Venezuela Upset by a Dog Called Little Hugo

The Venezuelan Government in the form of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has told a private television company to stop airing a Colombian soap opera as it is insulting to the country.

The soap opera called Chepe Fortuna features two sisters, one of whom is called Venezuela who has a small dog named “Little Hugo” which happens to be the christian name of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

In a statement issued this week the NTC criticized Chepe Fortuna for its “degrading treatment of Venezuela”. The statement went on to say: “It (Chepe Fortuna) intends to underestimate the intelligence of viewers by presenting two characters identified as sisters, Colombia and Venezuela, where the latter is repeatedly characterized as associated with criminal activities”.

In one episode Venezuela searches for her lost dog, calling out “Little Hugo? Baby? Baby? Cutie?”, prompting sister Colombia to tell her that she is better off without him. Later in the episode she is crying on the phone and says: “What will become of Venezuela without Little Hugo?”. In reply a man says: “Venezuela will be free. Lately Little Hugo was defecating everywhere”.

The show’s writer and producer, Miguel Angel Baquero, denied the programme was degrading Venezuela. He said, in a statement, that the officials were taking things too seriously. “We are not underestimating anybody,” he said. “This is humor. Making comedy is the most difficult thing to do, and to do it in a simple style that can successfully cross borders is even harder.”

This incident comes at a time when the two countries are making great efforts to improve their relationships. Their historically strained relationship was soured last year when Colombia accused Venezuela of harboring Farc guerillas. Later newly elected Colombian President Santos met President Chavez and they announced that they had wiped the slate clean and would resume normal relationships.

Critics of President Chavez say that he is trying to muzzle the media to prevent criticism. In june last year an arrest warrant was issued for Guillermo Zuloaga, who owns the Globovision channel and was fiercely critical of Chavez, on the grounds of business irregularities.