SIP MEETING BEMOANS MEDIA FREEDOM IN VENEZUELA;

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000453 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/02/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL VE SUBJECT: SIP MEETING BEMOANS MEDIA FREEDOM IN VENEZUELA; PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE REF: A. 07 CARACAS 02091 ¶B. 07 CARACAS 01555 CARACAS 00000453 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES FOR REASON 1.5 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. During its mid-year conference held in Caracas, the Inter-American Press Association (SIP) criticized the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) systematic harassment of the independent media and commented on the state of the press in several Latin American countries. The BRV sponsored a parallel four-day conference "against media terrorism" that discussed a purported USG "media war" against leftist governments in the region. Separately, the President of the National Assembly (NA) verbally harassed a Globovision reporter after being questioned on the status of NA corruption investigations. The Supreme Court once again declared inadmissible a motion to review the legality of the government-ordered closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). More closures of radio stations and seizures of equipment by CONATEL were reported in March. It is likely the BRV will continue its harassment of the independent media. End Summary. -------------- -- SIP: Harassment of Media in Venezuela Continues -------------- -- ¶2. (U) The Inter-American Press Society (SIP),a hemispheric organization of media owners, editors, and journalists, reiterated its concerns on freedom of expression in Venezuela during its bi-annual conference held in Caracas from March 28-30. The organization criticized the Venezuelan government's "systematic threats and harassment against the independent print, radio, and television media." It cited the judicial and administrative measures the BRV has taken to limit freedom of expression in the country, particularly the revocation of Radio Caracas Television's (RCTV's) broadcasting license in May 2007. The SIP also characterized as worrisome the selective use of government advertising to reward outlets less critical toward the government, the arbitrary issuance of radio broadcast licenses in favor of pro-government stations, and its actions against all-news cable network Globovision. ¶3. (C) Andres Mata, owner of leading independent daily "El Universal" and deeply involved in the SIP conference (protect),told PAO April 1 that the turnout of 300-odd participants was below average for similar meetings in the past, and noted that "a lot of people are afraid to come." Nevertheless, he added that the BRV unwittingly underscored SIP concerns in a number of ways, particularly when a speaker from the BRV-affiliated group "Journalists for Truth" spoke at the conference and cast vague threats against SIP members for being "terrorists." Then, just as SIP member Gonzalo Marroquin was about to be interviewed on Globovision, President Chavez went into a "cadena" and took over all airwaves to preempt the program. Overall, Mata noted that the SIP meeting was successful by definition for just having taken place in Caracas. Even more important, according to Mata, was the fact that the SIP conference allowed prominent hemispheric media figures an up close and personal look at the subtle and not-so-subtle BRV attacks on freedom of expression in Venezuela. -------------- Against "Media Terrorism" -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The BRV organized a parallel conference titled "The Latin American Summit Against Media Terrorism" in an effort to counter the SIP conference. The March 27-30 event, organized by Minister of Communications Andres Izarra and the Bolivarian New Agency (ABN),appeared to be well-financed and included the participation of several Latin American guest speakers. Izarra, who spoke at the opening session, used the opportunity to criticize Globovision, calling it a "spokesperson for the empire's (USG's) interests." Some conference topics included the role of the media during the events of April 2002 and the notion that the USG is waging a "media war" against Latin America's leftist governments. Government-owned VTV provided live coverage of several conference sessions and the event was widely publicized by other state media including "Diario Vea" and ABN. Nevertheless, a BRV-sponsored demonstration against the SIP conference managed to rally only eight demonstrators in the CARACAS 00000453 002.2 OF 002 plaza in front of the hotel. -------------- Cilia Flores' Globo Tirade -------------- ¶5. (SBU) National Assembly (NA) President Cilia Flores launched an on-camera diatribe against Globovision March 25 after reporters questioned her on the NA's investigation of corruption charges involving BRV officials. First, a Globovision reporter asked Flores for an update on corruption charges filed by Deputy Tascon against the former Minister of Infrastructure. In a follow-up question, an RCTV International correspondent asked why media outlets (including state controlled and private ones) were being denied access to the NA Comptroller Committee sessions regarding the case. Following these inquires, Flores referred to the network as an "arm of the opposition" and accused it of perpetuating lies. She said that the NA will consider allowing Globovision to participate in the hearings when it is "objective" and exhibits "appropriate conduct." -------------- TSJ Declines to Hear RCTV Case SIPDIS -------------- ¶6. (U) RCTV suffered another set-back in its legal case against the BRV's decision to revoke the network's broadcasting license in May 2007. The Supreme Court (TSJ) once again declared "inadmissible" the network's petition for the court to rule on the legality of the government-imposed closure, citing administrative irregularities in the petition. (Note: The Court issued a similar ruling in July 2007 (Ref. B.)). The ruling further diminishes RCTV's prospects of returning to the public airwaves. Not only did the TSJ refuse to provide relief for the station, the ruling also rejected RCTV's claim that the government has closed RCTV, citing the network's operations via cable television. The court also argued that public access to information had not been violated because RCTV's broadcast frequency was picked up and is being used by the government-owed Tves. -------------- More Radio Closures -------------- ¶7. (SBU) In March, at least two more radio stations reported being closed by the government telecommunications agency, CONATEL, part of a trend of sanctions against the radio broadcast industry. In early March, CONATEL ordered radio station Vargas Z1000 to take down technical equipment that was supposedly interfering with a government-sponsored community station. Vargas owners appealed the decision to the Chamber of Radios which allowed them to keep the equipment in place. CONATEL later closed the station and seized the technical equipment. In a separate case, CONATEL closed Maxima 98.5 FM, which serviced the greater Caracas area, on March 14. According to CONATEL, Maxima was operating without a broadcasting license, although media reports indicate the station had previously filed for a license. ¶8. (C) According to Public Affairs contacts, the BRV is making it increasing difficult for private radio operators to comply with CONATEL's licensing requirements. For instance, some radio broadcasters have publicly complained that the BRV's compliance mechanisms are more onerous for independent operators than for state-sponsored ones. Excessive amounts of paperwork and long delays in the issuance of broadcast permits have resulted in many radio stations being out of compliance. At the same time, PAS contacts tell us that stations affiliated with the government receive preferential treatment during the registration process. ¶9. (C) Comment: The BRV's heavy promotion of its parallel conference was an obvious if unsuccessful attempt to divert public attention from the SIP's conclusions on the state of press freedom in Venezuela. The new set of judicial roadblocks placed against RCTV and the ongoing harassment of Globovision by BRV officials demonstrate the BRV is unlikely to alter its position toward the independent media despite international criticism of its record. DUDDY