Juliette Terzieff | Bio | 01 Jun 2007
World Politics Review Exclusive Editor's Note: Rights & Wrongs is a new feature covering the world's major human rights-related happenings. It is written by regular WPR contributor Juliette Terzieff.
VENEZUELA MEDIA MAELSTROM -- President Hugo Chavez Wednesday lashed out at Globalvision, Venezuela's last private television station, in a nationally broadcast speech. He called the station an enemy of the state and threatened to shut it down. The Chavez speech came just days after Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) was taken off the air on May 27 to be replaced by a government-run channel. Thousands of Venezuelans have taken to the streets every day this week to protest the moves, seen by many as the latest salvos by President Hugo Chavez to quash all domestic criticism of his government.
Opposition politicians, foreign governments and human rights groups blasted the RCTV decision, which Chavez defended as legitimate in light of Venezuelan media's contribution to growing unrest through a "destabilization plan." Government-run operations now overwhelmingly dominate the radio and television airwaves, Internet-based news sites and news periodicals in the country.
No comments:
Post a Comment