2008 Winners: Woman of The Year Martha Colmenares!
Martha Colmenares is a pro democracy activist and journalist who informs the world about today’s Venezuela. In a country where to be an active part of the opposition against Hugo Chavez involves serious risks Ms. Colmenares has become a leader denouncing human rights violations and the critical situation her country suffers under the insistence of establishing a Marxist dictatorship. She has united bloggers worldwide recognizing their work and supporting pro democracy activists in countries like Cuba, where the epidemic of totalitarianism has ravaged the country for 50 years. She takes part in vigils and non violent demonstrations always supporting democratic principles and defending the victims of injustice.
A woman of strong political and human convictions she has earned our respect and admiration as well as our recognition as the Rafaelmartel.com 2008 Woman of the Year. Congratulations Martha!
*Minutes after writing this post we learned that tonight Nov 31 2008, Mrs. Colmenares and her family; husband and daughter became victims of the chavista violence that plagues today’s Venezuela. We condemn this attack in the strongest terms and call on our fellow bloggers to do the same.
Muchas gracias amigo Rafael Román Martel, pues mira que anima esta impotencia que me embarga, por la impunidad que reina en mi país, para favorecer a los llamados “malandros”. Así termina este año a nivel personal y comienza con esta alerta, por no decir presagio porque debe prevalecer la esperanza, y seguir adelante con bríos en nuestra causa por la libertad y lograr que de nuevo los hombres de la decencia y la democracia puedan volver a retomar el rumbo de nuestro destino.
Te estoy muy agradecida, y mis mejores deseos en la unión familiar. Abrazos, Martha Colmenares