Carta abierta a Sean Penn, Oliver Stone y Danny Glover

Caracas, May 3rd, 2013

Mr. Sean Penn, Oliver Stone and Danny Glover.

I am writing this letter to request you to intercede before the Venezuelan government to obtain freedom for the American filmmaker Timothy Tracy.

It is known by everyone in Venezuela, and by many around the world, the support you have spoken in favor of the Bolivarian Revolution. Each of you has visited our country and expressed your support for the revolution, or has in mind to make films with the support of the Venezuelan State, or has made a film about the late Chavez and his revolution and has exhibited it in the most important stages and film festivals worldwide. In all cases, you have manifested your commitment and admiration for what you understand are the values that sustain this process.

So I ask, based on the most fundamental values proclaimed by the revolution which freedom you have supported so much, you intercede in use of the contacts that we all know you have, as well as the undeniable intellectual ascending you have over many people who currently hold high positions in the Venezuelan government, calling for the immediate release of Timothy Tracy, filmmaker and journalist whose only crime was to make use of his right to base his actions on this fundamental value in our country , in its case, both artistic and information freedom, plying his trade for a documentary filmmaker.

After his arrest, I could hear that Mr. Tracy is been for, at least, several months, if not more, making films in our country on the subject of political polarization which we live. He has done dozens of interviews with senior government officials of the Bolivarian revolution, and, consistent with his work, he has interviewed many opposite citizens. He has done this job for at least three elections in our country (presidential and regional).

According to the published information, Mr. Timothy Tracy has been arrested and charged with the alleged offenses of conspiracy, aiding materials, crime association and use of false public documents. We have no idea - because this has not been made public - on what the prosecution is based on to substantiate these allegations. What we do know is that his arrest came after Timothy Tracy filmed an opposite students meeting later on the results of the April 14th elections were published, consistent with the work he has been doing. Feedback from these students is contrary to the government's position. They question, like millions of Venezuelans, the legitimacy of the recently held elections.

Filmmaking the opinion of these students, in any case, can be accepted as an excuse to arrest a documentary filmmaker.

I appeal to the integrity of each of you and the values that all of you have claimed as your own to accept this. Is this also an excellent opportunity to join the "millions of freedom lovers in the world", to use an expression that Mr. Danny Glover once used.

Sincerely,

Rafael Marziano.