The latest racist tiff in Venezuela on the "non-existent" or "hidden" racial issue started during the Group of 15 summit in Caracas, which ended with an opposition march and subsequent disturbances aimed at embarrassing the Venezuelan government and toppling Chavez Frias.

The opposition-dominated print & broadcast media highlighted photos of President Chavez Frias and Zimbabwe President Mugabe ... currently ostracized by European Union countries for his repressive domestic policies ... hinting of a parallel between the two men's situation.

A Globovision 24-hours news outlet political comedy show made gala of a ceremony, in which Chavez Frias presented the Zimbabwe President with a medal and showing Mugabe snoozing during the Venezuelan President's "tedious and long speech."

During the following Sunday radio address, President Chavez Frias called the images an insult and a parody.

A week later, Globovision president, Alberto Federico Ravell sent a letter to the African Group of Ambassadors & Representatives (Algeria, Egypt, Libya South Africa, Nigeria) in Venezuela, pointing out that the President showed images from State VTV channel, which was used by a comedy show, aping the President's Sunday radio addresses and that Globovision did not make racist jibes.

"We Venezuelans have never practiced racism because we believe that Venezuela is a country for everyone and as a norm we give opportunities to all races, religions and political thoughts."

In the letter, Ravell says he's surprised about the lack of interest and sociological curiosity on the part of "your respectable diplomatic missions to understand the multiples characteristics of our people's identity."  However, in an attempted exculpatory, the Globovision media boss laments the fact that the Africans "do not understand the Venezuelan people's sense of humor."