PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE - JUNE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000831 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2024 TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE SUBJECT: PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE - JUNE REF: CARACAS 766 CARACAS 00000831 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASONS 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezeula (GBRV) continues to intimidate, threaten and harass independent media outlets in Venezuela. President Chavez frequently calls for the closure of Globovision, the last free-to-air opposition-leaning TV station, and the GBRV has also opened cases against local media outlets. The national telecommunications commission, Conatel, requested detailed original documents from all broadcast-license holders in the country, a move widely perceived by media owners as a threat to outlets with opposition programming. The National Assembly has discussed the possibility of a wide-ranging law targeted at regulating cable networks, and on June 18 the Supreme Court ruled that the government could suspend TV and radio broadcasts should their messages be found to be against "the interests of national security and public order". A few thousand supporters of press freedom marched in downtown Caracas on June 27; about the same number of pro-government demonstrators marched in support of new media laws. Given Chavez's control of all branches of government, the future of independent media in Venezuela is dim. End summary. -------------- FOCUS ON GLOBO -------------- ¶2. (C) Following President Chavez's instructions, GBRV pressure increased on Globovision, the last free-to-air station that regularly criticizes the government (Reftel). Globovision currently broadcasts free-to-air in Caracas and in Valencia, and is distributed by cable in other parts of Venezuela. The GBRV is pressing both administrative and criminal charges against the company and its leadership. Cases have also been extended to include Globovision employees; on June 29 eight employees received judicial summons to appear in court. Globovision's executive director Alberto Ravell told Emboff June 30 that employees did not know why they were being summoned to court, and that as many as fifty employees could be summoned in the future. The Seniat tax agency levied millions of dollars in fines this month for taxes unpaid on broadcasts in 2002 and 2003. President Chavez frequently says that Globovision will be closed soon; on June 18 he said that Globovision "has two strikes and is about to strike out." On June 25 he said during a nationally televised broadcast that closing Globovision "is a possibility that grows each day." -------------- AND PRESSURING ALL MEDIA -------------- ¶3. (C) Pressure on other media has increased as well. On May 28 the Director General of Notaries announced that the Ministry of Interior had prohibited any sale, purchase or transfer of radio or television transmission equipment without the express permission of the Ministry of Interior or the Ministry of Public Works and Housing. On May 29, Conatel demanded "updated information", including original licenses and many other documents, from all television and radio station license-holders within 15 days. Owners widely believe that purpose of this process is to intimidate opposition-leaning stations. National Assembly members regularly discuss the need for a cable TV regulation law, in order to "return the power of the media to the people." Just three weeks after President Chavez told the Supreme Court to "stop the media poison" of Globovision, the Court ruled June 18 against the station in a long-standing case with a wide-sweeping decision allowing for criminal charges and station closures when in the national security interest. The decision also declared that Conatel has full authority over radio, television and phone companies, and that these companies have no recourse to the judiciary system. ¶4. (C) Officials throughout the government have followed President Chavez's example. Authorities in the state of Cojedes blocked the broadcasting from a FM radio station on May 25, which had aired programming critical of the government. State officials said the closure was to investigate the possibility of back taxes; the closure came a few days after the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Governor Teodoro Bolivar declared on television that the station should be expropriated. The Attorney General announced June 3 that the GBRV would investigate Zulia CARACAS 00000831 002.2 OF 002 State's La Verdad newspaper for "inciting violence and hatred". This case is pending. The government-appointed national awards commission for journalists presented on June 27 a prize to President Chavez for "Excellence in Communication" and prizes to pro-government journalists and PSUV members. -------------- FREE PRESS SUPPORTERS -------------- ¶5. (C) Supporters of freedom of expression have raised money to pay Globovision's fines, organized protests at Venezuelan embassies world-wide, and marched in downtown Caracas. Globovision officials have told Emboffs that almost 1 million U.S. dollars was raised in the nation-wide campaign "Globopotazo", to pay the Seniat fines levied against the station. On June 25, students and the Un Mundo Sin Mordaza organization held small protests wearing red gags at the Chacao metro in Caracas and at Venezuelan consulates and embassies in 36 cities world-wide. Students, the National Association of Journalists, and the National Union of Press Works organized a several thousand-strong march in Caracas on June 27, in spite of last-minute route changes by the GBRV. On the same day, thousands of pro-Chavez supporters, including journalists, government workers and PSUV members, marched separately to the National Assembly, where they presented a request for more laws regulating the media. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶6. (C) While the GBRV's focus has been on Globovision, its actions against the company serve as a clear warning to other stations, and is resulting in restrictive laws and decisions that apply to all media. Post contacts question why the GBRV hasn't yet closed Globovision, given that it has the power to do so. One explanation is that President Chavez enjoys having a clear target to rally against, another is that the GBRV is using the charges and actions against Globovision to drastically restrict activities of all media. Globovision executive director Ravell thinks that the return of Ambassador Duddy might delay the closure of the station, as there will be greater international attention on Venezuela following his arrival. GBRV actions against other media outlets have been more subtle, but still effective. By pressing charges and then letting cases drag on the GBRV effectively harasses journalists and media outlets without opening itself up to the international criticism overt actions might cause. To date, supporters of press freedom have been unable to change the trajectory of government activities. CAULFIELD