Venezuelan President Warns Private Media Against Inciting Violence

In his first declaration since the private network RCTV went off the air last Sunday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke on national television yesterday warning the private television channel Globovision that he would take measures against them if they do not stop "inciting violence" and "calling for disobedience."
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Caracas, May 30, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com)— In his first declaration since the private network RCTV went off the air last Sunday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez spoke on national television yesterday warning the private television channel Globovision that he would take measures against them if they do not stop "inciting violence" and "calling for disobedience." Chavez also warned the Venezuelan people to be on alert for a destabilization plan put in place by the opposition.

In an official broadcast over all the nation’s airwaves yesterday, President Chavez announced that his government would not allow the private media or political leaders to openly call for violence and incite chaos in the country. Chavez accused the private network Globovision of instigating violence and his assassination, and warned them to control themselves.

"Globovision, you watch how far you go, I just recommend that you measure it well," warned Chavez. "If you all want, keep advancing, if you want to keep calling for disobedience, inciting assassination like you did last night.," he said referring to a recent broadcast of Globovision that alluded to assassination.

Chavez also warned the country to be aware of any destabilization plans. He alerted both opposition and pro-government groups that certain opposition sectors are looking to cause deaths in the streets.

"I want to alert the Venezuelan people, and to those who are behind the show, of the actions in the street that they are trying to incite, and some of the media who are playing, as always, for destabilization," said Chavez.

Chavez also called out to the opposition protestors to not allow themselves to be manipulated by the opposition media and to not let themselves be used as "cannon fodder" by sectors of the opposition who seek to create violence. Chavez also asked parents of the protesting students to watch their children and not allow them to be manipulated.

Thousands of high school and university students continued to protest in the streets on Tuesday, for the third day, in rejection of the government decision to not renew the broadcast license of RCTV. Also, in another part of the city, government supporters marched to the presidential palace in support of the government’s decision and in rejection of the violent protests.

Chavez congratulated the National Guard and the Metropolitan police for their "work and patience, that without falling into provocations they upheld their obligation to act when they were fired upon with fire arms."

Chavez reminded viewers that the Metropolitan police were used in 2002 by the opposition to kill protesters during his brief overthrow in April of 2002.

"The coup leaders used the Metropolitan Police in the year 2002. That time they really attacked and shot the peaceful marchers, against unarmed people," he said. "Well, today we have a police force that follows the law, and they acted responsibly, putting up with insults."

Latin American Leaders Comment on the case of RCTV

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio da Silva declined to comment about the case of RCTV considering it an internal problem for Venezuela. After being asked about the case yesterday Lula affirmed that it is a problem for the Venezuelan government and legislation to deal with.

"What does Brazil have to do with a television concession in Venezuela?" he asked. "That is a problem for the Venezuelan legislation and government. Just like I don’t want them to give opinions about the things I do here, I don’t want to comment on that."

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet also commented on the decision of the Venezuelan government upon being asked about the case. Bachelet emphasized the importance of the "freedom of expression."

"For us guaranteeing freedom of expression is an essential principle, however, in relation to the issue of Venezuela in particular, what there has been is an end of a license, an end of a concession," she said.

The Ecuadorian government declared that they respect the sovereign decision of the Venezuelan government to not renew the broadcast license for RCTV that expired on May 27th.

"As the government, we absolutely respect the sovereign decisions that the Venezuelan government takes," said Communications Secretary Monica Chuji. "The government has decided to not renew the frequency, which doesn’t mean the limiting of freedom of expression."

And although the Nicaraguan parliament condemned the decision in a vote yesterday, Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega supported the right of the Venezuelan government to make the decision.