TV station chief: We are not afraid of Chavez

[jetsetter]

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- As thousands of students marched in the streets in support, a Venezuelan television channel denied accusations that it was inciting violence against the government.

President Hugo Chavez's administration shut down one station that was critical of him, and has opened an investigation into the remaining opposition station, Globovision.

Globovision's director, Alberto Ravell, was unimpressed. "We are not going to change our editorial line that we are not afraid of the threats from this government," he told CNN.

In a news conference and a posting Monday on the government's Web site, Minister of Communication Willian Lara described two incidents he said were provocative.

First, Globovision's "Citizen" program on Sunday followed an interview with the outgoing director general of the opposition station, Radio Caracas Television, with video showing images of the attempted 1981 assassination in the Vatican of Pope John Paul II.

As the video played, Ruben Blades could be heard singing, "This doesn't end here."

"The television company, in that specific fragment of its programming, committed the crime of inciting to assassinate -- in the person of the chief of state of Venezuela," Lara said, referring to Chavez. "That was the objective."

The program aired on Globovision, now the sole opposition station. RCTV had the nation's widest audience, counting 10 million of Venezuela's 26 million people as viewers of its programming, which included soap operas as well as news.

In a written statement directed to Globovision, Chavez said, "They have accused me of fascism. Well, it is they that I accuse of fascism. They are trying to make this seem as if the world has ended. They don't know, the poor things, that they are the ones being manipulated."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/americ...dia/index.html

[nomix]

Chaves is a shady character, that's for sure.

[Cobol74]

Doing stuff like that just undermines any sympathy he may be gaining around the world, you can be against too much US Corporate influence without going down the oppressive path - or maybe you can't? ...

[nomix]

Sure you can. Just that it seems to be.. well, hard.

[Viper007Bond]

Chavez is a douchebag. The people will eventually realize this, but hopefully not too late and end up in a Cuba situation.

[Firecat]

The government claims that the station was linked to the 2002 failed coup as well. So Chavez used the license renewal as the basis for shutting them down, a loophole of course.

There really should have been an investigation first.

[nomix]

Originally Posted by Viper007Bond

Chavez is a douchebag. The people will eventually realize this, but hopefully not too late and end up in a Cuba situation.

Yes, he is. He probably drives a 3-series.

But yes, get rid of him, and put someone a little less spicy in charge. That would be nice.

[RUU-CHAMA]

Originally Posted by nomix

Yes, he is. He probably drives a 3-series.

But yes, get rid of him, and put someone a little less spicy in charge. That would be nice.

He doesn't drive a Volvo, that's for sure. I remember that during the elections, his opponent spoke out and said that this was Venezuela's last chance for democracy. And all I saw from that was a large crowd of people praising him in the streets and another crowd of people getting to the airport as fast as possible (smart people). As the saying goes, you made your bed now you have to lie in it.