Chavez Kills Free Speech

Article By Writer Michael Kraft Author: Michael Kraft
Published: May 27, 2007
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Related: International News Key Issues Free Speech US Enemies

Here is an entry from Alex Boyd, one of the great latin American journalists and bloggers in the world today and a regular read of mine. Alex is an expert in Venezuelan politics from a street level and not a lacky of the dictator like much of the propaganda you see spun on the web. Alex Boyd provides actual photos and images from the real events in the end of democracy in Venezuela.

“This week we have been treated to a unique spectacle: the illegal decision of Hugo Chavez to close RCTV, Venezuela´s oldest and largest TV network, has predictably drawn a string of criticism from international human rights NGOs, the European Parliament and the US Congress. It would be rather difficult to find an issue that can achieve such consensus from all sides of the political divide. For curtailing freedom of expression is one such issue amongst the world’s democrats, and as in the UK anti benefit fraud campaign “no ifs, no buts…” if an elected leader of a given country is caught closing a media conglomerate solely on the basis of personal animosity to its editorial lines, said leader forfeits the privilege to call himself/herself democratic. Quite simple really, for one of the fundamental principles of democracy is the right to freely express one´s thoughts, read the right to criticise elected civil servants. When civil servants become deranged, letting the reins of galloping megalomania loose, and convincing themselves of their utter infallibility they must believe feasible and acceptable doing with a country and all its citizens what they please, as if it were a personal fiefdom. Then they go round closing TV networks, confiscating private property, nationalising industries, pilling up weapons, fuelling narcoguerrillas and funding continental `revolutions,´ imprisoning and assassinating political foes, and espousing a characteristically imperial behaviour. History is chock full of examples, Hugo Chavez has become just one of the latest.”

According to poller Datanálisis, in April 2007, only 13% of Venezuelans agree to deny the license to RCTV, while 70% reject the government’s decision.

Read Alex’s blog at www.vcrisis.com.

Or read equally good insight into this desturctuion of free speech and act of communism here.

UPDATE
The moment the signal went off the air tonight, it was replaced by TVes the new government run propaganda channel.

After 60 years as the longest and first television station ever in the nation of Venezuela, it was thown off the air and replaced with a station that opened with the message of the government.

The first 1 minute of the new communist station, had a commercial for the government, which consisted of people in red communist tshirts raking up leaves and building houses, even though there is a massive housing shortage for the poor that has never been addressed during Chavez’s 8 years in office with the highest revenue in his nations history.

The very first minute was an attack on the past owner, and a government propaganda film.

The next images on the NEW STATION, were images of the past owner of the channel RCTV, which has been on the air for nearly 60 years.

The images circled his face and said he was dirty, corrupt and trying to destroy the government.

It then said, no more to this corruption and showed more images of happy, red t-shirt wearing government robots raking leaves and smiling for the camera.

Im not making this up, this is what the government intend to broadcast. This is straight out of the North Korea mind control handbook.

Think thats a bit harsh?
Here you watch and decide if this is the beginning of government mind control, manipulation and creating hate in the classes.

Chavez kills free speech in venezuela closing the last free speech television station rctv for its support of the opposition