Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Venezuelans march against closure of TV station

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Venezuelans march against closure of TV station

    CARACAS (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of Venezuelan protesters marched on Saturday to the Caracas headquarters of an anti-government television station, which is being forced off the air after President Hugo Chavez's administration refused to renew its broadcasting license.

    Waving flags with the logo of RCTV, demonstrators packed the streets of the capital where news anchors and soap opera stars slammed the imminent closure of the opposition channel.

    "What is happening here is simply the silencing of a television station," shouted soap opera actress Gledys Ibarra.

    The government is not renewing RCTV's license after 53 years on the air because of accusations that the broadcaster participated in a bungled 2002 coup against Chavez, incited violent demonstrations and aired immoral programming.

    On Friday Venezuela's top court ordered the military to seize control of some of the TV station's installations and equipment in a show of force that included mobilization of anti-riot vehicles to prevent protests from turning violent.

    Critics condemned the closure for silencing an influential opposition voice and called the move evidence that Chavez's self-styled socialist revolution is concentrating power and muzzling the opposition.

    Late on Friday a group of demonstrators shouting pro-Chavez slogans spray-painted the headquarters of news channel Globovision, the country's last openly anti-government station, which Chavez has also threatened to take off the air for its critical coverage.

    The closure of RCTV drew heavy international criticism including a U.S. Senate resolution last week unanimously condemning "transgression of freedom of thought and expression" in Venezuela.

    Venezuelans march against closure of TV station | International | Reuters

  • #2
    But....Chavez is a great leader who cares only for his people and valiantly battles the nefarious plots of the imperialistic warmongering US.

    Comment


    • #3
      And the people like him!


      "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

      I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

      HAKUNA MATATA

      Comment


      • #4
        Like I've said before, Chavez will eventually alienate his own people. Now the question is he willing to install a police state or risk a civil war to keep control.
        F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The Honda Accord of fighters.

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Wraith601 View Post
          But....Chavez is a great leader who cares only for his people and valiantly battles the nefarious plots of the imperialistic warmongering US.
          The official government line is that this is for the public good and that Venezuela has more freedom than any other nation on earth. Looks like Baghdad Bob found new employment.
          F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: The Honda Accord of fighters.

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by Ray View Post
            And the people like him!
            People are sheep.

            Chavez is adept at using the US as a scapegoat for everything (something plenty of dictators excel at) and the people lap it up. In addition his economic policies have led to short-term improvements in the standard of living of the lower classes, helped largely by high oil prices, but at the cost of the country's long term economic health.

            The Venezuelan people will soon lose their new found success, such as it is, and will likely soon lose more of their freedom. They made their beds and now they get to lie in them.

            Comment


            • #7
              It is justified for Americans to hate Chavez, but if one looks at the issue without bias, Chavez has won elections fairly. He was briefly removed through some political manoeuvring, but he came back to win.

              Therefore, one has to accept that Chavez has popularity amongst the population. That is a fact.

              People are not sheep. That is insulting the all homo sapiens. People may not be educated, but they sure understand bread and butter issues. Bread and butter has been a key issue ever since Time began. Even the Lord's Prayer contains a fervent request - Give us this day our daily bread. For the poor, this is a powerful mantra.

              One should not grudge Venezuela for its God given bounty - Oil. They are lucky and if that can ensure a better life for the poorer sections, so be it. If Chavez is using it against the interest of other countries, then these countries have to come up with some mode wherein they can turn the tables on this popularity and God given resources that has ensured endearment of Chavez with his people.

              US firms in third world countries are seen as organisations that are milking the country of its riches. Maybe it is a wrong impression. The problem is that the manner the US firms conduct business without some benefits for the poor gives rise to this impression. What is even more negative for the image is that these firms give rise to the impression that the business is only for the native fat cats and for corrupt govts and officials that are usually there in such countries.

              The US firms and the US govt have to appear that they are concerned about lifting these countries from their abject poverty while at the same time reaping legitimate profits.

              I live in a Communist ruled state which had been spewing anti US venom, but then came a Consul General of the US who mixed with the hoi polloi and was everywhere with his wife identifying with the common man and the poor. His effort completely changed the impression of the commoner towards the US.

              He was so successful that my State's Communist govt is a priority stop for US business and such US business mix people oriented programmes along with their business interests. No one grudges the same.

              Therefore, the US is changing tack and for the better. Because of people like the Consul General and his wife, GW Bush (who has done the maximum for India amongst all US Presidents) and Clinton (who started the process), the US is looked upon most favourably in India.

              Same thing could be done in Venezuela or even Cuba!

              The Quiet and effective diplomacy and proactive actions of the US Administration that does not appear to be destabilising the elected govts, will go a long way to ensure US interests are safe.


              "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

              I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

              HAKUNA MATATA

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by BenRoethig View Post
                The official government line is that this is for the public good and that Venezuela has more freedom than any other nation on earth. Looks like Baghdad Bob found new employment.
                One has to understand the economic enslavement is worse than living in a police state!

                Economic enslavement is like being a living dead.

                The previous govts ensured that the majority of the population only lined the pockets of the rich at the expense of improving the country to lift it from abject poverty and thus economically enslaving the majority by keeping them poor since basic amenities and education were not addressed.

                The economic upliftment of the poor by Chavez has given the poor a new lease of life and that is a heady wine.

                Living with serious wants and not being able to exist with the basic creature comfort is a very depressing mode to live one's life on earth.

                Those who have no serious wants and feel life is a void when only their computers don't work or they don't have two cars in their garage cannot understand what is poverty or what it is to go through with only one meal a day, that too without the proper fortification of natural vitamins and minerals or living in cramped shanties without sanitation and with diseases rampant!

                One has to be poor to understand this.
                Last edited by Ray; 28 May 07,, 05:48.


                "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                HAKUNA MATATA

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Ray View Post
                  Those who have no serious wants and feel life is a void when only their computers don't work or they don't have two cars in their garage cannot understand what is poverty or what it is to go through with only one meal a day, that too without the proper fortification of natural vitamins and minerals or living in cramped shanties without sanitation and with diseases rampant!

                  One has to be poor to understand this.
                  I agree..

                  For the poor they are not literally concern of the other things, what they are concern is if they have food on their tables, medicines on their sickness and who can give them these, wins their support..
                  sigpic

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Wasn't there another "leader" that promised "Brot und Arbeit" whilst shutting down "anti-government" newspapers/radio stations??


                    Who WAS that guy??

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      The other leader did not have OIL or colonies worth the name to milk its fortunes from to give Brot.

                      The other leader also had a penchant for genocide.

                      The other leader wanted Lebensraum!

                      The two are not comparable!


                      "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

                      I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

                      HAKUNA MATATA

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        CARACAS, Venezuela - National Guard troops fired tear gas and rubber bullets Monday into a crowd of protesters angry over a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced a critical television station off the air.

                        University students blocked one lane of a major highway hours after Radio Caracas Television ceased broadcasting at midnight and was replaced with a new state-funded channel. Chavez had refused to renew RCTV's broadcast license, accusing it of "subversive" activities and of backing a 2002 coup against him.

                        Two students were injured by rubber bullets and a third was hit with a tear gas canister, said Ana Teresa Yepez, an administrator at Caracas' Metropolitan University. She said about 20 protesters were treated for inhaling tear gas.

                        The new public channel, TVES, launched its transmissions with artists singing pro-Chavez music, then carried an exercise program and a talk show, interspersed with government ads proclaiming, "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone."
                        Crowds of students demonstrated across Caracas, saying they fear for the future of free speech.

                        "I plan to keep protesting because we're Venezuelans and it's our right," said Valentina Ramos, 17, a Metropolitan University student who was hit in the head with a tear gas canister and received stitches.


                        She said the protest was peaceful, but National Guard troops said they acted after students hurled rocks and sticks. Police said 11 officers were injured in separate protests on Sunday that were broken up with water cannon and tear gas.

                        Thousands of government supporters reveled in the streets as they watched the midnight changeover on large TV screens, seeing RCTV's signal go black and then be replaced by a TVES logo. Others launched fireworks and danced in the streets.

                        Inside the studios of RCTV — the sole opposition-aligned TV station with nationwide reach — disheartened actors and comedians wept and embraced in the final minutes on the air.

                        They bowed their heads in prayer, and presenter Nelson Bustamante declared: "Long live Venezuela! We will return soon."

                        The socialist president says he is democratizing the airwaves by turning the network's signal over to public use.

                        Germany, which holds the European Union presidency, officially declared its concern that Venezuela let RCTV's license expire "without holding an open competition for the successor license." It said the EU expects that Venezuela will uphold freedom of speech and "support pluralism."

                        Leading politicians from Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the Organization of American States also either criticized the closure Monday or made statements reaffirming that freedom of expression is an inherent right in democracies.

                        Founded in 1953, RCTV regularly topped viewer ratings with its talk shows, sports, soap operas and comedy programs. But Chavez accused the network of helping to incite a failed coup in 2002, violating broadcast laws and "poisoning" Venezuelans with programming that promoted capitalism. RCTV's managers deny wrongdoing.

                        The government promises TVES will be more diverse, buying 70 percent of its content from independent Venezuelan producers.

                        "We've come here to start a new television with the true face of the people, the face that was hidden, the face that they didn't allow us to show," said Roman Chalbaud, a pro-Chavez filmmaker appointed by the government to TVES' board of directors.

                        TVES received US$4 million in startup funds from the government, but officials say it also may seek commercial advertising.

                        Most Venezuelan news media are in private hands, including many newspapers and radio stations that remain critical of Chavez. But the only major surviving opposition-sided TV channel is Globovision, which is not seen in all parts of the country. By FABIOLA SANCHEZ, Associated Press Writer
                        Oh man, where to begin?

                        "government ads proclaiming, "Now Venezuela belongs to everyone."
                        Unless of course you want the freedom to decide what to watch.
                        "Now Venezuela's airwaves belong to one master"

                        Crowds of students demonstrated across Caracas, saying they fear for the future of free speech.
                        Uh, newsflash guys: Your free speech is dead. The body is still twitching a bit, but you might as well start digging a hole to bury it in.

                        "I plan to keep protesting because we're Venezuelans and it's our right," said Valentina Ramos, 17, a Metropolitan University student
                        Naive...incredibly naive. But hey, she's a college student, so I guess that kind of comes with the territory. ;)
                        As for your "right" to keep protesting, you'd better check that idea at the door. It's as dead as your free speech.

                        It said the EU expects that Venezuela will uphold freedom of speech and "support pluralism."
                        Ha! That's a good one. Nothing like the power of positive thinking. Deluded and idiotic though it might be...

                        Leading politicians from Peru, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and the Organization of American States also either criticized the closure Monday or made statements reaffirming that freedom of expression is an inherent right in democracies.
                        Oh that's even better.

                        *sigh* I guess somebody should have told Venezuala that economic prosperity comes at a price when you install a socialist dictator in power.

                        But hey, they're no longer under economic slavery so what the hell are they whining about? Enjoy the horn of plenty that Hugo has conjured up for you. :)
                        “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Should we start a pool on pogroms and mass jailings of political undesirables?

                          -dale

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by dalem View Post
                            Should we start a pool on pogroms and mass jailings of political undesirables?
                            Bet on a sure thing? Why?

                            Oh I get it...not if but when. ;)

                            When Senor Hugo has such wonderful examples to draw upon, I'm guessing sooner rather than later.
                            “He was the most prodigious personification of all human inferiorities. He was an utterly incapable, unadapted, irresponsible, psychopathic personality, full of empty, infantile fantasies, but cursed with the keen intuition of a rat or a guttersnipe. He represented the shadow, the inferior part of everybody’s personality, in an overwhelming degree, and this was another reason why they fell for him.”

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by dalem View Post
                              Should we start a pool on pogroms and mass jailings of political undesirables?

                              -dale
                              I'd go for undesirables being dropped out of aircraft over the sea. It's such a South American thing to do, and no bodies to dig up afterward
                              In the realm of spirit, seek clarity; in the material world, seek utility.

                              Leibniz

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X