Chavez is on a roll. And quite happy to turn up the heat on the media controversey in Venezuela.
Despite his apparently shaky grasp of the subtleties of international law (last time I checked, ‘bias’ was not a tort), I might have to agree with Chavez on this one. According to Venezuelan gov’t sources, CNN has not been playing above board:
Minister of Communications William Lara has cited two segments aired by CNN, one depicting crowds of protesters and another placing a photo of Chavez alongside that of a late Al Qaeda leader and of some demonstrations in China. Lara claims latter images were meant to “associate the image of Chavez with that of violence and death” while footage of a demonstration was in fact taken in Acapulco when people took to the streets after the killing of a journalist and was not, as CNN claimed, of protests against the closure of RCTV (Radio Caracas Television).
If these accusations are true, CNN has some explaining to do. So far, CNN has vehemently denied the claims. As I say, this is not something that CNN could be sued for. Nor should it be used as an excuse to shut down more stations or turf CNN out of the country. Stations need to be accountable, particularly if they’re distorting the truth. But strong-arm tactics like closures cannot be reconciled with a supposedly democratic society.
All chavez is doin is not renewing the licence of a local radio station hat promoted and supported a coup against his democratically elected govt in 2002.
If this was Canada, and a radio station/media outline was in bed with dissendents against the govt where about 13 people were killed in the streets, by the media inciting violence, do you think your govt would renew their licence.
I dont’ think so.
The Americans also had their hands tired the last time, in 2002. US should stay out of democratically elected govt politics in other countries. They don’t take kindly to when other sovereign countries mess with their democracy and politics so why should any other country put up with the army dissention in others.
Just food for thought.
Jan;
Let’s go through this in an itemized way.
1) RCTV is a television station. The largest and oldest one in Venezuela, in fact.
2) In none of my posts have I supported RCTV. I’ve simply said shutting them down is a strong-arm tactic at odds with a democratic society. If RCTV broke laws, then they should be punished accordingly. But no criminal charges have been brought against the station. This is a political move, pure and simple.
3) I agree. The United States shouldn’t interfere in the domestic politics of sovereign states. But I have not seen any direct evidence linking the USA with RCTV. You’re making a leap in logic I don’t think is supported by the facts.
As I pointed out to another commentator, I’m not comfortable with the government deciding what media I can consumer. As I said, if they break laws, then they should be punished. But I think you would agree that freedom of speech- even if you really, really, really disagree with what’s being said- is a sacred right in democratic societies.