Of course you won't read about this in the Panamanian press, but Corruption Transparency International did not just publish a fake report, authored by a military coup plotter, about the Venezuelan oil company PDVSA, but they continue to defend and distribute knowingly false information, reveals Calvin Tucker:

Another week passed, and still no answers from TI. I tried their regional office for the Americas . An official told me that they “stand by their report”. Even though it’s wrong? “That’s your opinion,” she replied.

“But the information that you say doesn’t exist, does exist.”

“Talk to our press office,” she advised.

Despite having a strong sense of déjà vu, I phoned the press office and spoke once again with Gypsy Kaiser. She was positively seething. “Calling our staff is inappropriate behaviour,” she barked at me, like an angry school teacher. “But you won’t answer my questions,” I protested. “We will,” she responded.

“But when? I’ve already waited three weeks. ”

“I’m not giving you a date. Let’s just say it will be sooner rather than later.”

A week on and I’m still waiting. Obviously her definition of “sooner” is my definition of “later”.

In the meantime, TI are busy mailing their inaccurate report on Venezuela to businesses, NGOs and governments all over the world. No investigation has been held into what went wrong. And their Venezuela bureau continues to be run by a person who backed the 2002 coup against democracy.

Not a word either from Panama's chief "transparency" Angelica Maytín either, of course. Nor from her boss, I. Roberto Eisenmann.

Is Hugo Chavez a Saint? Certainly not. Does he make mistakes? We guess so. Is he subject of smear by right wing zealots who applauded the coup against him? You bet. Are these the same zealots who say they support "democracy" and "press freedom"? Yep, IAPA for example. Aren't they having their annual meeting in Caracas? Yep. Doesn't that a sort of prove that there is, errrr, freedom in Venezuela? Yes, but try to explain that to these idiots.

Back to Chavez. Is he a loudmouthed opponent of US and Colombian policies? Gosh, you noticed! Did he lose a referendum after a string of election victories? Indeed. Is there anything worse than Chavez? Yes: Whining money laundering oligarchs like Eisenmann who attack him with fake facts because they see their sleazy business interests threatened by someone who actually does know how to exploit the natural resources of his country for the benefit of all.