An ominous sign from Venezuela.

Venezuela's President has ordered officials to monitor the public remarks of foreigners visiting the country and has put foreigners on notice that if they criticize Venezuela or its officials, the critic will be thrown out of the country. According to a report distributed by the BBC on July 23, 2007, the President announced the new policy during his weekly TV and radio show.

"His comments came shortly after a senior Mexican politician publicly criticized the Venezuelan government," said the BBC.

The BBC quoted the President's broadcast remarks as follows. "How long are we going to allow a person--from any country in the world--to come to our own house to say there's a dictatorship here, that the president is a tyrant, and nobody does anything about it?" According to the President, the matter is one of national dignity.

Although this may seem humorous, it does indicate an unwelcome willingness to compromise freedom of speech within Venezuela's borders.