Chavez threatens to cut Europe's oil over racist law

In response to the extreme, racist anti-immigrant "Return Directive" law, passed by the European parliament on June 18, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened to stop oil sales to any country that applied the directive.

The law, which will allow for mass deportations and detainment of undocumented migrants for more than a year, is due to come into affect in 2010.

According to a June 19 Xinhua.com report, Chavez made the declaration while meeting with left-leaning Paraguayan President-elect Fernando Lugo, who "also voiced his opposition to the laws".

A June 20 Xinhua.com article reported that the Latin American governments of Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, Guatemala and Honduras have criticised the law.

From GLW issue 756