Op-Ed
Commentary
VenEconomy:
Bound for hegemony in communications
Wasting no time over the Christmas holidays, President Reelect
Hugo Chávez Frías pushed ahead with the consolidation
of the hegemonic, totalitarian State that is part of his country
project.
The most important and far-reaching of his December measures,
because of its repercussions for the future of Venezuelan democracy,
was the decision not to renew Radio Caracas Televisión’s
concession for the use of the radio spectrum.
In order to implement this contrived decision, President Chávez,
as is his wont, has tried to give an appearance of legality to
the assumptions on which it is based.
Among other things, he alleges that RCTV’s concession expires
in May 2007, which is blatantly untrue. The Organic Telecommunications
Law, which went into force in June 2000, establishes the obligation
of the government to modify the legal licenses of all the country’s
radio and television stations within a period of two years. And
even though the government has not complied with its part of this
law, it is clear that, legally, RCTV’s concession for the
use of the radio spectrum remains in force until June 12, 2022.
Another legal point in RCTV’s favor is contained in Decree
1,577 of 1987, under which all radio spectrum concessions current
at that time were renewed for 20 years plus an automatic extension
for a further 20. In other words, according to this decree, RCTV’s
concession does not expire until 2027.
The government has accused RCTV of being a coupster and of destabilizing
the country, even though no such accusation against the station,
its employees or management has been filed with any court in the
land. On the other hand, the OAS has issue precautionary measures
for the protection of RCTV’s workers, journalists, management
and facilities owing to the government’s harassment and
excesses.
The problem is not a legal one, however. The crux of the matter
is that the President’s decision not to renew RCTV’s
concession strikes a mortal blow at the freedom of expression
of all Venezuelans. RCTV is one of the few media that have not
allowed themselves to be browbeaten and have not succumbed to
the malice of the Gag Law or the Criminal Code. It has followed
a firm line on informing the public, objectively denouncing and
criticizing the government’s errors and excesses.
Despite the far-reaching nature of this measure, to VenEconomy’s
surprise, neither the Venezuelan media nor the political parties
have closed ranks in support of RCTV as one would have expected.
Among those who have expressed their rejection of President Chávez’
decision are the Catholic Church and some NGOs. On the international
front, a number of important media, Reporters Without Borders,
the IAPA and the Organization of American States have protested
the measure. The OAS issued a strong communiqué from its
Secretary General, José Miguel Insulza, in which he states
that this is a decision never seen in a democracy. Incredibly,
the Venezuelan Foreign Minister went so far as to ask Insulza
to withdraw his statement.
Removing RCTV from the Venezuelan radio spectrum is merely another
link in the long chain of abuses against the freedom of expression
in these eight years of the Chávez administration. Now,
government spokesman Andrés Izarra has announced a new
Bolivarian plan: State hegemony in matters of communication and
information or a screening of the country’s press, radio
and television.
We wish to inform readers that Robert Bottome, the editor of VenEconomy,
is neither a shareholder nor a director of RCTV, although his
brother, Peter Bottome, is.
VenEconomy
is a Venezuela's leading specialized publisher in the economic
and financial area. VenEconomy's Points of View on the issues
of the day, as seen by VenEconomy during the last week. Petroleumworld
does not necessarily share these views.
Editor's
Note: This commentary was originally published by VenEconomy,
on 01/08/2007. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest
of our readers.
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News 01/09/07
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