mistermack wrote:Coito, you're tap-dancing round the truth, you seem to be getting dizzy.
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The only one with a problem with the truth is you. You choose to believe Chavez's propaganda.
From the same "wikipedia" article you quoted: "The failure to renew its terrestrial broadcast license had been condemned by a multitude of international organizations, many of whom have claimed that the closure was politically motivated, and was intended to silence government critics." The "multitude" of international organizations on the one hand - Chavez's bullshit on the other.
Also from wikipedia:
Concerns about freedom of the press in Venezuela have been raised by Human Rights Watch,[15][16] Amnesty International,[17] the Inter American Press Association,[18] the International Press Institute,[19] the United States Department of State,[20] Reporters without Borders,[21][22] representatives of the Catholic Church, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and others.[23][24][25][26][27]
And, about the political prisoners.....
Human rights and legal policy groups say that there are more than 40 political prisoners in Venezuela, and that 2,000 Chávez opponents are under investigation.[40] Venezuela's political opposition complains that the justice system is controlled by the government and is used as a political instrument against Chavez' opponents.[41] The opposition cites corruption charges filed against a variety of opposition figures, including opposition leader Manuel Rosales, former Defense Minister Raul Baduel, and former Governors Eduardo Manuitt and Didalco Bolivar.[42]
The opposition also claims that government of Hugo Chávez is targeting university students. Some have been jailed under charges of “destabilizing the government,” or “inciting civil war.” Students have launched hunger strikes over the government's treatment of alleged political prisoners.[43]
Amnesty International reports about 6,000 "extrajudicial killings" by the State between 2000 and 2007. Amnesty International, 2009 Annual Report: Venezuela
The European Parliament passed a February 2010 resolution[100] expressing "concern about the movement toward authoritarianism" by Chavez.[101] ^ European Parliament (11 February 2010). "Human rights: Venezuela, Madagascar, Burma". Press release. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
^ "European Parliament OKs resolutions". UPI.com. 12 February 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2010. "The members expressed concern about the movement toward authoritarianism by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's government, the European Union said Thursday in a release. In January 2010, six cable and satellite television channels were ordered off the air after they were criticized for failing to broadcast Chavez's speech on the 52nd anniversary of the overthrow of Perez Jimenez."
Here's what Human Rights Watch had to say:
Venezuela: Media Law Undercuts Freedom of Expression
NOVEMBER 23, 2004
RELATED MATERIALS:
Venezuela: Limit State Control of Media
This legislation severely threatens press freedom in Venezuela.
José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch
A draft law to increase state control of television and radio broadcasting in Venezuela threatens to undermine the media’s freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said today. Venezuela’s National Assembly, which has been voting article by article on the law, known as the Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television, is expected to approve it today.
“This legislation severely threatens press freedom in Venezuela,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Its vaguely worded restrictions and heavy penalties are a recipe for self-censorship by the press and arbitrariness by government authorities.”
Human Rights Watch is concerned that the proposed law contains loosely worded rules on incitement of breaches of public order that could penalize broadcasters’ legitimate expression of political views. If found responsible for the infractions, a television or radio station could be ordered to suspend transmissions for up to 72 hours, and have its broadcasting license revoked on a second offense.
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2004/11/23/v ... expression
Venezuela: End Prosecutions of Dissenters
Arrests for Criticizing the Government Undermines Democracy
MARCH 25, 2010
President of TV station Globovisión Guillermo Zuloaga attends a news conference in Caracas on November 18, 2009.
RELATED MATERIALS:
Venezuela: Curbs on Free Expression Tightened
Venezuela: Media Law Undercuts Freedom of Expression
For years, Chávez has been pushing legislation to restrict free speech. Now we seem to be entering a darker period in which he is enforcing these draconian laws.
José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch
(Washington, DC) – The arrest of two prominent critics in retaliation for public statements that were critical of the government is a serious blow to freedom of expression in Venezuela, Human Rights Watch said today.
“To prosecute someone for speech, which should be protected under any standard of democracy, is a dangerous precedent,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “The violations of free speech are likely to be compounded by a trial that falls far short of due process protections, given the government’s political takeover of the Supreme Court.”
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/25/v ... dissenters
Venezuela: Close Chavez’s New Censorship Office
Stop Prosecuting and Harassing Critics and Restricting Flow of Information
JULY 21, 2010
An demonstrator holding a sign that reads "No to censorship. Freedom", takes part in a demonstration during Journalist Day in Caracas on June 27, 2009.
© 2009 Reuters
RELATED MATERIALS:
Venezuela: Stop Attacks on Judicial Independence
Venezuela: End Prosecutions of Dissenters
Venezuela: Stop Abusing Broadcast Powers
Chávez has created a new tool for controlling public debate in Venezuela. The new decree would allow the president to block the discussion of topics that are inconvenient for his government, blatantly violating the rights of expression and to information, which are at the heart of a democratic society.
José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch
(Washington, DC) - Venezuela should close a recently created office that grants the Chávez administration broad powers to limit public debate, Human Rights Watch said today. The government should also stop seeking to discredit human rights defenders and prosecuting critics.
http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/07/21/v ... hip-office
Venezuela violates human rights, OAS commission reports
HUMAN RIGHTS
February 24, 2010
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights criticizes Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez for abuses.
Venezuela routinely violates human rights, often intimidating or punishing citizens based on their political beliefs, an Organization of American States commission said in a report released Wednesday.
The 319-page report by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights says a lack of independence by Venezuela's judiciary and legislature in their dealings with leftist President Hugo Chavez often leads to the abuses.
and the Chavez
government represses political opponents and the expression of free ideas by jailing critics on trumped-up charges or pulling licenses for TV and radio stations and shutting down newspapers.
and
The OAS commission's report also notes "the existence of a pattern of impunity in cases of violence, which particularly affects media workers, human rights defenders, trade unionists, participants in public demonstrations, people held in custody, 'campesinos' (small-scale and subsistence farmers), indigenous people, and women."
http://articles.cnn.com/2010-02-24/worl ... s=PM:WORLD
So, you suggest that I'm just an American, and therefore I'll just believe whatever, right? However, you are the one swallowing what Chavez feeds you whole and uncritically. I'm the one basing my view on a variety of sources, including Amnesty International, the European Parliament, Reporters without Borders, Human Rights Watch, various international press organizations, the Inter American Council on Human Rights..... and many others...
Please save your fucking condescension and snarky smugness for someone else. It's obvious your political agenda causes you to not be able to see the truth.
