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May 28, 2007 at 08:06:29
Venezuela's RCTV: Sine Die and Good Riddance by Stephen Lendman Page 1 of 1 page(s) |
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Venezuelan TV station Radio Caracas Television's (known as RCTV) VHF Channel 2's operating license expired May 27, and it went off the air because the Chavez government, with ample justification, chose not to renew it. RCTV was the nation's oldest private broadcaster, operating since 1953. It's also had a tainted record of airing Venezuela's most hard right yellow journalism, consistently showing a lack of ethics, integrity or professional standards in how it operated as required by the law it arrogantly flaunted.
Starting May 28, a new public TV station (TVES) replaces it bringing Venezuelans a diverse range of new programming TV channel Vive president, Blanca Eckhout, says will "promot(e) the participation and involvement of all Venezuelans in the task of communication (as an alternative to) the media concentration of the radio-electric spectrum that remains in the hands of a (dominant corporate) minority sector" representing elitist business interests, not the people.
Along with the other four major corporate-owned dominant television channels (controlling 90% of the nation's TV market), RCTV played a leading role instigating and supporting the aborted April, 2002 two-day coup against President Chavez mass public opposition on the streets helped overturn restoring Chavez to office and likely saving his life. Later in the year, these stations conspired again as active participants in the economically devastating 2002-03 main trade union confederation (CTV) - chamber of commerce (Fedecameras) lockout and industry-wide oil strike including willful sabotage against state oil company PDVSA costing it an estimated $14 billion in lost revenue and damage.
This writer explained the dominant corporate media's active role in these events in an extended January, 2007 article titled "Venezuela's RCTV Acts of Sedition." It presented conclusive evidence RCTV and the other four corporate-run TV stations violated Venezuela's Law of Social Responsibility for Radio and Television (LSR). That law guarantees freedom of expression without censorship but prohibits, as it should, transmission of messages illegally promoting, apologizing for, or inciting disobedience to the law that includes enlisting public support for the overthrow of a democratically elected president and his government.
In spite of their lawlessness, the Chavez government treated all five broadcasters gently opting not to prosecute them, but merely refusing to renew one of RCTV's operating licenses (its VHF one) when it expired May 27 (its cable and satellite operations are unaffected) - a mere slap on the wrist for a media enterprise's active role in trying to overthrow the democratically elected Venezuelan president and his government. The article explained if an individual or organization of any kind incited public hostility, violence and anti-government rebellion under Section 2384 of the US code, Title 18, they would be subject to fine and/or imprisonment for up to 20 years for the crime of sedition.
They might also be subject to prosecution for treason under Article 3, Section 3 of the US Constitution stating: "Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort" such as instigating an insurrection or rebellion and/or sabotage to a national defense utility that could include state oil company PDVSA's facilities vital to the operation and economic viability of the country and welfare of its people. It would be for US courts to decide if conspiring to overthrow a democratically government conformed to this definition, but it's hard imagining it would not at least convict offenders of sedition.
Opposition Response to the Chavez Government Action
So far, the dominant Venezuelan media's response to RCTV's shutdown has been relatively muted, but it remains to be seen for how long. However, for media outside the country, it's a different story with BBC one example of misreporting in its usual style of deference to power interests at home and abroad. May 28 on the World Service, it reported RCTV's license wasn't renewed because "it supported opposition candidates" in a gross perversion of the facts, but that's how BBC operates.
BBC online was more nuanced and measured, but nonetheless off the mark in key comments like reporting "Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in Caracas Sunday, some to celebrate, others to protest" RCTV's shuttering. Unexplained was that Chavez supporters way outnumbered opponents who nearly always are part of rightist/corporate-led staged for the media events in contrast to spontaneous pro-government crowds assembling in huge numbers at times, especially whenever Chavez addresses them publicly.
BBC also exaggerated "skirmishes" on the streets with "Police us(ing) tear gas and water cannons to disperse (crowds) and driving through the streets on motorbikes, officers fired plastic bullets in the air." It also underplayed pro-government supportive responses while blaring opposition ones like "Chavez thinks he owns the country. Well, he doesn't." Another was "No to the closure. Freedom." And still another was "Everyone has the right to watch what they want. He can't take away this channel." BBC played it up commenting "As the afternoon drew on, the protests got louder." The atmosphere became nasty. Shots were fired in the air and people ran for cover. It was not clear who was firing" when it's nearly always clear as it's been in the past - anti-Chavistas sent to the streets to stir up trouble and blame it on Chavez.
BBC's commentary ended saying "The arguments highlight, once again, how deeply divided Venezuela is." Unmentioned was that division is about 70 - 80% pro-Chavez, around 20% opposed (the more privileged "sifrino" class), and a small percentage pro and con between them.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.
Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to The Steve Lendman News and Information Hour on TheMicroEffect.com Saturdays at noon US central time.
The views expressed in this article are the sole responsibility of the author
and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
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| 18 comments |
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This makes me nervous.
I read an article (not op-ed) in the Wall Street Journal on this and they, like the BBC, characterize this as a bad thing. I have to wonder. Would we want, say, Air America, or the Olbermann show cancelled? I detest Fox news, but the idea of a government cancelling a TV network is a bit scary. Still your characterization of the network gives one pause to think, or, more accurately, to think some more. I would probably still feel better about Chavez's commitment to democracy if he did NOT shut down a media station. It would be better if he maybe moved the station to somewhere else on the dial and enable the new station he is supporting. Part of democracy is the by Rob Kall (952 articles, 4177 quicklinks, 374 diaries, 2087 comments [45 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 2:10:14 PM  (0+)
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Response to Rob
Rob - Shed no tears for RCTV. It had a long, lawless history under Chavez, yet got off easy as I explained. My only beef is why it took so long. It should have been shuttered following their lead role inciting insurrection in 2002 that in the US can be a capital offense. My view is don't just shut down RCTV, prosecute its principals and hold them to the full account of Venezuelan law. That's what the rule of law is all about and what I think you and I believe in and work for. Those people are criminals endangering a free and democratic state. by Stephen Lendman (357 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 84 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 2:30:33 PM (0+)
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This makes me nervous also
I share the concern of the first reader. Joining the thousands of Venezuelans who have protested the shut-down of RCTV are Reporters Without Borders and Human Rights Watch. While police and Guardia National were present to stop protests of the closing, no such police presence could be found during the attack of Globovision (another anti-Chavez medium) by pro-Chavez groups. My wife grew up in Venezuela, and I teach journalism and mass communication courses. As for your percentages of Venezuelans who admire Chavez - it may be so. But they are enamored with the man, not his politics. He is destroying any voices of dissent - just as surely as Castro did. Before your readers take you at face value, I suggest they look at some blogs by Venezuelans who are present and have been eye-witnesses to what's happening there. by Victorio (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1 comments) on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 9:15:34 PM (0+)
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Shaking my head in amazement
The hypocrisy being exhibited is just jaw-dropping. If President Bush somehow shut down Air America or A-Mess-NBC or any of the alphabet-soup networks, the left would be screaming bloody murder. Heck, everybody would be screaming bloody murder, including me. But freedom of speech is alive in this country, while Hugo the clown is showing early signs of wishing to kill it in his own. This is yet another day when I won't be buying Citgo products. by Scott (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 744 comments [30 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Monday, May 28, 2007 at 11:24:09 PM (0+)
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Reply: ROTFL!
"The hypocrisy being exhibited is just jaw-dropping. If President Bush somehow shut down Air America or A-Mess-NBC or any of the alphabet-soup networks, the left would be screaming bloody murder." Whom do you think you're kidding? First of all, when it comes to all issues of major importance in the U.S., like bloody U.S. militarism, imperialism, warmongering, economic devastation, the taking away of our rights, etc., there is no "left"; in fact, there is no political opposition whatsoever, so let's not pretend otherwise. "Heck, everybody would be screaming bloody murder, including me. But freedom of speech is alive in this country," Bullshit. Start saying the "wrong" thing. Start getting some kind of a following. You'll have "freedom of speech" only to the extent it doesn't start having a real impact. When it does, you'll be targeted. You'll be smeared, your career threatened, your family harrassed...or maybe you'll just disappear or have an accident of some kind. "while Hugo the clown is showing early signs of wishing to kill it in his own. This is yet another day when I won't be buying Citgo products." Rather than prudently and lawfully deny renewal of the license, what Chavez should have done is immediately bomb the TV station and/or assassinate everyone associated with it, like any red-blodded U.S. President would have done. I guess then it would have been ok with you hypocrites in the U.S. by jpsmith123 (3 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 286 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 7:06:38 AM (0+)
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You've got it all wrong
You totally misunderstand what's going on in Venezuela in response to RCTV shuttering. It's a fact, no dispute, Chavez opposition on the streets a "staged for media event." This stunt pulled many times before. Also, the pro-Chavez supporters way outnumber opposition every time, and they need no incentive to take to streets. They do it all the time en masse. RCTV got off easy. They're lawless, shed no tears for them. I stand by everything I wrote and much more in my more extended article on subject. by Stephen Lendman (357 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 84 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 5:53:16 AM (0+)
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Reply: I agree with you.
Moreover, one thing about Venezuela is that at least the people there seem to have a choice. Being that their democratic system at least works a little bit (unlike the complete sham government in the U.S.), the people can get rid of Chavez any time they want to. U.S. citizens now have no say whatsoever in most important issues here...and yet these U.S. based hypocrites are criticizing Chavez. How pathetic can they be? by jpsmith123 (3 articles, 1 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 286 comments [27 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 9:09:47 PM (0+)
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we have plenty of cases
here in the US when operating licenses are not renewed by the local govts. There are courts for that. The TV station in Venezuela should go to court there. If there is no court... then we need to worry, I guess. As for the freedom of speech... hey, how about Howard Stern of General Batist. Here , in this country they go not after stations but after the individuals. Had anyone from RCTV been smeared, detained, harrased, etc. Had anyone been sued by the govt for.. propaganda? I concur with Mr. Lendman. I also would caution everyone- private property and freedom of speech are not the same thing and we all know that. Oh, yes, we all know that big time. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:22:52 AM (0+)
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one more response
And the public airwaves happen to belong to the public, not corporate predators who always end up with them screwing the public. It's time we starting screaming about it right here or the faint glimmers of remaining democracy will be extinguished just like in Nazi Germany. Think I'm exaggerating? Germans thought so too till saw it happen. by Stephen Lendman (357 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 84 comments [2 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 8:30:03 AM (0+)
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Another Regime Change in the Making
The United States has continually interferred in Venezuela's domestic affairs since it first learned that Venezuela was sitting on top of a huge oil reserve. But for the oil, our government could care less what happens in Venezuela. It might even be supporting Chavez if he is the totalitarian some of the posts would have us believe he is. After all, the United States has a history of supporting bloody dictators in Central and South America. See -Empire's Workshop: Latin America, The United States, and the Rise of the New Imperialism. If Bush and the industrial-military complex were not now engaged in Iraq they would probably invade Venezuela under the pretense of restoring freedom of speech and freedom of the press, even though the Bush regime is doing its best to destroy both in the US. by Alden Mason (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 29 comments) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 11:44:11 AM (0+)
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Steve and Rob
Venezuela, the revolution will not be televised was an aricle and video in the OpEd news about a year ago. Here is a link to google for the video. vhttp://video.google.com/videosearch?q=the+revolution+will+not+be+televised. I have been trying to follow these articles on Venezuela since, because of the oil reserves they have. I find it interesting that Bush and Chavez have differences and the news media paints Chaves as a Dictator. Chavez has been repeatedly duly elected and uses the oil revenues to benefit the poor. I don't see that happening here. Watch the video and see how the privately owned television stations participated in the coup against Chavez. They broke the laws of that nation but, he did not throw them in prison as he probably should have. I finally found out where I could order the DVDs on this so if you let me know I will pass that info to you. by Ron McCallie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 74 comments) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 2:09:58 PM (0+)
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In due time........
The people of Venezuela will be living a life of leisure just like the Cubans. They won't have to work for anything because the magnificent Hugo will give it to them free. Of course , before long there won't be anything to give them because no one is working. Hugo is a pinko and getting redder by the moment and only the boot-lickers of a like mind can admire him. Off with his head!! by larry booth (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 303 comments) on Tuesday, May 29, 2007 at 4:12:07 PM (0+)
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And I stand by what I said
Because Hugo the clown does not believe in freedom of speech. That's par for the course for many on the radical left. If conservatives speak up, then shout them down, call them racists and Nazis, and beat them up if you can get away with it. Protestors in Venezuela have been getting hit with rubber bullets. You all went ballistic when it happened at the WTO riots. Will you condemn it now that Hugo's police are doing it? There is a vast difference between talk show hosts criticizing liberals in the USA and Chavez shutting down an entire station. I hope the people of Venezuela aren't hit with another Tiannemen Square massacre. by Scott (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 744 comments [30 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 12:18:57 AM (0+)
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To joree and damail
Mr, Lendman does not need any defense, his writings are impecable. I am surprised though to see such unfortunate ignorance based on the primitve dislike on behalf of some commenters, sorry for the wording ( not that they cannot have their own views). Folks, in the socialism, even such as Cuban version people work very hard. Now, I hope you are both very successful but as to me there are literally hundreds of thousands of people in THIS country who are parasites including the biggest cockroach currently in the White House. I sincerely hope you see that too, also that the old American way of ' Honest work for Honest pay' had been replaced by another one: ' I am honest until proven otherwise.' Take your pick. Now, as for the freedom of speech, rubber bullets, etc. With all respect rubber bullets and tear gas are a routine nowadays. Freedom of speech? Well, if you consider that yapping hopelessly what we do here is a freedom of speech, then we surely enjoy it. I guess, Pat Robertson really enjoys it too. I prefer silence. Someone, I think a cowboy philosopher Bach said 'never lose a chance to keep your mouth shut'. Hey, when our darling Pinochet came to power in Chile he really embraced opposition, didn't he? Folks, the USA never helped democracy in Latin America, effectively killing all chances for it to grow. Empty spaces are then filled with other tendencies, you know. So, the best for us here is to agree that it is not our business, that we have a plenty of work here and what those people do on their land is their right to do. This is an American way- to mind our own business. If only we had done it on the regular basis. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 7:16:58 AM (0+)
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Reply: I am grateful............
that you have awarded me the right to have my own view. Thank you. by larry booth (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 303 comments) on Thursday, May 31, 2007 at 3:48:32 PM (0+)
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IF HUGO IS A "PINKO" THEN SO IS JESUS
"By Thier Fruits shall ye know them." Adoplh Hitler of the Christian Deomocartic Party and G W Bush pretend(ed) at Christianity but their fruit was/is mass-murder, war, stealing, assassination, concentration death camps, mass-murder, war, stealing, assassination, concentration death camps, mass -murder.... etc. well you might get the picture by now. Meanwhile Hugo Chavez never mentions Jesus but his fruit is Christian good works. Study closely Jesus words and actions and those of Stalin and Mao. In the end Mao and Stalin acted like Bush, Hitler, and Chavez has shown good fruit. The Jews have a saying, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Bush is the enemy of every freedom loving man woman and child with an IQ above that of a qumquat on this or any other planet, whether they be Christian, Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, or simply worship Gnu Tusks. Chavez is a man of courage, Bush is a craven coward. In an effort to avert war and save lives, Saddam's ministers challenged Bush and Cheney to a duel and they nearly s*it their pants out of fear, before they had Ari bail them out. Dueling is still legal in Uraguay that is why neither of them have ever been there. Hugo Chavez is by Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo (144 articles, 1 quicklinks, 95 diaries, 1317 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 2:04:56 PM (0+)
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Reply: my above comment is full of typos, please disregard
by Professor Emeritus Peter Bagnolo (144 articles, 1 quicklinks, 95 diaries, 1317 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 2:14:07 PM (0+)
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Jesus has just been blasphemed
Shutting up your opponents is Christ-like? Creating more poverty than when you took over is Christ-like? What a load of hooey. It is Chavez who is the coward, not Bush. by Scott (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 744 comments [30 recommended, 3 rejected]) on Wednesday, May 30, 2007 at 9:52:38 PM (0+)
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