Venezuela: HRF condemns media crackdown and relaunches its campaign for press freedom in Venezuela 

NEW YORK (February 2, 2010) – The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) condemned the recent media crackdown in Venezuela that sent RCTV International (RCTV-I), along with other five cable and satellite TV channels (TV Chile, Ritmo Son, Momentum, America TV, and American Network), off the air last Sunday after they failed to broadcast a speech by President Hugo Chávez. In view of this new attack on freedom of expression, HRF has relaunched its Free RCTV campaign (www.FreeRCTV.com), which aims to raise international awareness about the grave situation of freedom of expression in Venezuela.

“This new abuse by the Venezuelan government lays bare the deplorable human rights situation in Venezuela,” said Thor Halvorssen, president of HRF. “After RCTV was shut down in 2007, millions of people who yearned for an independent television channel subscribed to RCTV International on cable. In line with wanting to implement what his henchmen call ‘communicational hegemony,’ they have now manipulated the laws to shut down RCTV a second time,” said Halvorssen.

The president of Venezuela and his government have carried out a relentless campaign against independent media in Venezuela – especially against those who question the government’s policies. The president has singled out editors, newspaper owners, reporters, and in one case even challenged the owner of a news channel to be prepared to face him in a duel.

“Not content with attacking, bankrupting, or using the laws to make independent media subservient, the president of Venezuela abuses the laws to force all television and radio stations to carry his images and his long speeches – in some cases five- or six-hour long – through every TV outlet in the country. In net terms, he has more exposure than any competing voice or opinion, and yet that is still not enough,” said Halvorssen, in reference to the legally-mandated imposition on all radio and television media networks to broadcast the president’s speeches live at his discretion.

RCTV’s permit to broadcast through public airwaves was cancelled in 2007. Three weeks later, RCTV started broadcasting through cable and satellite service providers as RCTV International (RCTV-I). The shutdown of RCTV-I on Sunday occurred when the channel failed to air a speech by President Chávez. That same day, President Chávez publicly congratulated Diosdado Cabello, the government’s telecommunications officer: “That’s what must be done with those who refuse to obey the law ... Thank you, Minister!”

Other human rights organizations condemning this new crackdown on independent media in Venezuela include the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders and the Inter-American Press Association. Since 2007, the Venezuelan government has denied the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights access to the country to monitor the human rights situation in situ. According to the freedom of expression in the world index, prepared annually by Freedom House, Venezuela and Cuba are currently the only two countries considered “not free” on the American continent.

HRF launched the Free RCTV campaign and website on May 7, 2007, only weeks before the removal of RCTV from public airwaves. Given this new attack on RCTV International, even as a subscription broadcaster, HRF has relaunched the campaign and updated the website to inform the public and raise international awareness about the grave situation of freedom of expression in Venezuela. The Free RCTV site includes informational material, reports, articles, news, videos, and pictures about RCTV’s case.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the Americas. It centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF does not support nor condone violence. HRF’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Václav Havel,Mutabar Tadjibaeva, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Contact: Javier El-Hage, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org