Noam Chomsky pleads with Hugo Chávez to free judge in open letter
Linguistics professor appeals to Venezuelan president to 'correct injustice' over Maria Lourdes Afiuni, who is under house arrest
Hugo Chávez's long-time supporter Noam Chomsky has issued a renewed appeal to the Venezuelan president to free a judge who was controversially jailed two years ago, prompting criticism from human rights activists and academics.
Afiuni's troubles began on 10 December 2009 when she granted bail to Eligio Cedeño, a businessman and banker with ties to the Venezuelan opposition. Cedeño had been jailed on charges that he had evaded currency controls and, on release, fled to the United States.
Afiuni's ruling triggered a furious public reaction from the president. Chávez took to the airwaves claiming the judge deserved 30 years in prison and suggesting that in another era she would have been hauled before a firing squad. "This judge should get the maximum penalty … that judge has to pay for what she has done," Chavez said.
In February this year – following a barrage of criticism from human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – Afiuni was transferred from the prison to her home, where she has remained under house arrest.
"We don't expect much because this country's justice system is biased," the judge's brother, Nelson Afiuni, said this month. "Most prosecutors and judges respond to the interests of the government, and it's clear the government wants my sister to remain isolated."
Chomsky said: "After more than two years in custody, there are no guarantees of a fair trial. I am convinced that Judge Afiuni has suffered enough and should be released."
Despite his appeal for Afiuni's release, Chomsky has been critical of the media's coverage of the case. On Wednesday he suggested the case had received so much media attention only "because Venezuela is an official enemy" .
"I am involved in these appeals all the time but I get no calls unless it is an enemy of the US," Chomsky said. "This is more a comment on the media than on the case."
Sources:
guardian.co.uk
newspano
Linguistics professor appeals to Venezuelan president to 'correct injustice' over Maria Lourdes Afiuni, who is under house arrest
Afiuni's troubles began on 10 December 2009 when she granted bail to Eligio Cedeño, a businessman and banker with ties to the Venezuelan opposition. Cedeño had been jailed on charges that he had evaded currency controls and, on release, fled to the United States.
Afiuni's ruling triggered a furious public reaction from the president. Chávez took to the airwaves claiming the judge deserved 30 years in prison and suggesting that in another era she would have been hauled before a firing squad. "This judge should get the maximum penalty … that judge has to pay for what she has done," Chavez said.
In February this year – following a barrage of criticism from human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – Afiuni was transferred from the prison to her home, where she has remained under house arrest.
"We don't expect much because this country's justice system is biased," the judge's brother, Nelson Afiuni, said this month. "Most prosecutors and judges respond to the interests of the government, and it's clear the government wants my sister to remain isolated."
Chomsky said: "After more than two years in custody, there are no guarantees of a fair trial. I am convinced that Judge Afiuni has suffered enough and should be released."
Despite his appeal for Afiuni's release, Chomsky has been critical of the media's coverage of the case. On Wednesday he suggested the case had received so much media attention only "because Venezuela is an official enemy" .
"I am involved in these appeals all the time but I get no calls unless it is an enemy of the US," Chomsky said. "This is more a comment on the media than on the case."
Sources:
guardian.co.uk
newspano
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