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Panama News Briefs
 

New Tribes Mission issues measured response to order ousting it from Venezuela

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue --- VHeadline.com

The New Tribes Mission evangelical group (NTM) has issued a measured reply to the Venezuelan government's announcement that he will expel the group, which works among Venezuelan indigenous groups in Apure.

In an October 14 communique NTM states "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."

The group insists that it has never worked with US government agencies during its 59 years in the country.

Several Venezuelan government authorities have come out supporting President Hugo Chávez Frias's decision.

Executive Vice President José Vicente Rangel says the president's decision responds to a policy of recovering national sovereignty and points to a parallel situation of withdrawing US military mission from Fuerte Tiuna last year and defining a new relationship with the US Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) this year.

Recalling a bit of history, Rangel says the measure should have the blessing of rabid anti-Chavista, Cardinal Castillo Lara.

"The Catholic Church has been trying to get the NTM evicted for the last 20 years via the Puerto Ayacucho Vicariate."

Venezuela accuses the NTM of setting up a colony that falls outside Venezuela's jurisdiction.

The NTM's affirmation that it is not involved with US government agencies is hotly contested. Rangel states that the latest intelligence information confirms that some members do work for the CIA.