In Memoriam: Franklin Brito, A Farmer From Venezuela

As the press continues to lionize and never dare criticize Comrade Chavez of Venezuela, let us remember the latest of his victims, Franklin Brito.

This from today's Economist:

FRANKLIN BRITO is not well-known outside Venezuela, and the country’s government would like it to stay that way. Late on Monday night, the 50-year-old farmer and biologist died from a hunger strike in the military hospital in Caracas, the capital, where he had been held against his will, virtually incommunicado, since December.

Mr Brito’s sad saga started seven years ago, when his 250-acre fruit and vegetable farm in the south-eastern state of Bolívar was taken over by neighbours. He later discovered that INTI, the government’s land-reform agency, had granted them rights to occupy his land, in what he saw as an act of revenge by a corrupt local mayor.

He then began an extraordinary, and often lonely, fight to regain sole title to his farm. To raise awareness of his case, he staged six separate hunger strikes, amputated his little finger and had his lips sewn together. The government sometimes said it would meet his demands if he ended the hunger strikes, but inevitably reneged once he did. It also offered him $230,000 in compensation. But he turned down almost all of it, saying the payment was illegal and that he could be accused of corruption if he accepted it. Although the people occupying his farm left last year, their legal right to return at any time was never revoked.

In 2009 Mr Brito transferred his hunger strike to the pavement outside the offices of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Caracas. This step, which led an OAS delegation to attempt to mediate, drew too much attention to the case for the government’s taste. In December it sent police to transfer him to the military hospital by force.

Despite pressure from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the courts, which mainly do Mr Chávez’s bidding, refused to order his release. Government spokesmen said Mr Brito was mentally ill and needed to be detained for his own protection. But they never provided any evidence to support this claim. The authorities themselves undermined it when they filmed him without his permission, and then presented a crudely edited video that suggested he was trying to blackmail the government for money.

Mr Brito sealed his fate when he began refusing even liquids. In a statement issued shortly after his death, his family insisted that he would “live on in the struggle of the Venezuelan people for property rights, justice, freedom and human rights.” His widow, Elena, has vowed to continue the fight. “This is our only project in life,” she said last year, “and my four children depend on it.”

The government clearly could have stopped Mr Brito from taking his life by restoring his exclusive title to his land. But Hugo Chávez, the leftist president, seems to have calculated that standing firm against his demands would be more politically advantageous. Human-rights organisations in Venezuela say that around 2,500 people are currently subject to criminal proceedings for engaging in peaceful dissent. The space to do so is shrinking every day.

The right to private property is essential to a free society. This is my land, and you can't have it unless I freely transfer it to you on terms agreeable to me. This is my house, my business, my copyright, my money, my body. It belongs to me, not to the state or the state's designated favorites.

OS is seeing this right beginning to erode here in the US. A friend and her husband resisted a state 'economic development commission' attempt to seize their farm for an industrial plant a few years ago, standing against massive arm-twisting by government at all levels. They just found out that it has all started again, via a zoning proposal that will effectively lower the value of their land to near zero, unless they buckle under at the next 'offer' to purchase. OS finds it hard to believe that this is an isolated occurrence.

Mr. Brito's refusal to buckle was extraordinary, some would say excessive. OS is not certain at all that he would show the same courage. He also hopes he is never put in position to have to make those kinds of choice.

Tragic To Read, But Should Be Read: The Death Of Amir Javadifar

Persian2English provides news from the Iranian resistance--the one that the Obama White House refuses to mention, 'cuz they're much to busy suing Arizona.

This kid was an artist, not a bomb-thrower, with a family that loved him and a future to live for. He was beaten during a demonstration, arrested, disappeared, tortured, and then murdered.

Of course, the folks in the US State Department, who swoon daily for Hamas, are positively apoplectic about these blatantly criminal human rights abuses, right?

Right?

(...sound of crickets chirping...)

Hilary?

(...sound of crickets chirping...)

Bill? AlGore? Barry? Eric? RehvruhndJesseJackson? Pastor Sharpton? Miss Nancy? Rahm?

Anybody?

(...sound of crickets chirping...)

OK, let's ask Jimmy Carter. After all, he kicked the legs out from under the Shah in favor of Khomeini ack in the late 1970'a, because of the Shah's bad record on human rights. If memory serves, the Revolutionary Guards were soooooooo grateful they invaded our embassy and held a bunch of our people hostage for about a year.

Jimmy, you got anything to say, bubbah?

(...sound of crickets chirping...)

Didn't think so...

So, here we go, an incredibly painful tale. If this one isn't painful enough, just click on that link above. They's plenty more where that came from.

And remember, the government they're protesting against, with zero support from our White House, is working feverishly to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to places like...Europe.

Of course, we'll be able to trust their moral uprightness to not use them to threaten the world around them, right?

After all, The One does. So that must make everything o.k.


[begin copy]


Despite all his injuries and to respect the laws of his country, Amir Javadifar voluntarily turned himself in to the police to clarify his situation.

On July 10, 2009, Amir’s family never thought he would be arrested again, given his health conditions.

On July 9, 2009, Amir was severely beaten by eight to twelve individuals. Then he was arrested.

On July 9th at 9:00pm, an agent called the family using Amir’s cell phone and asked them to go to Firoozgar hospital.

The first published photos from Amir were taken that night at Firoozgar hospital.

Hospitals were instructed not to keep injured demonstrators. Amir was injured but his life was not in danger.

Amir was transferred to Laleh hospital where he was treated for injuries. He was forced to leave by a regime agent.

Amir: “I only went out to protest peacefully. I had no weapon. I did not insult anybody. I was just standing silently.”

Amir: “I didn’t do anything to be afraid of. I’ll go [voluntarily to the police] and I will be back.”

Amir’s brother: “Do you need a wheelchair?” Amir: “No, I can stand on my feet. Lovers die standing.”

After leaving the hospital, the family brought Amir to the preventive police at Enghelab Square. It was there that he was abruptly separated from his family.

His family was forced to leave the police station without saying goodbye to Amir or exchanging any last words.

A few hours later, his brother returned to the police station. He was told that three buses had left; one to Evin prison and two to Kahrizak prison. It was July 10th at 8:00pm.

The day after at the Revolutionary Court, the families of those arrested on July 9th were told to “wait 10 days.”

On July 14, 2009, a bus arrived at Evin from Kahrizak with 130 prisoners. An agent read the names. Amir was not among them.

Amir’s family visited Evin every day holding with Amir’s picture. None of the released prisoners recognized Amir.

His family learned on July 25, 2009 that Amir was killed. He died on July 14th, after four days in Kahrizak prison, during the transport by bus.

It was one of the released Kahrizak prisoners who finally recognized Amir’s picture on July 24th and informed the family that he was dead.

On July 25th, the family was asked to go to Kahrizak’s “legal medicine” department to identify his body. His brother identified him.

His family was not allowed to see the body. They were instead given three photos. Amir’s body was autopsied.

Other Kahrizak prisoners said Amir could not see on his last day due to eye injuries and infections.

During the last day, Amir screamed out to his deceased mother, “Return my eyes mother!”

His body was returned to the family two days after identification. The family filled a form and where it stated: “Do you want to sue anybody?” they left the field blank.

His brother: “Amir was not a political person at all. He was an artist. His view of the world was the one of an artist. He loved poems, movies, and books, but he was socially engaged. He came to the streets with awareness. He took part in peaceful demonstrations and he believed [in what he was doing].”

His brother remembers when Amir returned from the “great demonstration of silence” (June 15, 2009)

Amir: “I loved it. Today was one of the best days of my life. We said what we had to say in silence.”

Amir’s Brother: “[That day] Amir’s eyes were completely peaceful. He didn’t believe in violence.”