Venezuelan students debate in Parliament

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Venezuelan students debate in Parliament

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After continuous street protests, Venezuelan student leaders are perceived as emerging political actors. However, the unity of student movement is a rather distant goal. Students are split as other sector of Venezuelan society.  Their advocacy of the RCTV case turned out to be a punch. However, recent dilution of the RCTV issue and the emergence of other grievances and demands have started to raise the question student truancy as well. End of term is approaching. For the opposition, student movement can promote new waves of discontent and challenge the government. For the Chávez administration, opposition student are playing a role in a dangerous political chessboard: a soft coup.    

• On 7 June, 2007, Pro opposition and Government students gathered at Parliament to debate over their views on freedom of expression and RCTV. Both students sectors expressed their views. Debate was shown live on TV.


• At first, opposition student leader Yon Goicochea read a brief manifesto in which he rejected both criminalization of their protests and RCTV cancellation. On the other hand, pro government students said they were interested in promoting freedom of expression for all. They also stated that freedom of expression should not be confused with freedom of enterprise. For them, RCTV did nor represent their view but only those of a minority. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /> 


• After an initial exchange, opposition student leader, Yon Goicochea, decided to leave the legislative floor. He stated he was no politician and would not engage in any further exchange. His departure was described as a self censure attitude though. Later, Goicochea said debate must be all over the nation and not at Parliament alone. Other opposition students from Universidad Simón Bolivar also expressed their anger for having debate screened on TV. Had they known of it, they would not have participated in the debate at all.


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  Opposition students read a script during their participation in Parliament. It was drafted by advertising agency that is partially own by Mr. Zuluoga who is also Globovision main shareholder, it later emerged.  



• Despite the departure of opposition representatives, other students from different universities continued to express their feelings and opinions on freedom of expression, gender representation, national reconciliation and education issues.


• Parliament President, Cilia Flores regretted opposition students left without properly expressing themselves.They had a great opportunity to speak out but disdained it.  


• In a TV intervention, President Hugo Chavez regretted the early departure of opposition students from a debate with fellow students at Parliament. Showing speech papers of one of opposition students, Chavez outlined they did not act on their own accord. Instead, they were led by strings from the empire: As U.S. pawns, they were part of the soft coup strategy against <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Venezuela, he said. At parliament, they performed a very bad show, Chavez concluded.


• To guarantee greater access to higher education, Chavez unveiled new policies: He promised to set up 28 new universities during 2007-2012; few Regional Technical Institutes would also be created; 200 bus to be run by student associations and free dinning facilities to be improved in public universities.  


• From today, RCTV starts to broadcast its News show on Globovision TV channel.


• Private Catholic University (UCAB) decided to extend academic activities for 2 more weeks to meet targets.  It said student protests have delayed its completion. However, some UCAB students have asked for a refund for classes not given to them. Other Universities might follow in the rescheduling of their activities. End on term is approaching.