Socialist Huge-Hugo to Kick Out Foreigners Critical of Him

[Guest Patriot Games]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,290337,00.html

 

Chavez to Kick Out Foreigners Critical of Him

Monday, July 23, 2007

 

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez said Sunday that foreigners who

publicly criticize him or his government while visiting Venezuela will be

expelled from the country.

 

Chavez ordered officials to closely monitor statements made by international

figures during their visits to Venezuela - and deport any outspoken critics.

 

"How long are we going to allow a person - from any country in the world -

to come to our own house to say there's a dictatorship here, that the

president is a tyrant, and nobody does anything about it?" Chavez asked

during his weekly television and radio program.

 

The Venezuelan leader's statements came after Manuel Espino, the president

of Mexico's conservative ruling party, criticized Chavez during a recent

pro-democracy forum in Caracas.

 

Government opponents argue Chavez - a close ally of Cuban leader Fidel

Castro - is becoming increasingly authoritarian and cracking down on dissent

as he steers oil-rich Venezuela toward what he calls "21st-century

socialism."

 

Chavez rejects such allegations, countering that democratic freedoms have

been extended since he was first elected in 1998. The former paratroop

commander says his government has empowered the poor by giving them

increased decision-making authority in politics.

 

During Sunday's six-hour program, Chavez assured private property owners

their rights will be guaranteed under a pending constitutional reform.

 

"Private property will respected," he said.

 

Many wealthy Venezuelans fear second homes, yachts or other assets could be

seized as Chavez advances his Bolivarian Revolution, a movement named after

South American independence hero Simon Bolivar. Chavez denies any such

plans.

 

Chavez is expected to present his reform proposal to the National Assembly,

which is completely controlled by his allies, in the coming weeks. Few

details have emerged from a special executive committee that he appointed to

draft a proposal for overhauling the country's charter.

 

Also Sunday, Chavez announced an initiative to slash the salaries of

Venezuela's top public servants. He said no public servant should make more

than $7,000 a month. Most Venezuelans make minimum wage - roughly $250 a

month.

 

Reducing the pay of top officials has become a popular move in Latin

America. The presidents Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru and Costa Rica recently cut

salaries, including their own, in response to widespread criticism.

 

In his typically wide-ranging television program, Chavez also said Castro

recently warned him to take precautions against possible U.S.-backed

assassination attempts.

 

He said Cuba's 80-year-old "Maximum Leader" gave him a copy of former CIA

Director George Tenet's recently published memoir and told him: "'Read it,

Chavez, because that is the most perfect killing machine ever invented and

I'm a survivor ... I survived more than 600 (assassination) attempts.'"

 

"The CIA is everywhere," said Chavez, who has repeatedly warned that U.S.

President George W. Bush could order him killed.

 

U.S. law has forbidden assassination attempts since the 1970s, and

Washington denies the U.S. government has attempted to kill Castro since

then.