(IPYS/IFEX) – On 17 November 2006, President Hugo Chávez, who is running for re-election, threatened to close any television station that broadcasts “destabilizing” messages on 3 December, the day of national elections. He made this warning during the announcement of a social programme, in Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta state, in northern Venezuela. The president stated […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 17 November 2006, President Hugo Chávez, who is running for re-election, threatened to close any television station that broadcasts “destabilizing” messages on 3 December, the day of national elections. He made this warning during the announcement of a social programme, in Isla Margarita, Nueva Esparta state, in northern Venezuela.
The president stated that his government will close any media outlet that broadcasts messages that promote war, hatred, terrorism, or that incite the population to disobey the authorities. He also declared that some of the media outlets are conspiring against his government. He offered no evidence to substantiate his accusations.
This is the third time in 2006 that the president has threatened to close certain media outlets. In June, he ordered the broadcasting frequency concessions of broadcasters that backed the 22 April 2002 attempted coup d’etat be reviewed (see IFEX alert of 16 June 2006). On 3 November he warned those television companies whose concessions will expire in 2007 that his government would not renew their contracts because they had promoted the attempted coup d’etat against him (see alert of 17 November 2006). He did not identify the media outlets to which he was referring on that occasion either.
