RCTV cancellation: Legal and popular?

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Cómo eran las protestas estudiantiles en Venezuela. Video de RCTV

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May 28th, 2007: TVES inauguration

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  On Saturday 2 June 2007, thousands of people attended a pro government demonstration at <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Caracas to back recent cancellation of RCTV broadcasting license. President Chavez appeared to express his views on recent student protests and the RCTV case.  Chavez accused the US government for promoting a "gentle coup" by using the private media, the opposition and students against Venezuela.  He said US imperialism has wrongly depicted all students as enemies of the Venezuelan revolution and the cancellation of RCTV. Nevertheless, most of them have backed the Bolivarian revolution. According to Chavez, recent opposition student demonstrations were just another media show of Venezuelan oligarchy. Sadly, their performance has caused damage to other people’s rights and property, he added.  President Chavez also warned there was an international campaign against Venezuela for its legal decision on RCTV.  He outlined broadcasting license could now be revoked any moment. Cancellation would be a way to counteract media terrorism.


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  On 3 June 2007, OAS starts its 37 General Conference at Panama devoted to sustainable development. On several occasions, OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza has said no country had ever filed any complaint against Venezuela over the RCTV case or breach to Freedom of Expression. OAS cannot analyze or issue any resolution on RCTV without such official grievance. However, there is a general resolution on Freedom of Expression already tabled at OAS. It could be modified to include the RCTV issue. Thus, it is still too early to reject any possibility of American manoeuvring at the regional organization to do so.  Prior to his departure to Panama, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said any proposal to include RCTV at the OAS General Assembly and agenda would be an undue intervention on Venezuelan domestic affairs. Such comments echoed those already expressed by other Venezuelan representatives around the world. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> 


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  Bilateral relations with Brazil reached an unprecedented low when its Foreign Secretary Celso Amorin expressed annoyance over Venezuelan reactions to comments made by Brazilian Congress.   It criticized the cancellation of RCTV broadcasting license. Venezuela linked such comments to right wing groups in Brazil. On Friday, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva had expressed "repudiation of any comments that may question independence, dignity and democratic principles of Brazilian institutions." Today, President Chavez condemned Brazilian Congress´ meddling in Venezuelan domestic affairs. 


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  Opposition students managed to submit a freedom of expression request to Parliament yesterday.  According to local newspaper El Universal, they posed five demands to the governement and media: First, resumption of private television RCTV broadcasts and respect for freedom of expression. Second, the steering committee of newly created public service National Social Television Station (TVES) should commit to broadcast any piece of information. Third, both the state and private media should observe a responsible behavior ensuring plurality of thoughts. Fourth, people arrested during demonstrations for civil rights should be released, and fifth, the Venezuelan government should renew the broadcast licenses for 100 AM radio stations whose permits have expired, and which have unsuccessfully applied for renewal before the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel).


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  Student activism has been interpreted in various ways among government officials and opposition leaders. For some, they are just puppets of old political parties most Venezuelans now dislike. Others perceive them as an emerging leadership among opposition cadres. Former vice President and journalist Jose Vicente Rangel thinks government should be talking to opposition students, as they do not intend to engage in a coup. On Sunday, 3 June 2007, the opposition will have its turn to demonstrate and show the popularity of their claim. They will hold a concentration in Caracas to show strength and back their claim against the government for the "closure" of  RCTV. 

Videos: BBC CNN 

Sources:

BBC Globovision RNV  El Universal  Telesur Aljazeera  El Pais Unionradio OAS  El Mundo.es