Afro-Venezuelan Network leader, Jesus Garcia has criticized Venezuelan print & broadcast media for showing tints of racism, citing one TV channel poking fun at Zimbabwe President, Robert Mugabe ... "One may have differences with President Hugo Chavez Frias or disagree with Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) general secretary, Manuel Cova, to mention concrete cases, but the political struggle must not be racialized and that is what the media has done."

Announcing a special joint session with the Andean Parliament on Tuesday March 30  to commemorate 150 years of the abolition of slavery in Venezuela, Garcia says the abolition isn't over yet because, despite granting liberty to black slaves, the owners got compensation but not the human beings, who have been excluded from society ever since. 

The joint session will start a cycle of conferences on the current situation of the descendents of black slaves in Venezuelan society.

• The opposition media has not carried the story to date, arguing that racism does not exist in Venezuela and any attempt to deal with the matter is an import from the USA experience.

Garcia maintains that the commemoration will not be a fiesta but a deep reflection of Afro-Venezuelan organizations ... "we want to state that the scars of slavery are still with us ... the topic has not been touched in Venezuela as in other Andean countries, such as Colombia, Ecuador and Peru."

In a side note, Sister Maria Flores will direct a workshop on Religion and Slavery in Venezuela.