Ethics and governance in the European Financial centers

Persian Letters (Lettres persanes) is a satirical work, by Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu, recounting the experiences of two Persian noblemen, Usbek and Rica, who are traveling through France. In Paris, the Persians express themselves on a wide variety of subjects, from governmental institutions to salon caricatures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persian_Letters

 

As this is summer time, I would like to offer some goodies on this blog with a couple of Venezuelan letters. These will be an exchange of e-mail between two Venezuelans, the first one, Manuel, residing in Venezuela and the second one, Jose, travelling in Europe.

 

 

 

From: Manuel

To: Jose

Sent: Monday, August 3, 2009 6:02 PM

Subject: Draft law threatens to jail those who 'harm' state interests

Dear Jose,

President Chavez is taking steps to tighten restrictions on the media despite mounting opposition by private media to a series of proposed reforms that would expose them to criminal prosecution.

The reforms seek to ensure that the media better reflect public opinion.

As the draft law states, they will constitute Media crimes, the actions or omissions that injure the right to the opportune, truthful and impartial information, which they attempt against social peace, the security and independence of the nation, the public order, stability of the institutions of the State, the public health mental or moral, that generate insecurity or impunity sensation and that is committed through social mass media.

Will be prosecuted the false news that cause a serious alteration to the public tranquillity, panic in the population, will have maintained it in sinking, that it has altered the public order, that will have produced damage to the interests of the State and false perception of the facts or creating a matrix of opinion in the society, whenever in this way social peace, the national security, the public order or public the mental or moral health are injured.

You are lucky to live in Europe, in jurisdictions that are states under the rule of law.

 

Cheers.

 

Manuel

 

From: Jose

To: Manuel

Sent: Wednesday, August 5, 2009 9:02 PM

Subject: RE: Draft law threatens to jail those who 'harm' state interests

 

Dear Jose,

 

I am currently in Luxembourg, a small state under the rule of law.

 

Here there is a big scandal. The Cercle de Cooperation published a report a couple of days ago to state that the jurisdiction is a tax haven that was withdrawn today from the Cercle’s website.

 

Do you realise to what extent such publication produce damage to the interests of the State? This is exactly what means the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association press release that deeply regretted that, after the various attacks from outside, it is now also en vogue in Luxembourg to attack the flagship of their economy. (ABBL Press Release)

Luxembourg is not a tax haven. Those who dare to say that attempt against social peace, the security and independence of the nation, the public order, stability of the institutions of the State, the public health mental or moral. They disseminate false news that cause a serious alteration to the public tranquillity, panic in the population or have false perception of the facts.

This is exactly what means the Luxembourg Bankers’ Association press release that fustigated an unhealthy combination of gratuitous assertions, hearsay, half-truths and concocted lies. (ABBL Press Release). This is as well what means Fernand Grulms, CEO LuxembourgForFinance, that fustigated in Tageblatt shortcomings, false statements and false and self-proclaimed experts and bloggers, who smear the Luxembourg financial center (again).

 

And I am not quoting Prime Minister Juncker before the parliament.

 

Fortunately as I said, the report was withdrawn thanks to Fernand Grulms that explained the fact that they thereby use such un-serious “studies”, is more than embarrassing. And the fact that they spent taxpayers’ money on this – because these NGOs are also funded with tax payers’ money – is outright scandalous.

But I dont’ understand the reason why Fernand Grulms’ article was withdrawn as well.

As you see, even states under the rule of law have to ensure that the media better reflect public opinion.

 

Cheers.

 

Jose