Venezuela: Guillermo Zuloaga's Globovision Anti-Chavez, Gets Jail

by Jacob Zinn | March 25, 2010 at 03:26 pm

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Guillermo Zuloaga, president of Venezuelan TV network Globovision, was arrested in an airport on March 25 for criticizing President Hugo Chavez’s socialist government in a media forum.

Zuloaga, whose pro-opposition station has previously dealt with backlash from Chavez, was preparing to board his private jet en route to the Caribbean when he was detained. He faces 3 to 5 years in jail for charges of giving false information and an additional 3 to 15 months for offending the president.

At a recent meeting of the Inter-American Press Association in Aruba, Zuloaga discussed his opinions on civil rights restrictions enforced by the Venezuelan government.

You cannot talk about freedom of expression in a country when the government uses force to close media,” he said at the IAPA discussion.

Media Communications Commission Investigates

The National Assembly—which is made up mostly of Chavez supporters—proposed the investigation after Manuel Villalba of the Public Science, Technology and Media Communications commission said Zuloaga’s statements lacked credibility.

The investigation would look at potentially defamatory comments made by Zuloaga, which lawmakers said gave the government a bad reputation.

Zuloaga’s Arrest Violates Rights

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights released a statement about his arrest, which they felt violated his right to freedom of speech.

[Zuloaga's arrest] evidences the lack of independence of the judiciary and the utilization of the criminal justice system to punish criticism, producing an intimidating effect that extends to all of society,” wrote the IACHR in a press release.

Chavez Arrests His Opposition

Earlier this week, former state governor Oswaldo Alvarez Paz was also arrested in what appears to be an attempt by the Venezuelan government to silence dissent. He was jailed for charges of conspiracy, spreading false information and inciting hate, stemming from an interview on Globovision.

Several dozen other politicians who have been outspoken about Chavez’s socialist government are now locked up or exiled from the country. This week, Chavez said he would not tolerate politically critical accusations from the media.

Chavez Has Support Despite Criticism

In the last year, Chavez’s popularity has dropped during a recession and electricity crisis, but his supporters feel that the president has been vilified by the U.S. and is a victim of propaganda. Chavez is running for re-election in September and most analysts expect he will retain his majority.

Globovision has been aggressive in its anti-government stance and appeal to Chavez opposers who fear Venezuela is becoming a socialist dictatorship, but the channel’s ratings are never close to those of popular soap operas and lifestyle programs.