PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE: GLOBOVISION ON THE HOOK

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001640 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/02/2028 TAGS: PREL PGOV VE SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE: GLOBOVISION ON THE HOOK CARACAS 00001640 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is hardening its position against the remaining independent media outlets following the November 23 state and local elections. The government's telecommunication's agency (Conatel) is investigating Globovision, the critical all-news cable network, for supposed incitement to violence. The network could face severe sanctions or temporary closure. Globovision's management has dismissed the allegations, saying the government has been trying to pull the network off air for some time now. Local press associations have called on the public to support Globovision and reject the GBRV's sustained attacks on the free media. The radical "La Piedrita" Group launched tear gas canisters at the residence of Marta Colomina, a popular newstalk radio host; this is the group's third attack on journalists associated with the critical media in recent months. Conatel's closure of Globovision would severely damage the GBRV's democratic credentials. End Summary. -------------- Globo Under Threat -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Globovision's staff celebrated the network's 14-year anniversary on December 1 under threat of sanction and/or closure by Conatel, the telecommunications regulatory agency. Conatel announced November 24 that it would investigate Globovision for releasing early election results in the Carabobo and Tachira State gubernatorial election races. The National Elections Commission (CNE),however, countered by saying it was the only organization charged with investigating the release of premature election results, and chose not to look into Contel's allegations. ¶3. (C) In response, and as clear indication that the GBRV was intent on accusing Globovision of some wrongdoing, President Chavez then called on Conatel to investigate the network for supposed incitement to violence. Specifically, Conatel is looking into Globovision's transmission of a November 23 speech by Carabobo state governor-elect Henrique Salas Feo during which he called on supporters to march to the local CNE headquarters and demand the release of official election results. The government alleges that Globovision was instigating viewers and Salas Feo supporters to commit violent acts against the CNE. ¶4. (SBU) Local media observers, however, contend that Globovision can not be found guilty of promoting violence if no violent acts occurred as a result of Salas Feo's speech. Globovision president Guillermo Zuloaga issued a communique to his staff on December 1 stating that "any sanction against the network must be seen as a legal abuse." Globovision lawyers argue that the government is singling out the network because other media outlets also aired Salas Feo's speech but are not being investigated. ¶5. (SBU) Separately, Conatel is investigating Globovision for its October 30 transmission of the show "Hello, Citizen," in which guest Rafael Poleo, editor of the opposition daily El Nuevo Pais, said that Chavez "would end up like Mussolini." Conatel filed suit against the network three days later, alleging that it was promoting the assassination of Chavez. Conatel has 30 working days to issue a ruling on the matter. If sanctioned, Conatel could order Globovision closed for a maximum of three days. According to the Law of Social Responsibility, which regulates media content, if Conatel finds the network at fault for committing two infractions within a five-year period it could revoke Globovision's broadcasting license and take it off the airwaves for up to five years. ¶6. (SBU) The Venezuelan Press Association (BPV) issued a December 1 communique calling on the Venezuelan public to defend Globovision. It added that Chavez "has once again exerted his influence over supposedly autonomous institutions (Conatel) and ordered absurd investigations without evidence against the media, editors, and independent journalists." -------------- Regional Media Under Scrutiny -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Smaller media outlets and their owners, particularly CARACAS 00001640 002.2 OF 002 those outside Caracas, have also been the target of malicious attacks by government officials. Re-elected Anzoategui State Governor Tarek William Saab publicly attacked the regional media on December 1. Saab said, "The people of Anzoategui beat the fascist opposition who knelt down to media owners and who subordinated their proposals to the economic interests of the owners of the daily El Tiempo and of Orbita Radio, who fanatically promoted opposition candidates." -------------- -------------- Radical Chavista Group Goes After Media Personalities -------------- -------------- ¶8. (SBU) The "La Piedrita" Group, a political gang from the 23 of January slum of Caracas, detonated tear gas canisters outside the residential apartment building of opposition-oriented newstalk radio host Marta Colomina. Colomina's popular afternoon show is highly critical of Chavez and his government. The group also flooded the area with leaflets saying that Colomina promotes Chavez's assassination on her radio program. The local media has also reported that the pamphlets referred to Colomina as a "military objective." The group has launched similar attacks on the residence of Leopoldo Castillo, host of "Hello, Citizen," and on Globovision's headquarters in recent months. ¶9. (C) Comment: The closure of Globovision would bode very poorly for the GBRV's democratic credentials. After the GBRV took Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) off the air in May 2007, it pointed to Globovision as an indication that freedom of expression was alive and well in Venezuela. Since RCTV's closure, more Venezuelans have gained access to cable television and Globovision has gained market share. Permanent closure of the network, by far the most critical of the independent media, would indicate that the GBRV is not committed to freedom of expression. End Comment. CAULFIELD