|
Deputies' Questions Unsettle University
'Chilling effect' is feared after a Pomona College professor is
queried on his links to Venezuela.
By Richard Winton and J. Michael Kennedy
Times Staff Writers
03/11/06 "Los
Angeles Times" -- -- A Pomona College professor of
Latin American history said Friday that he was questioned about his
Venezuela connections by two Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies
working for a federal task force and called the quizzing an
intrusion on his academic freedom.
The college's president weighed in as well, saying he feared the
"chilling effect" such visits could have on academia.
Professor Miguel Tinker-Salas said the deputies entered his office
without an appointment Tuesday during hours normally set aside for
student conferences. He said the deputies were there for about 25
minutes and asked him about the Venezuelan community and his
relationship with it. They also told him he was not the subject of
an investigation.
"They cast the Venezuelan community as a threat," said Tinker-Salas,
an outspoken critic of U.S. policy in Latin America who was born in
Venezuela. "They asked me if the Venezuelan government had
influenced me one way or another. I think they were fishing to see
if I had any information they could use."
Sheriff Lee Baca said Friday that his deputies were doing nothing
more than gathering information on the political situation in
Venezuela for a federal anti-terrorism task force coordinated by the
FBI. But he said he would discourage workplace interviews in the
future, especially with members of academia.
Venezuela has had strained relations with the United States for
years. In recent months, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has
broadened his criticism of the U.S. and touched American nerves by
strengthening ties with Iran.
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Congress last month that
the administration was pursuing an "inoculation strategy" in other
Latin American countries to limit Venezuelan influence.
Tinker-Salas figured in a Christian Science Monitor story last month
dealing with whether Iran and Venezuela could forge a political
counterweight to U.S. power. He said the detectives questioned him
on subjects that easily could have been answered elsewhere.
"They asked me about the Venezuelan community. Where do they
congregate? Do they have a leadership?" he said. "They asked about
the consulate and the embassy. They wanted to know if I had contact
with the Venezuelan government."
Tinker-Salas said the deputies also questioned waiting students
about him and examined cartoons on his office door.
"They asked them about my classes," he said. "My students were
intimidated."
Pomona College President David Oxtoby said Friday that he was
"extremely concerned about the chilling effect this kind of
intrusive government interest could have on free scholarly and
political discourse. I am also concerned about the negative message
it sends to students who are considering the pursuit of important
areas of international study, in which they may now feel exposed to
unwarranted official scrutiny."
Oxtoby said the school, in Claremont, was consulting with legal
advisors about the strongest way to protest Tinker-Salas'
questioning. "He's a national expert," Oxtoby said. The deputies
"could have called. They could have made an appointment."
The Venezuelan government weighed in as well Friday, issuing a
statement that called the questioning "a violation of freedoms of
expression, thought and academic inquiry," and said the government
"views the move as a desperate attempt to link Venezuela to
terrorism."
U.S. law enforcement officials said Friday that the concerns raised
about the interview have only underscored the importance for federal
agents — or others handling interviews — to follow accepted
procedures.
"We're mindful of the need to be sensitive about these discussions,
no matter how benign the subject may be," said one official, who
spoke on condition of anonymity because of the controversy the
incident has generated.
In a statement, the FBI said law enforcement officials should be
mindful of the timing and location of an informational interview. As
for the Pomona College meeting, the FBI said there was no intent "to
place the professor, his students or Pomona College in an
uncomfortable situation."
Baca, meanwhile, said the deputies were not working on any
particular case. But he said he would have preferred it if the
deputies had avoided the college grounds or at least called ahead.
"It is important not to go to college campuses and interview
professors and students in such a way that leads to questions like,
'Why are they under suspicion?' " he said.
Copyright 2006 Los Angeles Times
Click below to read or post comment's on this article
(In accordance with Title 17
U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to
those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes.
Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the
originator of this article nor is Information ClearingHouse
endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) |
