INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRV: RCTV CLOSURE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000823

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE
SUBJECT: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRV: RCTV CLOSURE
VIOLATES FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

REF: A. SANTIAGO 00597

B. SANTIAGO 00619

C. CARACAS 00357

D. CARACAS 00053

E. STATE 52361

F. BUENOS AIRES 00700

G. MADRID 00677

H. MADRID 00741

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


1. (C) SUMMARY. As the May 28 deadline for the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) closure of independent
television station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV)
approaches, prominent international organizations,
legislative bodies, and local support groups are becoming
more vocal. Numerous institutions, including the OAS and
international media watch dogs, have recently criticized the
BRV's decision to not renew RCTV's broadcasting license and
have expressed concern that its closure violates freedom of
expression. Despite the legitimate concerns raised by these
organizations, BRV officials continue to attack RCTV and its
supporters while ignoring their complaints. END SUMMARY.

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The Chilean Senate
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2. (U) The Chilean Senate passed an April 11 resolution
calling on Chilean President Michelle Bachelet to protest,
via the OAS, the BRV's decision to revoke RCTV's broadcasting
license (ref A). The resolution characterized RCTV's closure
as "a transgression of freedom of thought and expression,"
and noted that such an act violates the Inter-American
Convention on Human Rights. It also argued that the BRV's
decision to close RCTV is "solely based on (RCTV's) efforts
to maintain an editorial line that differs from that of the
government's."


3. (U) Chavez reacted harshly to the resolution. He referred
to the Chilean senators as "fascists" and claimed he had "an
obligation to defend Venezuela's sovereignty." On April 13,
the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bachelet
expressed their objections to Chavez' remarks, demanding
respect for Chilean institutions (ref B). Chavez
subsequently attempted to reassure Bachelet that his
statements were intended for the Senate, not her government.

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OAS Takes Venezuela To Court
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4. (U) The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)
filed an April 20 case against the BRV with the
Inter-American Human Rights Court for "violating freedom of
expression and for failing to provide judicial protection to
RCTV workers and journalists." IACHR President Florentin
Melendez said the decision is a result of the BRV's refusal
to address IACHR's longstanding concerns with the BRV's
decision to revoke RCTV's license. The IACHR has expressed
over the state of the media in Venezuela before. In its
quarterly report, the Office of the OAS Special Rapporteur
for Freedom of Expression noted January 29 that it continues
to monitor RCTV's licensing case closely (ref C). The report
referenced a July 2006 advisory note sent by the IACHR to the
Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs reminding the
BRV that the OAS Democratic Charter establishes that
signatory states must refrain from infringing on freedom of
expression by indirect methods such as abuse of official
controls or any other actions that limit the free flow of
ideas.

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Press Society: BRV Violates Freedom of Expression
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5. (U) At an Inter-American Press Society (SIP) conference in
Colombia, SIP President Rafael Molina accused the BRV
March 18 of exercising a "deliberate campaign" against
freedom of expression. Molina called attention to the BRV's
continued harassment of independent media outlets and
specifically mentioned RCTV's case. According to Molina,
President Chavez and BRV officials refused SIP's invitation
to discuss the state of the media in Venezuela on three
separate occasions.

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6. (U) Minister of Popular Power for Communication and
Information William Lara accused SIP members March 16 of
taking part in the events surrounding the coup of April 2002,
and demanded "an apology" for the SIP's "attempts to
destabilize Venezuelan democracy."

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International Watchdog Organizations
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7. (U) As World Press Freedom Day approaches (May 3),an
increasing number of international media watchdog
organizations have criticized the BRV's decision to revoke
RCTV's license.

-- The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ),a nonprofit
media organization, released an April 24 report accusing the
BRV of closing RCTV for political reasons. According to CPJ,
RCVT's closure sets an alarming precedent and casts doubt on
Venezuela's commitment to freedom of expression.

-- On April 25, the International Press Institute (IPI),a
global network of editors, media executives, and journalists
dedicated to safeguarding press freedom, condemned the BRV's
attacks on the media in Venezuela in their annual report.
The IPI denounced the deaths of two journalist in 2006 and
reported that, "independent media outlets have routinely been
the victims of verbal and physical attacks, as well as legal
and administrative harassment." In 2000, Venezuela was
placed on IPI's Watch List for Chavez' criticism of local and
international media groups. In 2003, IPI's Executive Board
decided to keep Venezuela on the list, claiming that, "(the)
deterioration of the press freedom was the result of
President Chavez' frequent verbal attacks on the press."

-- The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ),a
conglomerate of media unions, issued an April 25 press
release noting that "shutting down a broadcaster without due
process and threatening union autonomy could lead to more
attacks on fundamental rights." IFJ's General Secretary
Aidan White expressed concern for the 2,000 workers that will
be directly and indirectly affected by RCTV's closure.


8. (U) Following Chavez' January 8 speech, where he outlined
his plan to not renew RCTV's broadcasting license, numerous
organizations expressed their concern over the BRV's handling
of RCTV's case.

-- On January 5, OAS Secretary General Jose Manuel Insulza
called on the BRV to reconsider its position. Insulza called
on media outlets to not be coerced into silence and to
continue exercising their right to inform the public (ref.
d).

-- On January 12, both the CJP and the Press and Society
Institute conveyed their alarm over the lack of transparency
in Chavez' decision to not renew RCTV's license. The
organizations "urge(d) the government to be more committed to
the requirements of free expression."

-- On January 15, CPJ requested that Chavez refrain from
making "menacing statements" regarding RCTV because these
could have a "chilling effect on the press."

-- On January 23, White of IFJ said Chavez' attacks on
independent media outlets "has all the potential to become a
catastrophe for pluralism and social rights." Additionally,
White commented that, "The closure of RCVT...will be a
disaster both for democracy and for the people involved."

-- Reporters without Borders issued a January 25 open letter
to Chavez expressing concern over the BRV's assaults on
independent media outlets, specifically RCTV. They argued
that, "Rather than just a legal problem or a dispute about
the date on which licenses expire, (RCTV's) case raises the
issue of media pluralism and the need for an independent
press in a democracy."

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LOCAL SUPPORT
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9. (U) Local RCTV supporters have also increased their
efforts to raise public awareness regarding the outlet's
imminent closure. Opposition political party Primero

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Justicia (PJ),for instance, organized a signature drive and
painted solidarity murals, while RCTV employees and family
members held a small vigil in downtown Caracas. Separately,
Julio Borges of PJ and RCTV owner Marcel Granier met with
European Parlamentarians April 24 in Brussels to discuss
international support for the media outlet. Finally, over 25
civil society organizations and political parties, including
the Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV),COPEI, Accion
Democratica (AD),Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT),PJ, and the National
Resistance Movement (CNR) organized an April 21 march to
RCTV's headquarters to demonstrate their support for the
station.

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Comment
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10. (C) Chavez and BRV officials show nothing but disdain for
the legitimate concerns over freedom of expression presented
by international organizations. Moreover, Chavez has
questioned their motives and accused them of conspiring with
the USG to "destabilize" Venezuela. During his April 24
radio broadcast of "Alo, President," Chavez said, "The
empire, the Venezuelan elite, and their international
allies...have turned an insignificant decision by this
government into a matter of global concern. On May 28, we
are going to strike another lethal blow to the American
empire and (its allies)." Despite mounting national and
international criticism, BRV officials continue to affirm
their intention to revoke RCTV's license.

BROWNFIELD