Cuba, Venezuela faulted on treatment of media

Reports presented to the Inter American Press Association on Sunday denounced the governments of Cuba and Venezuela, accusing them of hampering independent news gathering through harassment and arrests of journalists.

Reports on Cuba and Venezuela -- based on information from IAPA members -- indicated that independent journalists are facing more curbs in Cuba while freedom of the press, long a valued tradition in Venezuela, is facing a grave threat.

--> Let me put on my big "surprise" face. Sometimes I wonder how many independent agencies and foreign governments need to assess the situation in these countries for them to do something about it. I mean, whatever happened to the Domino Theory? Someone get me President Eisenhower on the phone!

On a related note, Cuban leader Fidel Castro was heard live on television and radio Sunday. For the first time since falling ill last year, Castro had a telephone conversation, lasting more than an hour, with his friend and ally Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela.

(Via Miami Herald)

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