Jesse tells Robertson: lay off Hugo
The Rev. Jesse Jackson offered support for President Hugo Chavez
on Sunday, saying a call for his assassination by a U.S. religious
broadcaster was a criminal act and that Washington and Venezuela
should work out their differences through diplomacy.
The U.S. civil-rights leader condemned last week’s suggestion
by Pat Robertson that American agents should kill the leftist Venezuelan
leader, calling the conservative commentator’s statements
“immoral” and “illegal.”
Jackson urged U.S. authorities to take action, and said the U.S.
government must choose “diplomacy over any threats of sabotage
or isolation or assassination.”
“We must choose a civilized policy of rational conversation,”
he told reporters at a news conference.
Chavez, a self-styled “revolutionary,” has repeatedly
accused President Bush’s government of planning to overthrow
him. He warned Friday that some American leaders have considered
killing him. U.S. officials have repeatedly denied such claims.
Robertson’s comments last week have increased already tense
relations between Caracas and Washington. He called for Chavez’s
assassination on his TV show “The 700 Club,” saying
the United States should “take him out” because the
Venezuelan leader poses a danger to the region.
Robertson, founder of the Christian Coalition of America and a supporter
of Bush’s re-election bid, later apologized.
The U.S. Federal Communications Commission “must prohibit
such threats on the airwaves,” said Jackson, who arrived Saturday
for a visit along with members of his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition.
“I hope the FCC does not remain silent regarding what Robertson
said,” Jackson added.
Representatives of the U.S. government have expressed concern that
Chavez and his close ally, Cuban leader Fidel Castro, are fomenting
instability in Latin America. Chavez and Castro deny it, instead
blaming the United States for meddling in the affairs of Latin nations.
In a speech to Venezuela’s National Assembly, Jackson said
every country has a right to self-determination, and touched on
subjects from poverty to Martin Luther King Jr.’s role in
the civil-rights struggle of American blacks.
“Though our histories are burdensome with pain and often bitter
memories, we must have the strength to get ahead and not just get
even,” Jackson said to a rousing applause from Venezuelan
lawmakers.
Jackson later met and shook hands with Chavez during the Venezuelan
leader’s weekly radio and television program.
“Reverend Jackson, you can be sure that we will continue fighting
for the ideas of Martin Luther King, for Christ the Redeemer’s
idea of loving one another and building a society of equals through
our peaceful and democratic revolution,” said Chavez.
He told Jackson he wanted to discuss the possibility of sending
oil at preferential terms to poor communities in the United States.
Since taking office in 1999, Chavez has survived a 2002 coup, a
2003 strike and a recall referendum last year. He is up for re-election
next year, and recent polls suggest he has a 70 percent approval
rating.
(Associated Press)
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