Venezuelan President Orders Christian Mission Group To Leave The Country
CARACAS, Venezuela, October 14, 2005 - (ANS) -- Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez announced yesterday (October
12) during a nationally televised speech that New
Tribes Mission (NTM) workers would be expelled from
the country. He did not indicate a specific time,
but did say it would be done in an orderly manner.
Venezuela's president announced Wednesday that NTM,
a Christian tribal mission group headquartered in
Florida, must leave the country, claiming that the
missionaries are in co-op with the CIA among other
accusations, says a posted report to the Christian
Post.com website.
The report states: "In an unexpected declaration
on Oct. 12, President Hugo Chavez ordered New Tribes
Mission (NTM) -- an international association of
missionaries concentrated on indigenous, unreached
tribal groups in the world -- to leave Venezuela
. Chavez accused NTM of "imperialist infiltration," exploiting
the natives, living in luxury and not abiding to
Venezuelan custom laws.
"The New Tribes are leaving Venezuela . This is
an irreversible decision that I have made," Chavez
declared according to the Associated Press (AP). "We
don’t want the New Tribes here. Enough colonialism!"
Christian Post.com says New Tribes Mission, which
has been working in Venezuela for the past 59 years
of its total 63 years of existence, calls the announcement
a "surprise" and "completely unexpected." Prior
to the statement, New Tribe missionaries in Venezuela
were working with the Macos, Piaroa, Yanomami and
the Pume tribes among others as well as translating
the Bible into tribal languages.
In response to Chavez’s announcement, NTM believes
that there are misunderstandings between the two
groups. Specifically, the mission group believes
there are misunderstandings on the relationship between
the U.S. government and NTM and NTM’s purpose
in Venezuela .
"We are hoping that President Chavez will reconsider
any actions of censor and allow us an opportunity to
clarify misunderstandings and misinformation that exist
regarding the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela," said
a statement released by NTM.
"New Tribes Mission is not and has never been
connected in any way with any government agencies," the
NTM statement affirmed. "Our goal is to serve
indigenous people."
"We would welcome an opportunity to address the
President's concerns and help him better understand
our organization and the work of New Tribes Mission
in Venezuela ," explained NTM's statement.
In regards to Chavez's accusations, NTM denies that
it disregards custom laws and that its missionaries
live in luxury.
In an interview with The Christian Post by Michelle
Vu, (michelle@christianpost.com), New
Tribes Spokesperson Nita Zelenak said, "We (NTM)
have always submitted to whatever guidelines Venezuela
had for us. We always register flights…"
Zelenak also responded to Chavez's charge that NTM
missionaries live in luxury while the tribal people
live in poor Indian village by emphasizing that the
missionaries live in "simple homes" in
order to maintain their health and carry out their
work. Zelenak explains that although the missionaries
do not live in the same style homes as the tribal
people, they live simply.
New Tribes Mission , which has planted tribal churches
in more than 18 countries, is concerned about the
tribal people they have served, in the case that
they do leave.
"Our concern is for the indigenous people of Venezuela
that our missionaries serve and how this would adversely
affect them," expressed the NTM statement. "In
addition to religious matters, our missionaries also
work in areas of humanitarian assistance, community
development, and literacy."
As of now, NTM is still currently communicating with
its missionaries and staffs in Venezuela to discuss
what actions should be taken.
"We have the highest regard and respect for the
people, laws and country of Venezuela … [and]
we deeply desire to be able to continue serving them," concluded
the report released by NTM.
On Thursday Venezuela 's vice president, Jose Vicente
Rangel, defended the decision to expel NTM from the
country, saying that some of its members were part
of the CIA.
NTM, in response, has strongly denied the charge
reporting that it has about 160 personnel in Venezuela,
including about 30 Venezuelans.
In an e-mail from NTM, obtained by ANS, the full
statement says: "NTM is aware of the statement
made by President Chavez and the implications his
comments will have to our organization. We would
welcome any opportunity to address the President's
concerns and help him better understand our organization
and the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela .
"The primary concern is for the indigenous people
of Venezuela whom our missionaries serve. In addition
to religious teaching, our missionaries also minister
in areas of humanitarian assistance, community development
and literacy.
"We have the highest regard and respect for the
people, laws and country of Venezuela . We hope that
President Chavez will reconsider his decision and allow
us an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings and
misinformation that exists regarding the work of New
Tribes Mission in Venezuela . New Tribes Mission is
not and has never been connected in any way with any
government agencies. Our goal is to serve indigenous
people.
"We are confident that President Chavez wants
the best for the people of Venezuela . New Tribes Mission
considers it a privilege to have served the indigenous
people of Venezuela for the past 59 years. We deeply
desire to be able to continue serving them.
"Please pray that NTM's leaders in Venezuela will
have wisdom as they pursue further dialogue concerning
this matter. And pray that our missionaries will know
God's peace in the situation."
# # #
By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News
Service - Michael Ireland is an international British
freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London
newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST
News Service of Garden Grove, CA.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you in part by Open
Doors USA, a ministry that has served the Suffering
Church around the world for nearly 50 years. You can
get more information by logging onto their website
at www.opendoorsusa.org .
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com,
Web Site: www.assistnews.net
ASSIST News Service is brought to you free of charge
and is supported by friends like yourself. If you would
like to make a donation (tax-deductible in the US)
to help us continue this service around the world,
you can do so by logging onto our website -- www.assistnews.net --
and making the donation by credit card or by sending
a check to ASSIST, PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126.
CARACAS, Venezuela, October 14, 2005 - (ANS) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced yesterday (October 12) during a nationally televised speech that New Tribes Mission (NTM) workers would be expelled from the country. He did not indicate a specific time, but did say it would be done in an orderly manner.
Venezuela's president announced Wednesday that NTM, a Christian tribal mission group headquartered in Florida, must leave the country, claiming that the missionaries are in co-op with the CIA among other accusations, says a posted report to the Christian Post.com website.
The report states: "In an unexpected declaration on Oct. 12, President Hugo Chavez ordered New Tribes Mission (NTM) -- an international association of missionaries concentrated on indigenous, unreached tribal groups in the world -- to leave Venezuela . Chavez accused NTM of "imperialist infiltration," exploiting the natives, living in luxury and not abiding to Venezuelan custom laws.
"The New Tribes are leaving Venezuela . This is an irreversible decision that I have made," Chavez declared according to the Associated Press (AP). "We don’t want the New Tribes here. Enough colonialism!"
Christian Post.com says New Tribes Mission, which has been working in Venezuela for the past 59 years of its total 63 years of existence, calls the announcement a "surprise" and "completely unexpected." Prior to the statement, New Tribe missionaries in Venezuela were working with the Macos, Piaroa, Yanomami and the Pume tribes among others as well as translating the Bible into tribal languages.
In response to Chavez’s announcement, NTM believes that there are misunderstandings between the two groups. Specifically, the mission group believes there are misunderstandings on the relationship between the U.S. government and NTM and NTM’s purpose in Venezuela .
"We are hoping that President Chavez will reconsider any actions of censor and allow us an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings and misinformation that exist regarding the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela," said a statement released by NTM.
"New Tribes Mission is not and has never been connected in any way with any government agencies," the NTM statement affirmed. "Our goal is to serve indigenous people."
"We would welcome an opportunity to address the President's concerns and help him better understand our organization and the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela ," explained NTM's statement.
In regards to Chavez's accusations, NTM denies that it disregards custom laws and that its missionaries live in luxury.
In an interview with The Christian Post by Michelle Vu, (michelle@christianpost.com), New Tribes Spokesperson Nita Zelenak said, "We (NTM) have always submitted to whatever guidelines Venezuela had for us. We always register flights…"
Zelenak also responded to Chavez's charge that NTM missionaries live in luxury while the tribal people live in poor Indian village by emphasizing that the missionaries live in "simple homes" in order to maintain their health and carry out their work. Zelenak explains that although the missionaries do not live in the same style homes as the tribal people, they live simply.
New Tribes Mission , which has planted tribal churches in more than 18 countries, is concerned about the tribal people they have served, in the case that they do leave.
"Our concern is for the indigenous people of Venezuela that our missionaries serve and how this would adversely affect them," expressed the NTM statement. "In addition to religious matters, our missionaries also work in areas of humanitarian assistance, community development, and literacy."
As of now, NTM is still currently communicating with its missionaries and staffs in Venezuela to discuss what actions should be taken.
"We have the highest regard and respect for the people, laws and country of Venezuela … [and] we deeply desire to be able to continue serving them," concluded the report released by NTM.
On Thursday Venezuela 's vice president, Jose Vicente Rangel, defended the decision to expel NTM from the country, saying that some of its members were part of the CIA.
NTM, in response, has strongly denied the charge reporting that it has about 160 personnel in Venezuela, including about 30 Venezuelans.
In an e-mail from NTM, obtained by ANS, the full statement says: "NTM is aware of the statement made by President Chavez and the implications his comments will have to our organization. We would welcome any opportunity to address the President's concerns and help him better understand our organization and the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela .
"The primary concern is for the indigenous people of Venezuela whom our missionaries serve. In addition to religious teaching, our missionaries also minister in areas of humanitarian assistance, community development and literacy.
"We have the highest regard and respect for the people, laws and country of Venezuela . We hope that President Chavez will reconsider his decision and allow us an opportunity to clarify misunderstandings and misinformation that exists regarding the work of New Tribes Mission in Venezuela . New Tribes Mission is not and has never been connected in any way with any government agencies. Our goal is to serve indigenous people.
"We are confident that President Chavez wants the best for the people of Venezuela . New Tribes Mission considers it a privilege to have served the indigenous people of Venezuela for the past 59 years. We deeply desire to be able to continue serving them.
"Please pray that NTM's leaders in Venezuela will have wisdom as they pursue further dialogue concerning this matter. And pray that our missionaries will know God's peace in the situation."
# # #
By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service - Michael Ireland is an international British freelance journalist. A former reporter with a London newspaper, Michael is the Chief Correspondent for ASSIST News Service of Garden Grove, CA.
ASSIST News Service is brought to you in part by Open Doors USA, a ministry that has served the Suffering Church around the world for nearly 50 years. You can get more information by logging onto their website at www.opendoorsusa.org .
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
ASSIST News Service (ANS)
PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126 USA
E-mail: danjuma1@aol.com,
Web Site: www.assistnews.net
ASSIST News Service is brought to you free of charge and is supported by friends like yourself. If you would like to make a donation (tax-deductible in the US) to help us continue this service around the world, you can do so by logging onto our website -- www.assistnews.net -- and making the donation by credit card or by sending a check to ASSIST, PO Box 2126, Garden Grove, CA 92842-2126.