Guardian:We should back Chávez

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It's not too late for Britain to stand against the Washington consensus on Latin America
Colin Burgon


Neoconservative forces, via compliant media outlets and Christian right groupings within the European parliament, are preparing their latest attack on Hugo Chávez and the government of Venezuela. The latest focus of the campaign is the decision of Venezuela's broadcasting authorities not to renew the licence of the private television channel RCTV. The anti-Chávez apparatus once again presents a test for Foreign Office ministers.

Washington's outriders characterise the decision as an affront to freedom of speech, yet the facts speak in louder tones. Over 80% of Venezuelan television and radio outlets are privately owned; this excludes a number of cable and satellite television networks that are widely available. Of this 80%, significant sections are owned by corporate groups. According to a recent New York Times editorial, this has led to a situation in which "even the best news outlets tend to be openly ideological...so the owners' views can permeate reporting".

Almost all Venezuelan newspapers remain in private hands. The press is free to report, and express opinions, without government interference. Most do so with considerable brio on a daily basis. No media outlet has encountered licensing problems for the expression of political views. No journalist has been imprisoned or punished for report or comment.

In RCTV's case, the broadcaster failed to meet basic public-interest standards. The criterion for this assessment is similar to that used by the US Federal Communications Commission. RCTV will be free to broadcast via cable and satellite, which are available across the country.

In the UK, if Channel 4 aided an attempted coup against the government that resulted in civil unrest and even death, would anyone be supporting the renewal of its licence? RCTV has lost its licence because its wealthy owners slanted news coverage to provide support to the April 2002 coup against Chávez and the elected government. This will not be news to those who gathered in parliament last week to view John Pilger's excellent documentary The War on Democracy, which shows footage of RCTV involvement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,,2087696,00.html

[gobblechops]

1. Chavez isn't perfect

but hes way better then what they had before,you gotta love all the slanted propaganda thrown at us about this guy,even on NPR I get anti chavez stories on a steady bases

If CNN started supporting the death of bush you can bet they would lose there license too.or the recent story about the enemy's list but they failed to mention he disposed of that list and is currently correcting these wrongs.

again man is not perfect but you can bet if he was cowing to corporate interest most wouldn't know who he was even if he was killing his people in the street.I gotta ask what is wrong with a country's resources belonging to that country?what is wrong with feeding your people or making sure they have health care with those resources?

[HysteryDiagnosis]

2. Quote from your article....

Washington's outriders characterise the decision as an affront to freedom of speech<<

Perhaps RCTV should just broadcast in little blue broadcast squares.... the way the protesters have to do when shrub is bloviating about how he is going to save the world for corporate interests.