International groups worry over Venezuela's stance on free press (Chavez no left wing hero)

[usregimechange]

(CNN) -- The United Nations and the Organization of American States said Saturday they are worried over Venezuelan government statements about an independent TV station that has criticized President Hugo Chavez.

In a joint release, freedom of expression investigators Frank LaRue of the U.N. and Catalina Botero of the O.A.S. "express their concern in light of the statements made by the highest-level government authorities, which generate an atmosphere of intimidation in which the right to freedom of expression is seriously limited."

Venezuela denied the allegations.

"We reject and condemn use of the name of such institutions as the U.N. and the O.A.S to attack member states while defending private monopolies that are accustomed to abuse of power and violating human rights," said Venezuela's U.N. Ambassador Jorge Valero.

At issue is the Globovision TV station, the sole remaining national broadcaster in Venezuela that is openly critical of Chavez.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/05/23/venezuela.globovision/index.html


Chavez may be left wing but it appears he is not an icon civil libertarianism.

[usregimechange]

1. Chavez: What jimmy did was worse therefore what I am doing is ok

[mmonk]

2. I heard we improved to 37th I believe in press freedom in 2008.

This was in spite of the arrest of jounalists on terrorism charges while covering protests at the RNC. I believe we were bumped up when we finally released the Al Jazeera camera man from Gitmo.

[JackRiddler]

3. Good thing the Venezuelan FOXNEWS has you as a defender...

This is one of the stations that supported the CIA-backed coup to overthrow Chavez in 2002. If they had done it in the United States, they would have been shut down immediately back then.