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http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2007/5/26/220149.shtml?s=lh
Venezuelans Flock to Streets Yelling 'Freedom. Freedom!'
NewsMax.com Wires Sunday, May 27, 2007
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Tens of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets
Saturday chanting "Freedom, Freedom!" to protest President Hugo Chavez's
decision not to renew the broadcast license of the country's most-watched TV
station, an outlet for the opposition.
Police lined a Caracas avenue while the protesters paraded past, some
holding signs reading "No to silence," while others placed tape over their
mouths.
Radio Caracas Television, the sole opposition-aligned TV station with
nationwide reach, is due to go off the air at midnight Sunday. Protesters
say that by not renewing RCTV's license, Chavez is attempting to silence
critics of his leftist government.
"Our president wants to control everything, even what we watch on
television, so his voice is the only voice on the airwaves," said Roger
Montoya, a 23-year-old university student at Saturday's march. "It's
totalitarianism."
Chavez defends the decision as a legal move to democratize the airwaves by
turning over RCTV's signal to a public service channel. The president and
his supporters have accused RCTV of supporting a failed 2002 coup against
him, violating broadcast laws and regularly showing programs with excessive
violence and sexual content.
In one downtown Caracas plaza, hundreds of red-clad Chavez supporters
gathered in front of a large television screen, where alleged violations by
RCTV were replayed as the words, "Tell the truth," rolled across the screen.
Founded in 1953, RCTV broadcasts a mix of talk shows, sports, soap operas
and the popular comedy program "Radio Rochela," which often pokes fun at
Chavez.
A popular leader at odds with the United States, Chavez was re-elected in
December by a wide margin. The opposition has seized on the RCTV controversy
to revive street demonstrations that faded immediately following last year's
election defeat.
Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that broadcasting equipment used
by the channel must be made available to the state-funded channel that will
replace it.
The Supreme Court said Venezuela's telecommunication commission would assume
responsibility for RCTV's equipment, including microwave dishes and
antennas, while the court reviews RCTV's appeal of Chavez's decision not to
renew its license. The court also ordered the military to temporarily guard
RCTV's broadcasting equipment.
RCTV's general manager, Marcel Granier, said Friday's high court ruling is
the product of "the immense pressure the government has put on magistrates."
Protesters massed Saturday outside RCTV's studios, where a huge Venezuelan
flag was hung from the building's roof.
During a speech that all of Venezuela's private TV channels were forced to
broadcast, Chavez defended his decision.
"That television station became a threat to the country so I decided not to
renew the license because it's my responsibility," said Chavez.
Backing Chavez's decision, dozens of protesters with bandanas over their
faces held a rowdy demonstration late Friday outside the studios of another
opposition-aligned TV station _ Globovision _ spray-painting the building
with pro-Chavez slogans. The vandalism was condemned by the government.
Globovision is the only other major opposition-aligned channel, and it is
not seen in all parts of the country. Two other channels that used to be
staunchly anti-Chavez, Venevision and Televen, have recently toned down
their coverage.
The National Telecommunications Commission said in a statement that it was
in the process of renewing licenses for other channels, including
Venevision, that expire the same day.
Groups such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have called
the government's move a flagrant effort to silence criticism. The European
Parliament and the U.S. Senate both passed resolutions condemning the
decision.
Venezuelans Flock to Streets Yelling 'Freedom. Freedom!'
NewsMax.com Wires Sunday, May 27, 2007
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Tens of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets
Saturday chanting "Freedom, Freedom!" to protest President Hugo Chavez's
decision not to renew the broadcast license of the country's most-watched TV
station, an outlet for the opposition.
Police lined a Caracas avenue while the protesters paraded past, some
holding signs reading "No to silence," while others placed tape over their
mouths.
Radio Caracas Television, the sole opposition-aligned TV station with
nationwide reach, is due to go off the air at midnight Sunday. Protesters
say that by not renewing RCTV's license, Chavez is attempting to silence
critics of his leftist government.
"Our president wants to control everything, even what we watch on
television, so his voice is the only voice on the airwaves," said Roger
Montoya, a 23-year-old university student at Saturday's march. "It's
totalitarianism."
Chavez defends the decision as a legal move to democratize the airwaves by
turning over RCTV's signal to a public service channel. The president and
his supporters have accused RCTV of supporting a failed 2002 coup against
him, violating broadcast laws and regularly showing programs with excessive
violence and sexual content.
In one downtown Caracas plaza, hundreds of red-clad Chavez supporters
gathered in front of a large television screen, where alleged violations by
RCTV were replayed as the words, "Tell the truth," rolled across the screen.
Founded in 1953, RCTV broadcasts a mix of talk shows, sports, soap operas
and the popular comedy program "Radio Rochela," which often pokes fun at
Chavez.
A popular leader at odds with the United States, Chavez was re-elected in
December by a wide margin. The opposition has seized on the RCTV controversy
to revive street demonstrations that faded immediately following last year's
election defeat.
Venezuela's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that broadcasting equipment used
by the channel must be made available to the state-funded channel that will
replace it.
The Supreme Court said Venezuela's telecommunication commission would assume
responsibility for RCTV's equipment, including microwave dishes and
antennas, while the court reviews RCTV's appeal of Chavez's decision not to
renew its license. The court also ordered the military to temporarily guard
RCTV's broadcasting equipment.
RCTV's general manager, Marcel Granier, said Friday's high court ruling is
the product of "the immense pressure the government has put on magistrates."
Protesters massed Saturday outside RCTV's studios, where a huge Venezuelan
flag was hung from the building's roof.
During a speech that all of Venezuela's private TV channels were forced to
broadcast, Chavez defended his decision.
"That television station became a threat to the country so I decided not to
renew the license because it's my responsibility," said Chavez.
Backing Chavez's decision, dozens of protesters with bandanas over their
faces held a rowdy demonstration late Friday outside the studios of another
opposition-aligned TV station _ Globovision _ spray-painting the building
with pro-Chavez slogans. The vandalism was condemned by the government.
Globovision is the only other major opposition-aligned channel, and it is
not seen in all parts of the country. Two other channels that used to be
staunchly anti-Chavez, Venevision and Televen, have recently toned down
their coverage.
The National Telecommunications Commission said in a statement that it was
in the process of renewing licenses for other channels, including
Venevision, that expire the same day.
Groups such as Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders have called
the government's move a flagrant effort to silence criticism. The European
Parliament and the U.S. Senate both passed resolutions condemning the
decision.
