Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ1537
2007-06-05 12:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
MORALES LASHES OUT AGAINST CAPITALISM AND THE
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UNCLAS LA PAZ 001537
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES LASHES OUT AGAINST CAPITALISM AND THE
MEDIA.
UNCLAS LA PAZ 001537
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES LASHES OUT AGAINST CAPITALISM AND THE
MEDIA.
1. SUMMARY: The Fifth World Encounter of the Network in
Defense of Humanity was held May 22-25 in Cochabamba,
Bolivia. Bolivian President Evo Morales opened the gathering
of leftist intellectuals and artists with a fiery speech that
condemned capitalism as the "worst enemy of humanity." His
hot-tempered speech set the tone for the rest of the summit.
Not surprisingly, the event's most notable participants were
from Cuba, Ecuador, and Venezuela, although there were over
100 attendees from 26 countries. END SUMMARY
2. The "World Encounter" May 22-25 in Cochabamba focused on
the impact of media. Morales, however, used the opportunity
to accuse capitalism as the enemy of humankind, saying that
"capitalism brings egotism, individualism, and poverty,
capitalism brings war, capitalism and imperialism are
nourished and fed by war." Culture Ministers Abel Prieto of
Cuba, Francisco Sesto of Venezuela, and Antonio Preciado of
Ecuador applauded Morales' analysis.
3. Morales extended this tone to the summit's main theme,
media. He told reporters that he "considers media outlets as
the primary obstacles and source of resistance to the process
of change." Arguing that media is the result of capital
concentrated in the hands of a few, he stated that it does
not serve the people of Bolivia.
4. Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Prieto warned that media
owners who lie should be sentenced to life in prison.
Striking a similar tone as Morales, he claimed that
mainstream media ignores the genuine culture of Latin America
and is only an expression "hegemonic" interests. To counter
the "hegemonic" influences, the Bolivian, Cuban, and
Venezuelan governments signed a joint agreement to create an
observatory that will monitor communications. In addition to
the observatory, Prieto announced that the three countries
will establish a tribunal to judge against those who are
responsible for lies propelled by the media. Ironically,
participants applauded these pronouncements as steps towards
the "democratization" of media.
5. COMMENT: Whenever Morales appears in public accompanied by
Cuban and Venezuelan officials, his rhetoric runs hot. It
remains to be seen just how far Morales is poised to follow
his mentor Hugo Chavez in pursuing the media. In fact, on May
26, Morales avoided commenting on RCTV, by stating, "We have
never thought about shutting down channels, as some have
distorted, as some media outlets always distort." END
COMMENT.
URS
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: MORALES LASHES OUT AGAINST CAPITALISM AND THE
MEDIA.
1. SUMMARY: The Fifth World Encounter of the Network in
Defense of Humanity was held May 22-25 in Cochabamba,
Bolivia. Bolivian President Evo Morales opened the gathering
of leftist intellectuals and artists with a fiery speech that
condemned capitalism as the "worst enemy of humanity." His
hot-tempered speech set the tone for the rest of the summit.
Not surprisingly, the event's most notable participants were
from Cuba, Ecuador, and Venezuela, although there were over
100 attendees from 26 countries. END SUMMARY
2. The "World Encounter" May 22-25 in Cochabamba focused on
the impact of media. Morales, however, used the opportunity
to accuse capitalism as the enemy of humankind, saying that
"capitalism brings egotism, individualism, and poverty,
capitalism brings war, capitalism and imperialism are
nourished and fed by war." Culture Ministers Abel Prieto of
Cuba, Francisco Sesto of Venezuela, and Antonio Preciado of
Ecuador applauded Morales' analysis.
3. Morales extended this tone to the summit's main theme,
media. He told reporters that he "considers media outlets as
the primary obstacles and source of resistance to the process
of change." Arguing that media is the result of capital
concentrated in the hands of a few, he stated that it does
not serve the people of Bolivia.
4. Cuban Minister of Culture Abel Prieto warned that media
owners who lie should be sentenced to life in prison.
Striking a similar tone as Morales, he claimed that
mainstream media ignores the genuine culture of Latin America
and is only an expression "hegemonic" interests. To counter
the "hegemonic" influences, the Bolivian, Cuban, and
Venezuelan governments signed a joint agreement to create an
observatory that will monitor communications. In addition to
the observatory, Prieto announced that the three countries
will establish a tribunal to judge against those who are
responsible for lies propelled by the media. Ironically,
participants applauded these pronouncements as steps towards
the "democratization" of media.
5. COMMENT: Whenever Morales appears in public accompanied by
Cuban and Venezuelan officials, his rhetoric runs hot. It
remains to be seen just how far Morales is poised to follow
his mentor Hugo Chavez in pursuing the media. In fact, on May
26, Morales avoided commenting on RCTV, by stating, "We have
never thought about shutting down channels, as some have
distorted, as some media outlets always distort." END
COMMENT.
URS