Fausta's Blog

My latest article, Venezuela: Chávez’s War Against Free Speech, is up at Real Clear World.

While the Venezuelan government tries to monopolize all media, here in the US Disgraced Dinosaur Dan Rather Urges, “Save The Press” through government intervention. Rather sees no contradiction between government-owned media and the concept of freedom of speech.

UPDATE:
Venezuela: ‘Freedom of expression must be limited’

Venezuela’s top prosecutor insisted Thursday that freedom of expression in Venezuela “must be limited” and proposed legislation that would slap additional restrictions on the country’s news media.

The new law would punish the owners of radio stations, television channels and newspapers that have attempted to “cause panic” and “disturb social peace,” Attorney General Luisa Ortega said.

It also would punish media owners who “manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts.”

“Freedom of expression must be limited,” Ortega said.

Ortega urged lawmakers to consider her suggestions as they debate a bill that would punish as-yet-undefined “media crimes.” The National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Hugo Chavez, is expected to approve the measure in coming months.

The pressure increases, even before the law comes into effect:

Chavez’s administration is slowly tightening its grip over the news media, raising concerns among watchdog and human rights groups that accuse the government of trying to stifle dissent.

Venezuela’s telecommunications commission notified 50 radio stations earlier this week that their broadcast licenses could be revoked because they failed to update their registrations. Commission chief Diosdado Cabello said a final determination on the licenses will be made following investigations. He said authorities might also seize broadcasting equipment.

Nearly 200 other broadcasters that did not meet a June deadline to register also will be investigated, but have not yet been formally notified, Cabello said.

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This entry was posted on Friday, July 31st, 2009 at 10:00 am and is filed under Communism, Hugo Chavez, Venezuela. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.