Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PARAMARIBO287
2007-06-06 19:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Paramaribo
Cable title:  

VENEZUELA TAKES OUT SURINAMESE NEWSPAPER AD TO DEFEND RCTV

Tags:  PGOV PREL NS VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061918Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY PARAMARIBO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9412
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 1131
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1615
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 1595
UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000287 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA - Deborah McCarthy, WHA/AND, WHA/CAR - Laura Luftig,
and WHA/PDA Audrey Pruitt

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL NS VE

SUBJECT: VENEZUELA TAKES OUT SURINAMESE NEWSPAPER AD TO DEFEND RCTV
SHUTDOWN


UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000287

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA - Deborah McCarthy, WHA/AND, WHA/CAR - Laura Luftig,
and WHA/PDA Audrey Pruitt

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL NS VE

SUBJECT: VENEZUELA TAKES OUT SURINAMESE NEWSPAPER AD TO DEFEND RCTV
SHUTDOWN



1. (U) SUMMARY: In an ironic bid to influence public opinion, on
June 2 the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs took out a page
long advertisement in Suriname's leading daily, De Ware Tijd, to
explain the May 27 closure of Venezuela's most popular television
station and outlet for political opposition, Radio Caracas
Television (RCTV). According to the ad, the closure of RCTV
supports democracy and freedom of speech rather than trampling these
principles, as media giants have a "communications monopoly" and
don't air programs vital to the public welfare. A second Surinamese
newspaper, De West, responded with disdain for Venezuela's
"explanation." END SUMMARY


2. (U) The ad in the June 2 edition of Suriname's leading daily, De
Ware Tijd, is in question-and-answer format, and says that Chavez
aims to promote openness and diversity within the Venezuelan media.
It claims RCTV violated democracy and freedom of speech numerous
times, for instance in 2002, when the channel broadcast anti-Chavez
content during the airing of two children's movies. The ad also
defends the government of Venezuela (GOV) with comparison to the
U.S., noting a fine of U.S. $24 million imposed by the U.S. Federal
Communications Commission on an American TV network, Univision, for
failing to comply with federal regulations. The ad further notes
that the international community didn't characterize the fine of
Univision as a violation of free speech, but rather responded with a
"noteworthy silence."


3. (U) The ad also says that RCTV, the country's oldest television
channel, was shut down not only because of its subversive
activities, but because elements of Venezuelan civil society had
called protesting that the television station aired programs not
conducive to good citizenship. The ad states that Chavez is not
violating the right of free speech, but has instead stimulated and
promoted free speech in Venezuela, as evidenced by the growth in
media companies in the country and the approval of a Law on Social
Responsibility for the media.


4. (SBU) OBSERVATION AND COMMENT: Only one Surinamese newspaper,
De West, reacted to the Venezuelan ad. This newspaper, which is
very watchful regarding the right to free speech, lashed out at
Chavez, saying that "we are not interested in the explanations given
by anti-democrats who violate human rights and press freedom."
Besides this strong reaction from De West, however, the Surinamese
media have been silent on the issue, and Post does not expect that
there will be any GOS reaction or further statements by civil
society. The public posturing of the ad is more likely to add
further embarrassment to the situation than improve the public image
of the GOV. Or, more likely, the ads will be widely ignored by most
Surinamers. Whatever their private judgments of Venezuela, if any,
Surinamers tend to be self-consumed and conflict-averse. A few
advertisements from Hugo Chavez are not likely to change their
perspective.

Schreiber Hughes