Venezuela Protestants challenge Chavez on CIA mission link
-14/11/05
Pentecostal, Prot
Venezuela Protestants challenge Chavez on CIA mission link
-14/11/05
Pentecostal, Protestant and Evangelical churches in Venezuela are seeking a formal investigation into allegations made by President Hugo Chavez in October concerning a US missionary group his government intends to expel.
Mr Chavez says he wants New Tribes Mission USA removed from Venezuela. He has called the Florida-based organization an example of ìimperialist infiltrationî.
The Venezuelan president has also repeated charges that the group has ties with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Now leaders of the Evangelical Council and Pentecostal Evangelical Federation of Venezuela have asked for a meeting with Chavez to discuss the allegations, according to Religion News Service, citing a report from the Latin American and Caribbean News Agency (ALC).
The Protestant leaders say they will support the expulsion if the allegations are proven, but they demand a full investigation first. The Chavez government has yet to respond to this request.
The New Tribes Mission USA, which has long been criticised by indigenous rights groups, has denied the charges. It says that it ìhas not and has never been connected in any way with any government agencies.î
Ecumenical News International cites reports that hundreds of indigenous Venezuelan took part in demonstrations in late October in defence of the missionaries, saying that they have done more to help them than the government has.
Mr Chavez, a one-time army officer who swept to power from a base among the poor and who has defied American efforts to remove him, is a controversial figure.
His critics accuse him of demagoguery, but his supporters say that he has been a champion of the poor.
In addition to a his recent clashes with evangelical and Mormon groups, the president has often tussled with the nationís Roman Catholic hierarchy.
Chavez has also been an outspoken critic of US economic policy, most recently at the Summit of the Americas in Argentina.
Back in August 2005 the Venezuelan leader was at the centre of an international media storm, after right-wing Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, a one-time US presidential candidate, was forced to apologise for televised remarks calling for his assassination.
Mr Robertson made the comments on his widely watched Christian Broadcasting Network. The World Evangelical Alliance, the National Council of Churches USA, and Sojourners editor Jim Wallis were among many hundreds of individuals and public bodies who objected.
Venezuela Protestants challenge Chavez on CIA mission link
-14/11/05
Pentecostal, Protestant and Evangelical churches in Venezuela are seeking a formal investigation into allegations made by President Hugo Chavez in October concerning a US missionary group his government intends to expel.
Mr Chavez says he wants New Tribes Mission USA removed from Venezuela. He has called the Florida-based organization an example of ‘imperialist infiltration’.
The Venezuelan president has also repeated charges that the group has ties with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Now leaders of the Evangelical Council and Pentecostal Evangelical Federation of Venezuela have asked for a meeting with Chavez to discuss the allegations, according to Religion News Service, citing a report from the Latin American and Caribbean News Agency (ALC).
The Protestant leaders say they will support the expulsion if the allegations are proven, but they demand a full investigation first. The Chavez government has yet to respond to this request.
The New Tribes Mission USA, which has long been criticised by indigenous rights groups, has denied the charges. It says that it ‘has not and has never been connected in any way with any government agencies.’
Ecumenical News International cites reports that hundreds of indigenous Venezuelan took part in demonstrations in late October in defence of the missionaries, saying that they have done more to help them than the government has.
Mr Chavez, a one-time army officer who swept to power from a base among the poor and who has defied American efforts to remove him, is a controversial figure.
His critics accuse him of demagoguery, but his supporters say that he has been a champion of the poor.
In addition to a his recent clashes with evangelical and Mormon groups, the president has often tussled with the nation’s Roman Catholic hierarchy.
Chavez has also been an outspoken critic of US economic policy, most recently at the Summit of the Americas in Argentina.
Back in August 2005 the Venezuelan leader was at the centre of an international media storm, after right-wing Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson, a one-time US presidential candidate, was forced to apologise for televised remarks calling for his assassination.
Mr Robertson made the comments on his widely watched Christian Broadcasting Network. The World Evangelical Alliance, the National Council of Churches USA, and Sojourners editor Jim Wallis were among many hundreds of individuals and public bodies who objected.