Rodrigo Avila refuses to debate

Televised debates of presidential candidates happen in the US and elsewhere, but they won't happen in El Salvador this year. CNN en espanol, the international Spanish-language news channel, invited the Salvadoran presidential candidates to debate. Mauricio Funes (and the minor party candidates before ending their campaigns) agreed to debate, but Rodrigo Avila of ARENA has refused to participate. A statement from CNN, reprinted on the website of friends of Mauricio Funes, expressed regret that Avila was unwilling to share his views face-to-face.

For part of his time as a television journalist, Funes did work for CNN en espanol, but the network asserted that would not impact the impartiality of the debate forum. Much more likely, Avila knows he would not stand up well to the debating skills of Funes, honed over years on his daily interview show.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Tim,

I think you're correct. Let's hope that he's also, maybe, conceding defeat in these upcoming elections. Let's hope.
Anonymous said…
avila is a farse and he's gay...any more proof?
Anonymous said…
Is that the best you people can do? Saying that he is gay? Come on, is there any mature follower of the FMLN out there?
Anonymous said…
Avila agreed to debate if the candidates running for vice were to participate in the televised debate, too. The Farabundo Marti ex-guerrilla leaders know Sanchez Ceren not to have a muddled past that'd make him a sitting duck to Arena's attacks during the debate. Mauricio must feel lonely being the only quasi-civilized individual among all the red ex-guerrilleros that preside over the party. Pro Repvblica Semper!
Anonymous said…
Actually, Rodrigo Avila is bisexual in real life; it's true... that was the main reason why his first wife left him.
Hodad said…
4 A. posts and one with identity, how fucking lame
and who gives a damn of his sexuality, what has that got to do with anything
and true, all old farts need to get out of the way, red boyz and blue boyz both,
Unknown said…
It's pretty interesting to notice the high level of personal attacks against Funes personal life from the right wing. I never see a personal attack against Avila in the mass media.

Unfortunately, Avila lose a great chance to show his supposed new brave ideas? for a "goverment for the citizens".

Rejecting the debate only shows the lack of political background of Avila and how the "democratic" and conservatives political forces in this country are terrified.

They are no sleeping well.
Anonymous said…
Presidential Candidate Avila did the right thing by refusing to debate on an international network that mistreated very sick employees. One of the journalists mistreated from CNN was a journalist from El Salvador Mario Vela. (qepd).
Anonymous said…
RODRIGO DID THE RIGHT THING REFUSING?????
Honsetly are you serious? this is why my lovely country is part of the 3rd world countries, ppl are to fanatic when it comes to politics, it doesnt matter if CANTINFLAS is running for the presidential ARENA's partisans will always say he is professional, he has the skills etc... ppl wake up ..the fact he refused says everyting about him!
Anonymous said…
To the person who posted "Avila agreed to debate if the candidates running for vice were to participate in the televised debate, too"...isn't the same thing??? Avila doesn't want to debate alone because he knows he's a "sitting duck" to Funes.
Anonymous said…
I hope Avila and Funes or whoever wins the presidential election issue an executive order banning CNN in El Salvador for human rights abuses in the case of journalist Mario Vela (salvadoran) who was fired by CNN while he was dying in a hospital in DC. Also for the portraying a bad image of hispanics in the USA with his Lou Dobbs show.
Anonymous said…
All salvadorans should protest against CNN. It is really sad that CNN, a top worldwide network, commit abuses against employees. Our own Mario Vela was fired by CNN while he was in agony. As you can see in this video just days before CNN called him to fire him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_ngsdcwFo
Anonymous said…
This is actually pretty funny. What I actually got from this is that Avila refused to participate in this debate because he's gay ? LOL! nice ... however, hes the best we've got. We wont have another paco flores, or luis mario as candidates because Saca is a damn moron. We have to accept the fact that he is the best candidate we have, out of the worst. At least Avila is not accepting millions of dollars and houses from people like the Salume, or briberry from los perrones. We know that Rodrigo Avila is not very bright, though did he have the right to refuse to the debate? well, yes. Was it the right choice? No. We've got to accept the fact that Latin American socialism is basically communism it's not like fucking Spain we're private bussiness is protected. Tenemos que proteger nuestra fuente de trabajo es todo, ay que ser inteligentes.
Anonymous said…
Estupidos e ignorantes!!! lean cualquir libro de historia universal. los objetivos del middle east (los politicos musulmanes) a conquistar el west latin america.Esto no es comunismo o socialismo .Esto es la gurra entre el este y west!! estupidos e ignorantes no se dan cuenta que saca es musulman !! estupidos no se dan cuenta que shafid handal fue musulman!! estupido no se dan cuenta que el ignorante de hugo chaves es el culero de los arabes. todo el petroleo de los arabes pasa por el culero de de hugo chavez.pendejos que ha ha hecho saca en el salvador ?? nada ! el crimen alto que mata a los salvadorenos!! las pandillas son fuerzas creadas por los musulmanes para destruir al pueblo!!
Anonymous said…
yo he vivido en paises socialista... yo se lo que es socialismo, pero el socialismo que ellos promenten no es lo mismo y si, si es communismo el FMLN, y miralo bien, que si gana el FMLN va a haber un incremento en el desempleo. Yo no quiero vivir en un pais communista, yo no cambio mi libertad, y no quiero vivir en un pais bajo el regimen de chavez. Mejor votar por ladron conocido que por un asesino por conocer. Pero dejame decirte Saca es turco pero es catolico, nada que ver con esos inventos de los musulmanes, estas confundido. Y funes que putas que va a hacer, el es un gran corrupto, porque votaria por alguien que se deja comprar asi! Y espero que los Salvadoreños se den cuenta antes. Y estupido vos e ignorate que los precios los establece la OPEC. Y que putas con eso de los musulmanes? estas perdido.
Anonymous said…
CNN:MALTRATO Y MUERTE DE TRABAJADORES
To: evaventin@evaventin.com

Asociación Gallega Contra el Acoso Moral en el Trabajo(AGACAMT)

“CNN: maltrato y muerte de trabajadores”

El periodista salvadoreño Mario Vela fallece 12 días después de ser
despedido por CNN AGACAMT denuncia la actitud malintencionada de CNN hacia
empleados enfermos José Ramón Cotti, periodista puertorriqueño despedido por
CNN, permanece ingresado en el hospital tras meses de dolor

Atlanta (23 Marzo 2009).- El periodista Salvadoreño Mario Vela falleció 12
días después de que CNN le despidiese. La empresa echó al trabajador
conocedora de su estado de extrema gravedad. Vela llevaba varios meses
desahuciado por sus doctores agonizando en un hospital en Washington. Mario
Vela sufrió la presión impuesta por CNN en sus últimos días al recibir un
documento en el que se cuestionaban sus derechos de denuncia ante las
autoridades que debía firmar como condición para recibir su indemnización.

Eva Ventín presidenta de AGACAMT,en nombre de la Asociación Gallega Contra el Acoso Moral en el Trabajo, denuncia “la actitud hipócrita y de chantaje de CNN ante la
muerte de Mario Vela. Tras haberle puesto en la calle y someterlo a una
terrible presión innecesaria, el Vicepresidente de CNN en Español,
Cristopher Crommett, se atrevió a acudir al entierro de Vela e incluso llegó
a cantar en el funeral del popular periodista. Familiares y amigos de Mario
Vela se vieron obligados a organizar el concierto benéfico para recaudar
fondos para continuar con su tratamiento médico. Es difícil de creer que una
empresa multibillonaria como CNN, que a pesar de la crisis acaba de anunciar
importantes beneficios económicos, llegue a maltratar así a sus
profesionales y familias”.

Mario Vela falleció a los 34 años, fue elegido por la alcaldía de Washington
DC como periodista del año en el 2007, destacó por su apoyo a la comunidad
hispana y hacia los más desfavorecidos por lo que recibió numerosos
reconocimientos por parte de la comunidad latina en EEUU. Con más de 10 años
de experiencia en medios Mario Vela fue director de noticias de Mega
Communications y de Radio Capital 730 en DC. Vela trabajó para el Canal 30
de Univisión y para Radio Mundo en Maryland.

Desde AGACAMT se señala que “la situación de acoso laboral de CNN tiene antecedentes
serios denunciados en los medios ya en el 2003 cuando la prensa local de
Atlanta relacionó a CNN con el suicidio del periodista Abel Dimant (ver
editorial original del periódico Mundo Hispánico adjunta como archivo). Que
sepamos, con este ya son dos los muertos que sufrieron el maltrato y acoso
laboral de CNN en Español. A Jim Walton, presidente de CNN, se le han
comunicado numerosas irregularidades desde hace casi un año sin obtener
respuesta alguna”.

AGACAMT apunta que “este no es el único caso de un periodista despedido por
CNN en el momento en el que permanece ingresado de extrema gravedad en un
hospital o inhabilitado. La situación es muy seria ya que en el momento en
el que una empresa despide a un trabajador en USA este pierde el seguro de
vida y el seguro de salud. Con los impresionantes costes de la sanidad en
este país resulta imposible pagar los gastos médicos”.

José Ramón Cotti permanece ingresado desde hace varios meses en un hospital
en Atlanta en situación de extrema gravedad. El periodista puertorriqueño
también fué despedido por CNN en el momento en el que se encontraba
hospitalizado pendiente de una delicada operación de corazón. Se mudó de New
York a Atlanta con su esposa, hospitalizada al mismo tiempo que este, para
trabajar en CNN hace 9 años. Este prestigioso periodista, galardonado en New
York con un premio CIMA, un premio anual de la Asociación de Emisoras de
Radio y dos premios ACE, está sufriendo el maltrato de la empresa y es otra
de las numerosas víctimas de la dramática crisis que sacude a CNN.
Anonymous said…
CNN: MISTREATMENT AND DEATH OF EMPLOYEES

Salvadoran journalist Mario Vela passes away 12 days after being dismissed by CNN. The organization AGACAMT denounces the hostile attitude of CNN towards ill employees. Jose Ramon Cotti, Puerto Rican journalist dismissed by CNN, remains in a hospital after months of pain.

Atlanta (23 March 2009). - Salvadoran journalist Mario Vela passed away 12 days after CNN dismissed him. The company fired this worker despite the knowledge of the seriousness of his illness. Mr. Vela had been several months agonizing in Washington after his doctors declared there was no hope to save his life.

Mario Vela and his family underwent the pressure imposed by CNN in his last days when receiving a document in which their rights of denunciation were questioned and conditioned to the signing of a humiliating severance package.

CNN served notice to Mr. Vela via mail explaining that he no longer was to have his disability benefits and the medical insurance from the company.

Eva Ventín, president of AGACAMT, the Galician Association Against Moral Harassment at the Workplace, denounces the hypocritical attitude of CNN, that, after putting Mr. Vela in the street, sent the Vice-president of CNN Spanish, Cristopher Crommett, to this employee’s funeral to sing a song and to deliver a pitiful donation.


Relatives and friends of Mario Vela were themselves forced to organize a fundraising concert to collect money to pay for his medical treatment.

It is difficult to think that a powerful and multi-millionaire company like CNN, that in spite of the world’s economy crisis have announced economic gains, gets to mistreat its professionals and families”.

Mario Vela who passed away at age 34, was named by the mayor of Washington DC “the journalist of the year of 2007” recognition who was emphasized by his support to the Hispanic community and towards the under-privileged.

With more than 10 years of experience Mario Vela was news director of Mega Communications and Radio Capital 730 in DC. Vela worked for Channel 30 of Univisión and Radio World in Maryland.

AGACAMT wants to bring to the world’s attention other serious cases of labor harassment at CNN as in 2003 the local press of Atlanta related this network with the depression of a journalist who committed suicide. (see original editorial of the Mundo Hispanico about former news director Abel Dimant).



The complaints of labor abuses and irregularities had been communicated to Mr. Jim Walton, the President of CNN, but there are no answers neither solutions that protect the victims.

AGACAMT denounces that “this it is not the unique case of a journalist dismissed by CNN in a serious condition”. News anchor Jose Ramon Cotti remains in a hospital in Georgia after several months of pain.

The Puerto Rican journalist also was dismissed by CNN while on disability awaiting a delicate heart operation.

CNN brought Mr. Cotti and his wife to Atlanta from New York 9 years ago and the company has now totally forgotten this family, not even making a phone call to inquire about its employee’s condition after double bypass surgery and leg amputation and also after Mrs. Cotti’s hospitalization with health problems including stress related condition.

We communicated Mr. Walton of the above again with no responses.
This prestigious New York radio journalist, recipient of Several prizes including two awards from ACE. (Award of creative excellence) is just another one of the numerous victims of the dramatic crisis that shakes CNN.

WEBS RELATED:
http://www.agacamt.org/29543.php?pagina=2
http://www.cnn.com/CNN/anchors_reporters/vela.mario.html
http://www.cnn.com/espanol/presentadores/cotti.jose.ramon.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV_ngsdcwFo
http://www.eltiempolatino.com/edic_Ant./08/oct/3/deportes/unconcierto.html
http://www.intipucacity.com/comentario46.htm
http://metrolatinousa.org/article.cfm?articleId=72442
http://www.radioalaire.com/regional_mexicano_temp08.php

Belinda Biles case in:
http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=309680

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/159849-NLRB_Judge_Rules_Against_CNN_Which_Will_Appeal.php
Unknown said…
Great article it very informative have a nice day. Some great stuff im coming across here. Thanks for sharing will be sure to follow this blog regularly.

spirit