Latin America’s Deafening Silence

And you (Carlos Castaneda) just look away when human rights in Mexico were so badly violated in the last elections. Please don't you come and defend human rights now if you can not do it in your own contry.
I agree, what is happening in Nicaragua it's horrible, but what's going on in your own contry it pretty horrible too and you where irresponsable an off to look the other way when it as time to clean up....so please.

Walter1968 - with all due respect, I have discussed the situation in Nicaragua with some of your compatriots, whose analysis and conclusions are similar to mine. They do not agree that healthcare and education are optional extras and neither do most countries.

You criticise the Sandinistas (just one part of the governing coalition) but they were out of power for many years (and in power for only 10 years in 1979-89, and from late 2006 till now, compared to decades of "free market" dictatorship under Somoza) therefore it is unreasonable to blame them for the current state of the country, and the fractious / polarised state of domestic politics, particularly when, as I pointed out, Nicaragua's economic and social problems are mostly the result of longstanding interference, including open warfare against Nicaraguan civilians, by various US governments (a fact that you chose to ignore in your reply, bizarrely).

You say "nobody wants to donate aid" to Nicaragua. Surely you should be asking yourself: why does it need foreign aid in the first place?

Also, it IS still possible to protest against the government, which was freely elected under new constitutional rules.

Jorge Castenada's article suggests that Latin Americans - an entire continent! - are somehow responsible for external (US) interference in its affairs. He says that there is "a deafening silence" from Latin Americans, as if they (you) are cowardly and / or apathetic about politics. If I were in your shoes, I'd be feeling patronised and undervalued! But your anger seems to be reserved for Ortega and friends, which shows (at best) a lack of historical perspective.

Walter - with all due respect, I have discussed the situation in Nicaragua with some of your compatriots, whose analysis and conclusions are similar to mine.

You criticise the Sandinistas (just one part of the governing coalition) but they were out of power for many years (and in power for only 10 years in 1979-89 compared to decades of "free market" dictatorship under Somoza) therefore it is unreasonable to blame them for the current state of the country, and the fractious / polarised state of domestic politics, particularly when, as I pointed out, Nicaragua's economic and social problems are mostly the result of longstanding interference, including open warfare against Nicaraguan civilians, by various US governments (a fact that you chose to ignore in your reply, bizarrely).

Also, it IS still possible to protest against the government, which was freely elected under new constitutional rules.

Jorge Castenada's article suggests that Latin Americans - an entire continent! - are somehow responsible for external (US) interference in its affairs. He says that there is "a deafening silence" from Latin Americans, as if they (you) are cowardly and / or apathetic about politics. If I were in your shoes, I'd be feeling patronised and undervalued! But your anger seems to be reserved for Ortega and friends. A sense of historical perspective is required!

i am from nicaragua and i do not agree with the comment on nicaragua made by london scote. why do we need health care and education if we are paying for that with our own blood and freedome and that of our future generation'? during the last 16 years, we did not have good economic situation, but my country was the safest country in central and south america and we could do whatever we wanted. now we can not demonstrate because we are accuse of destabilizing the goverment. do we have to tolerate that for 10 more years? just see why you voted against Bush's Administration. you wanted a change for the better and not for the worse. sandinistas have changed nicaragua for the worse, and nobody wants to donate aid ..

Mr Jorge Castañeda :

Thanks for excellent and informative article. I agree with this "Deafening Silence" about Human Rights Violation in Latin America. I live in constant astonishment and shame about the mere existence of this man Hugo Chavez. What a shame !

What about the Great Support that the FARC Guerrillas of Colombia have received in many years from Hugo Chavez ??

Verbal Support, Sanctuary, Defense of Guerrillas as "Freedom Bolivarian Fighters" ???
Thousand of hours of verbal support on TV !

And I very strongly suspect that there has been more material support !

This FARC Guerrillas have killed thousands of children, Women and Old People in attacks to small villages with Gas cylinders.

The FARC has planted the agricultural fields and the forests with land mines, booby traps, pitfalls and underground explosives.

The results are many children dead, others are crippled without legs, in wheelchairs or walking with crutches after amputations.

Chavez is the Greatest Shame and Embarrassment for Latin American.

And as you hint, this lack of attention to Human Rights Violation shows the Inadequacy of Latin American Foreign Policies.

What a shame that this narcissistic egolatre ( a practicioner of egolatry or self-adoration ), that this egomaniac has followers in other countries !!

Latin American shows no self-respect when they receive this monster of arrogance.

Chavez is the Glorification of Ignorance, Demagoguery and Vulgarity in Power.

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Vicente Duque