Globovision and Venezuela's assault on freedom of the press

[thopkins22]

It gets really good after part one.

Part 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UpRKcRWYf8&feature=channel_page)
Part 2 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wqijy6FJxg8&feature=channel_page)
Part 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yAKBdhUEKI&feature=channel_page)
Part 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2feVM-JISCk&feature=channel_page)
Part 5 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts5zlEVWzic)

[Irish]

Interesting piece on Chavez & Venezuela stomping out freedom of speech.

[Zhurdan]

When did Venezuela adopt the US Constitution?

Does Venezuela have Freedom of Speech? It's not right what he's doing, but who are we to enforce OUR Constitution on others?

[Irish]

When did Venezuela adopt the US Constitution?

Does Venezuela have Freedom of Speech? It's not right what he's doing, but who are we to enforce OUR Constitution on others?

No one insinuated that they had adopted OUR Constitution. Did you watch the video?!?! If you had you'd realize that Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, Venezuela's President, was giving a speech where he clearly said, albeit in Spanish, that everyone had freedom of speech in Venezuela.

[Zhurdan]

Yeah... but taking the "word" of Chap-ass...mmmmm, not so much. He's stirring the pot, causing distress for his country on purpose so he can ramp up his military even more. He's flat out crazy.

I deleted a much longer first post, as I didn't want too get to political, but basically it said we should deal with people like him remotely... as in UAV. It is also very clear in the video that they in fact DO NOT have freedom of speech.

[thopkins22]

The Venezuelans adopted a new constitution shortly after Chavez was first elected that establishes freedom of speech as a right.

It's certainly not the our constitution nor would Cato ever promote our enforcing our laws on another people.

[Zhurdan]

I see what you're getting at, but I can tell you that if you follow me, I'll give you free beer for life. I can even write it down on a Constitution of sorts. Where the problem arises is when I end up being a crazy madman who doesn't really care what I promised. Sure... freedom of speech, until I black bag you and make you disappear. You bet, Freedom of speech, until you say something I disagree with, then I pull your broadcasting rights. You want to talk about revolution? Go for it, at least until I take over the media and slander you to the point of failure.

I think we all agree this guys a whack-job. I was just pointing out that Freedom of Speech doesn't exist there. It may be on paper, he may say it does, but it sure as hell doesn't.

Again, in my edited original post, it was far more political, and it said that the people of Venezuela need to handle this guy, preferably around the neck. (Chavez, that is)

[RancidSumo]

Freedom of speech is just like all of the other rights in the constitution. They aren't granted by the document, they are acknowleged by it. All people have rights; this isn't a legal issue, it is a philosophic one. To say they didn't have this right to begin with is denying the fact that rights exist with or without government approval, the only issue being to what degree they are trampled by those weilding unrasonable power. It frustrates me to no end when people claim that rights only exist if they have government approval.

[Irish]

President Hugo Chavez's government to revoke the licenses of 34 radio stations.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,536185,00.html


Some 200 Venezuelans gathered outside a Caracas broadcaster Saturday to protest a decision by President Hugo Chavez's government to revoke the licenses of 34 radio stations.

The demonstration occurred outside CNB 102.3 FM, which cut its over-the-air transmission Saturday morning on orders from the telecommunications regulatory agency and is now transmitting only over the Internet.

Station director Zaira Belfort said CNB planned to appeal the order, but she warned that the shutdown decision is likely "only the beginning of the closures of free media in Venezuela."

"This is a government attack," she said. "We want to keep living in democracy, and once again they've silenced us."

Chavez said Saturday that he approved the telecommunications agency's decision to shut down radio stations ruled to be operating illegally.

"We're applauding Diosdado for the decision he has made to take back these stations for the people," Chavez said, referring to agency chief Diosdado Cabello.

Chavez said previously that the revoked licenses could be given to broadcasters who share his socialist vision.

International media groups and human rights activists have accused the government of trying to stifle dissent. But Cabello denies the government is trying to limit freedom of expression or punish political opponents, saying licenses are being revoked only for violating regulations.

In announcing the revocations Friday, Cabello said some of the 34 stations failed to update their registrations or let their concessions expire, while others held licenses granted to an operator who is now deceased.

Chavez's socialist government has increasingly clashed with private media as it slowly tightens its grip over the industry.

More than 200 other radio stations are under investigation, as is Globovision — the only strongly anti-Chavez television station remaining on the open airwaves. Lawmakers, meanwhile, are discussing a bill that would punish yet-to-be-defined "media crimes" with up to four years in prison.

Victor Neda, a broadcast technician at CNB, said his job is at stake, adding that the closure would be a "very disagreeable" way to leave the station after working there 15 years.

"I never imagined it would happen this way," he said.

The Caracas station is one of 10 that CNB operates around Venezuela. Four others have also been closed, CNB executives said.

The company, which employs hundreds of workers, hasn't said how its staff will be affected.