|
The Latin Grammy music awards organization also supported
Alejandro Sanz, one of Latin America's most popular singers,
saying the cancellation of the concert planned for Thursday
smacked of censorship. Actress and singer Jennifer Lopez, music's Ricky Martin and
Hollywood star Penelope Cruz also signed the letter protesting
Venezuela's decision. "Because we believe in a Latin America where we should be
free to express our opinions ... we hope in our hearts that
this problem is resolved," the letter, released by Sanz's
publicity office, said. In 2004, Sanz accused Chavez of trying to stymie a
nationwide campaign for a recall referendum against the
president. Millions of Venezuelans signed a petition that year
seeking such a vote, but Chavez eventually won the referendum
easily. Last year, government officials banned a Sanz concert after
saying the venue, a state-run stadium, was an inappropriate
place to host a Chavez critic. The concert plan was
resurrected, only to be canceled again this month by its
promoters, who gave no reason for the decision. Chavez and his aides routinely brand local detractors as
traitors and foreign critics as part of a U.S. plot to
destabilize his self-styled socialist revolution. The anti-U.S. president closed a critical TV station last
year. But other channels -- with albeit much lower ratings --
vehemently oppose him and many Venezuelan newspapers are openly
critical of his government. (Reporting by Fabian Cambero; Writing by Saul Hudson,
editing by Patricia Zengerle) |
More than 100 celebrities from the
singer 
