Now four more SNP MSPs pay tribute to Hugo Chavez

When I did the original blog post earlier this week, SNP and Labour MSPs pay tribute to Hugo Chavez!, I really did not think that even more MSPs would have signed the Motion tabled in the Scottish Parliament by SNP MSP, Jamie Hepburn.

As Lib Dem Hugh O'Donnell MSP said on my blog in a guest post;

"The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Chávez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief."

Well, sadly four more MSPs have also added their signature to this ridiculous motion, all from the SNP.  So that is now nine MSPs, eight from the SNP and one from Labour.

The four new signatories are Aileen Campbell, Joe Fitzpatrick, Sandra White and Gil Paterson.

I say the same to these four as I said to the original five, it is easy to praise from afar, but let us see what they say when they have been there, spent a year there, not in the luxury of the presidential palaces or the 40% of the country's residents who are 'looked after' but in the slums with the real people, where their choice of TV, if indeed they can even afford one will only be able to access channels approved by Hugo Chavez.

I am astounded at the sheer audacity of these MSPs and their obvious lack of care about human rights in countries such as Venezuela - is that what's on the cards for an SNP Scotland?

Guest post from Hugh O'Donnell MSP on the Venezuelan motion in Holyrood

Hugh O'Donnell MSP writes for my little blog in response to my earlier posting about the 4 SNP MSPs and the Labour MSP who have tabled a motion praising President Chavez, Hugh has also tabled an opposing motion;

"The indecent haste of some Members of the Scottish parliament to rush to the aid of the Chávez administration, by signing up to a sugary sweet motion in the name of Jamie Hepburn MSP reveals a naivety which beggars belief.


While praising the 'achievement of the socialist regime, signatories conveniently ignore the increasingly dictatorial style of the President of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.


The briefest of looks at its record on human rights and media freedom gives lie to the fanciful notion that Chávez has, or is, creating a socialist utopia in his country, but does confirm the widely recognised experience that all too often such societies are simply driven down the path of dictatorship, either of the 'right' or 'left'.


True democracy can only be achieved by a people and society that has a plurality of approach that genuinely has the interests of devolving power from the centre, without strings, and puts the interests of all of the people before mere party political advantage or dogma.


Of course the SNP would never do any of these things - or would they??"

The text below is the Motion that Hugh O'Donnell MSP has tabled in opposition to the five MSPs motion;

*S3M-5904.1 Hugh O’Donnell: The Achievements of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela—As an amendment to motion (S3M-5904) in the name of Jamie Hepburn, leave out from first "considers" to end and insert "supports the principles of democracy, media freedom and the defence of human rights across the world; notes the statement by Amnesty International that expresses concern "at the deterioration in freedom of expression in Venezuela" and the injuries and deaths among protestors in recent months; is disturbed by the reported threat made to six television broadcasters by the head of government, President Chávez, for their refusal to broadcast a presidential speech; supports the resolution of the European Parliament on 9 February 2010 that expressed concern at the drift towards authoritarianism shown by the government of President Hugo Chávez; considers that his actions are directed towards weakening the democratic opposition and restricting the rights and freedoms of citizens, and calls on the Venezuelan Government to ensure equal treatment under the law for all media, including the internet, irrespective of political or ideological considerations and to respect media pluralism."

SNP and Labour MSPs pay tribute to Hugo Chavez!

Yes, you did read correctly, 4 SNP MSPs (Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan and Bill Wilson) and 1 Labour MSP (Elaine Smith) have lost the plot it seems or just gone Caracas.

These five MSPs have supported a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising Hugo Chavez, the leader of corruption-ridden and out of control crime-ridden Venezuela, that's before we even get started on Chavez's role or the lack of human rights afforded to most of the country's residents.

The story appeared in yesterdays Scotsman, but hat tip to Graeme Littlejohn for spotting the Motion when it had been tabled in Holyrood, the motion is here below in full;

Short Title: The Achievements of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela


S3M-05904 Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): That the Parliament considers that Venezuela has been transformed through the progressive policies pursued by the Chávez administration in the last decade; is concerned that this progress and the democratically elected government of Venezuela has been consistently undermined by reactionary elements in the United States and beyond; is further concerned about the increased militarization of the wider region, such as the agreement between the US and Colombia concerning new military bases and the revival of the US Navy 4th fleet; further notes that this April marks the eighth anniversary of the coup against Chávez, which it considers was ultimately unsuccessful due to the resilience of the Venezuelan people; believes that the recent coup in Honduras and the continued undermining of democratically elected governments across Latin America demonstrates the continued menacing presence of reactionary forces in the area, threatening peace, democracy and sovereignty; notes the march and rally taking place in London on Saturday 27 March 2010 to mark the eighth anniversary of the attempted coup against the Chávez administration; sends its support to those marching to show solidarity to that regime and the social progress made by it in Venezuela, and believes that greater relations between Scotland and Venezuela should be developed.

 Are these MSPs okay, or a little tired from too much time in their thinking pods?

I don't have an issue with the motion being tabled as The Scotsman do, because not every single motion tabled has to be about devolved matters, my concern is that these MSPs are being very short sighted, one of them, SNP Bill Wilson is quoted in The Scotsman;

the regime was regularly attacked on a "dishonest basis"

Has Bill Wilson, or indeed any of the five read about the human rights issues in Venezuela?  Are they aware that crime is out of control across the country? Are they aware that Hugo Chavez has imposed food pricing therefore producing a thriving black market?  Have they even visited Venezuela?

It is very easy for Jamie Hepburn, Bill Kidd, Alasdair Allan, Bill Wilson and Elaine Smith to praise from afar, but let us see what they say when they have been there, spent a year there, not in the luxury of the presidential palaces or the 40% of the country's residents who are 'looked after' but in the slums with the real people, where their choice of TV, if indeed they can even afford one will only be able to access channels approved by Hugo Chavez.

Is this really what these MSPs are supporting or have they just got caught up in the euphoria of the moment?

I will leave the last word to Lib Dem MSP, Hugh O'Donnell;

"It beggars belief MSPs would support a motion which looks like it has been written in the presidential palace in Caracas."