Reply #9: Chavez allies say Venezuelan recipients of U.S. funding should be public, [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Chavez allies say Venezuelan recipients of U.S. funding should be public, NGO agrees
By Ian James
ASSOCIATED PRESS

2:57 p.m. August 28, 2006

CARACAS, Venezuela – Supporters of President Hugo Chavez are calling for the U.S. government to identify all groups receiving U.S. support for pro-democracy work in Venezuela, saying a policy of withholding many groups' names is improper and suspicious.

An international group representing non-governmental organizations, CIVICUS, agreed recipients should be identified. But it also expressed concerns Monday about a proposed law aimed at cracking down on foreign funding for Venezuelan NGOs.
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Golinger said the documents obtained by the AP raise concerns about U.S. interference in Venezuela's affairs, citing various grants including $56,124 for a program to analyze Venezuela's constitution of 1999, and $15,289 to publish a pocket guide on citizenship.

“Can you imagine the Venezuelan government financing a project in the U.S. to evaluate the effectiveness of the U.S. Constitution?” she said. “It's total intervention.”
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http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060828-1457-venezuela-us-funding.html