Restrictions on Press Freedom Growing in Venezuela
January 19, 2007

The Washington Post is reporting that the broadcasting license of Inside Radio Caracas Television (IRCT), an anti-Chavez television station, has been denied by the Venezuelan government, raising “serious concern among free-press advocates.”  Various groups such as the Committee to Protect Journalists and the Organization of American States claim that this is another example demonstrating “that press freedoms in Venezuela are in danger.”  Human Rights Watch Americas director Jose Miguel Vivanco called the non-renewal “a case of censorship,” and that it was a “most grave set back in the region…”

Vivanco also claims that “Chavez is not renewing the concession to punish a medium for its opposition to the government.”  RCTV has a history with the incumbent government, as it was one of the three major private television stations that encouraged an uprising in a 2002 coup attempt against Chavez, and “celebrated his (temporary) removal.”  The station has also called the Chavez government “anti- democratic and incompetent.” 

The same Washington Post report claims that despite the existence of free expression in Venezuela, the government has recently been increasing its pressure on opposition media. Problems gaining access to information is a growing concern to journalists in the country.  Chavez is also “planning to close many press relations offices, funneling all information through the communications minister.”  According to Freedom in the Press 2006, a Freedom House publication, the status of press freedom in Venezuela is “Not Free.”

References

Freedom House: Freedom in the Press, Venezuela (2006)

Washington Post: Pulling the Plug on Anti-Chavez TV