov 20, 2002, an agreement signed.. gives virtual basing rights to US troops.. we kicked them out in 1991.. now they are back.. endless military 'exercises' permitted.. President Arroyo says even 50 years is 'temporary'.. this has never been explained to the people.. Dennis: have you come under attack?.. Marie: yes, six of our workers killed, the military calling us communists.. 167 political killings in the country.. our offices raided, files carted away.. we are being attacked viciously by the government.. Dennis: Event: come meet Maria, at SF State University, Ceasar Chavez Center, 1600 Holloway Ave; 7-9PM tonight.. more info 415-431-1918
-38:45 Dennis: about Trent Lott's supportive remarks about

Strom Thurmond's 1948 drive for segregation.. a firestorm of criticism from the African American community.. now w Ron Daniels of the Center for Constitutional Rights.. Ron: the ugly underbelly.. "MLK

racism driven underground.. Lott blurted out what he really feels.. says Thurmond's election in 1948 'would have solved all these problems we've been having'.. Thurmond would have kept us on the plantation.. we've been seeing a lot of this in the Bush administration.. Norton, Ashcroft.. Lott.. confederate sympathizers.. about Mississippi.. a reservoir of hatred.. manifesting in Bush's administration.. as bad as Trent Lott, the democrats capitulating to the nomination of Dennis Share (Thurmond's final judicial nominee).. in some ways more insulting.. this judge will sit on the bench.. Dennis: when I visited Mississippi in 1985, a recent shootout in Jackson.. opened fire on the black people.. they went to this guy's house.. notes for a race war.. major Klan demonstrations, and Lott in the middle of this.. Ron: he was on record praising the White Citizens Council (link2) .. about the mentality of someone like Trent Lott.. keeping large numbers of people, including white people in poverty.. crazy.. how to overcome this kind of racial divide.. Lott in colusion with the energy kingpins.. his family living quite comfortably.. poor whites in Mississippi can't look past race to their own interest.
-57:00 End today's show. today's review by john lionheart

Flashpoints Dec 10: Venezualan media called to task; Philippines; Trent Lott

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