Hugo Chavez dead

Well fortunately Chavez was no Castro so the situation is a lot different. Chavez shut down tv and radio station who opposed him, but Castro has all his opponents executed.

Just read through the posts and I'm quite suprised by the number of supporters of Chavez.
This was a man who vocally and morally supported some of today's most brutal regimes. He was not a tolerant man or a friend of democracy, freedom of speech or human rights- dissenting journalists and opponents were imprisoned. It's easy to support undemocratic regimes while enjoying a liberal democratic life here in Britain.

People who plotted to overthrow him were imprisoned. That would happen here too.

Just read through the posts and I'm quite suprised by the number of supporters of Chavez.
This was a man who vocally and morally supported some of today's most brutal regimes. He was not a tolerant man or a friend of democracy, freedom of speech or human rights- dissenting journalists and opponents were imprisoned. It's easy to support undemocratic regimes while enjoying a liberal democratic life here in Britain.

Imprisoning journalists voicing opposition is hardly the same thing as imprisoning 'people planning to overthrow him'. Blaiming the opposition for "plotting to overthow the regime" is one of the most common traits of an undemocratic country (look at Stalin) but ofc you would know more than the UN.

Not a friend of democracy? He was elected by the people of Venezuela on a populist/socialist programme of wealth distribution. Just because the United States would rather a dictator more disposed to their economic interests in the area than a democratically elected leftist does not make Chavez an enemy of democracy.

As for free speech in the media- do you know what happened in the 2002 coup? The private media controlled by his political rivals were mobilised against him. The coup leaders went so far as to "thank" the media. I think it's understandable that he mightn't have been too keen on them after that.

Here's the other side of the story- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id--ZFtjR5c

Chavez was far from perfect but this anti-democratic slur is totally unfair. If you believe the US give a rats arse about democracy in Latin America you're being very naive. They have supported right wing militia against democratic socialist across the continent throughout the 20th century.

No, he imprisoned journalists who took part in the attempted coup.

Yeah, and the president of Iran "wins" elections too. A friend of democracy does not support the Iranian regime, which is arguably the most undemocratic regime in the world after N. Korea. Yes well done, the media does often criticise leaders, that does not justify the reduction of freedom of speech. I trust the UN more than a youtube video, sorry!
And don't come here and try to teach me about U.S foreign policy, my people has been the greatest victim of American policy. Perhaps one needs to have experienced lack of democracy to truly appreciate it. You don't know how lucky you are.

No, read the UN reports.

You do know that the elections were independently monitored and found to be fair?

You keep ignoring 99% of my arguments. Proves you don't have much to come with. I rest my case.

You keep ignoring the main crust of my arguments. Proves you don't have much to come with. I rest my case.

Which ones?

The one after the arrest of that judge, cant remember her name.
Or perhaps the 2010 Amnesty report, or the Human Rights Watch report
which criticised lack of freedom of speech amongst others.

Yeah, they are a bit stale.

Which reports? Name them so I can find them. Ta.

Aw, you don't know how to use Google? Cute

And yeah the elections were totally fair, this article sums it up
http://patdollard.com/2012/10/wall-street-journal-chavez-election-totally-rigged/

This one, presumably
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR53/009/2011/en/bc1c6180-c11a-4ccf-a45e-34c5f42a2484/amr530092011en.html
Yes, I'm not saying Chavez was perfect. He wasn't, there were many things to worry about in his regime. However, put it into context. He was democratically elected several times. There was an attempted coup, with right wing media channels involved. I don't condone it, but its understandable. Its not like we have an unblemished human rights record. The British state has imprisoned, tortured and murdered without trial.