Report: Venezuelan blogger Alexis Marrero arrested

[tangaroa]

Venezuelan anti-Chavez blogger Alexis Marrero has been arrested, according to a supporter, on charges of: incitement to assassinate a government official, posting war propaganda, and opposing the institution of the President. I can find no confirmation or further details. This comes at the same time as the closure of several radio stations whose licenses were not renewed, in which some station owners claim there was a political motivation.

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Update 4 August: Marrero wrote a post wishing a "miserable death to the traitor Hugo Chavez". That would be enough to draw the attention of the police in most countries, and he has been out of prison long enough to update his blog to repost the piece. The story is no longer purely about a government suppressing the press. However, it reminds me of an old joke.

The joke goes that an American and a Russian were arguing about whose country was better. The American said that his country was better because they had free speech. "You can stand in front of the White House in Washington, D.C. and shout 'Death to Ronald Reagan!' and no one will arrest you." The Russian replied that his country also had free speech. "You can stand in Red Square in Moscow and shout 'Death to Ronald Reagan!' and no one will arrest you."

The parallel to Marrero's case is obvious. The common ideal of free speech once included such words as Marrero's which do not seem to be ordering Chavez's death but only wishing for it. On the other hand, we can also remember the tale of Henry the Second of England who, upon quarreling with clergyman Thomas Becket, said something along the lines of "won't somebody rid me of this priest?" Two of his knights took him literally, and the priest soon became Saint Thomas Becket. Words can lead to actions, and if any responsibility is to be laid on the speaker, it may be measured by the harm caused, the intent to cause harm, and perhaps the likelihood of causing harm. I see none of these in Marrero's case.

Marrero has been arrested before, in February of this year, apparently for posting signs against one of Chavez's referendums.

Also: Martha Colmenares has photographs of uniformed Chavez militiamen harassing people at the Globovision television station. The BBC has more information about the incident.