PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 002091

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL VE
SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE

REF: A. CARACAS 02061

B. CARACAS 01998

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Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV)
continues to systematically harass independent media outlets
and restrict freedom of expression. The BRV appears
determined to find grounds to sanction opposition-oriented
cable news network Globovision through a series of bizarre
accusations. Separately, Canal-i, a newly inaugurated cable
news network, was launched October 5 and claims to provide
viewers with "balanced" reporting despite the owner's
connections with the BRV. Meanwhile, a new set of local
media outlets have become targets of suspicious break-ins and
government-imposed closures. Media observation organizations
once again criticized the government's record on press
freedom during the year, particularly Radio Caracas
Television's (RCTV's) closure. End Summary.

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Globovision Under BRV Scrutiny
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2. (U) During his October 8 press conference, Minister of
Interior and Justice Pedro Carreno announced plans to
initiate a criminal investigation against all-news cable
television network Globovision for airing video footage of a
group of teenagers robbing unsuspecting drivers on a Caracas
highway. Carreno harshly criticized Globovision for not
reporting the robberies to transit authorities and questioned
the authenticity of the footage. Carreno also alleged the
video footage formed part of a "psychological campaign to
generate fear among citizens."


3. (U) General Director of Globovision Alberto Ravell
dismissed Carreno's accusations and argued that the network's
special report only sought to raise awareness about soaring
crime rates in Caracas. Carreno dropped the charges after
the network released a copy of the footage to the Scientific
and Investigations Police Unit (CICPC),which deemed that the
incident had not been staged. The media subsequently
reported that authorities used Globovision's video to
apprehend several of those caught on film.


4. (U) Separately, Journalists for the Truth, a BRV-sponsored
organization purporting to be a non-government organization,
filed a claim September 21 with the Telecommunications
Regulatory Agency (Conatel) against Globovision, accusing it
of violating the Media Law of Social Responsibility. The
organization claimed that Globovision's September 17 coverage
of a fight between opposition-oriented doctors and pro-Chavez
staff at a local hospital "incited hatred and violencQ and
that the images were not appropriate for that particular time
slot. Conatel has not responded to the claim.

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"Balanced" News Network Airs
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5. (U) Venezuela's newest cable television station Canal-i
aired October 5. The all-news station claims to provide
viewers with "balanced" news coQage and serve as an
alternative to its closest competitor, Globovision. Canal-i
is owned by Venezuelan businessman Wilmer Ruperti, one of
PDVSA's major private contractors, who reportedly invested
more than USD 21 million in the station. The networks airs
in Caracas, Maracaibo, and Barquisimento and occupies the
channels previously filled by Puma TV, a music television
station. Canal-i was originally supposed to air February 28,
but Conatel reportedly failed to grant them a broadcasting
license in time. The station has since obtained a license
through 2016.


6. (C) Canal-i's Marketing Manager met with Embassy Press
Specialist recently and expressed interest in airing Voice of
America programming. Press Specialist notes that although
Ruperti is a Chavista loyalist, close to 70% of the network's
journalists, administrators, and editorial staff identify
with the opposition.

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Regional Media Outlets Targeted
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7. (U) The administrative offices of the regional daily

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newspaper "El Correo del Caroni" and broadcast media outlet
TVGuayana were raided during the early morning hours on
October 3 by unknown persons. The trespassers allegedly
rummaged through accounting records and other files, but it
is unknown whether any documents were taken.


8. (SBU) A judge in Bolivar state ordered the closure of the
radio station Horizonte 88.5 and the confiscation of its
technical equipment on October 3. The station's owner,
Aquilino Marquez, alleges the closure is politically
motivated and is due to his outspoken criticism of mayor
Franklin Gonzalez, one of the nine mayors that faced recall
elections October 7 (Ref. B). (Note: Gonzalez retained his
public position. End Note.)


9. (U) A group of pro-opposition demonstrators marched to the
headquarters of Panorama newspaper September 17 and threw
bottles and rocks at the building's facade and verbally
harassed journalists affiliated with Panorama, following the
daily's coverage of the BRV's detention of Zulia's Chief of
Security, Jose "Mazuco" Sanchez, in connection with the death
of a Military Intelligence Police (DIM) official in a prison
facility. (Note: Panorama is the highest circulation daily
in Maracaibo, Zulia state and has a center-right editorial
tendency. End Note.) According to statements by Panamora's
Board of Directors, the National Guard and Municipal Police
were called in to disburse protesters. The National College
of Journalists and SIP condemned the attacks on Panorama and
called on all sectors to respect freedom of the press,
regardless of editorial tendency or political affiliation.

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Media Watchdogs on Freedom of Expression
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10. (SBU) The Inter-American Press Society (SIP) expressed
concern about the state of the freedom of the press in
Venezuela during its 63rd General Assembly meeting in Miami
from October 12-16. The SIP cited the BRV's closure of RCTV,
its confiscation of RCTV's technical equipment, government
harassment of independent journalists, and the government's
arbitrary issuance of radio broadcast licenses to
pro-government stations as troublesome. Additionally, the
SIP noted that the Venezuelan president's proposed
constitutional reforms further threaten freedom of
expression. SIP officials also confirmed plans to hold their
next meeting in Venezuela from March 28-31, 2008, despite the
BRV's previous efforts to impede the conference from being
held in-country.


11. (U) The International Association of Broadcasting (AIR)
released a series of resolutions October 6 regarding press
freedom in Venezuela. AIR called on the BRV to cease
granting radio broadcast licenses to pro-government stations
that have not gone through the proper registration channels,
to respect the right to property by returning to RCTV the
transmission equipment and towers Conatel confiscated in the
wake of the station's closure, and the return of RCTV to
public access airwaves.

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Comment
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12. (C) It is too soon to determine whether Canal-i will
deliver on its promise to provide "balanced" reporting.
Nevertheless, the network has made an initial effort to
distance itself from most government-owned or affiliated
stations by staffing well-known local reporters and offering
news programs that are less politically polarized.


13. (C) Separately, the BRV and its sympathizers are keeping
a close watch on Globovision in the hopes that the network
will let down its guard and misstep, finally allowing the
government to sanction it. Globovision, however, does not
appear to be lowering its profile. Instead, it enjoys a
privileged position as one of the few remaining critical
voices on cable television, a platform that allows the
network the ability to publicly challenge the steady stream
of unfounded accusations against it. As noted in previous
reporting, regional media haven't fared as well and remain
subject to BRV harassment and closure.

FRENCH