THREATS AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA CONTINUE IN JULY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000967

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/27/2024
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE
SUBJECT: THREATS AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA CONTINUE IN JULY

REF: A. CARACAS 663

B. CARACAS 887 AND PREVIOUS

CARACAS 00000967 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DARNALL STEUART,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: As of the second half of July, pressure
continues against independent media in Venezuela. New
charges were brought against opposition-oriented Globovision
station owner, Guillermo Zuloaga, for "conspiracy to commit a
crime." A judge barred Zuloaga from leaving the country but
then claimed she was pressured by a superior into issuing the
order after her initial order was revoked. Those supporting
the station claim that this is simply more proof that the
GBRV is using prosecutors and judges to pressure and
intimidate the opposition. As the Government continues to
threaten draconian restrictions on radio networks,
pro-Government stations seemingly are able to bypass the "new
rules" designed to silence more critical stations. Two New
York Times reporters learned first hand how pro-Chavez
security forces deal with reporters that ask too many
questions after their camera was seized and photographs
erased. As pressure against the independent media continues
to slowly accumulate week by week in Venezuela, the GBRV has
shown it is not hesitant to use intimidation, restrict the
technical ability of radio networks to broadcast, or resort
to simple bullying in order to intimidate and harass any
media that dares to criticize. End Summary.

--------------
JUDGE HANDLING GLOBOVISION FIRED / HARASSMENT
--------------


2. (U) On July 16 a Venezuelan court issued an injunction
preventing Globovision station owner Guillermo Zuloaga from
leaving Venezuela after he was accused of "conspiracy to
commit a crime" stemming from the May 21 seizure of 24 new
vehicles on his property (Ref A). In a surprise move,
however, on July 17 the judge handling the case, Alicia
Torres, announced to the media that she was pressured into
signing the court order preventing Zuloaga's departure. On
July 20 Judge Torres was notified that her appointment as a
judge had been revoked. In statements to the press, Torres
claimed, "I am not political, I am independent. I am not from
the opposition, nor do I know anybody. The person who
pressured me was Venicce Blanco. This was an abuse of her
power." Note: Blanco is the President of the Judicial
Criminal Circuit Court. End Note. Following Torres'
announcement that she had been dismissed, the injunction was
overturned on July 21st by the 13th Criminal Court. The
following day, however, in a third flip-flop, on July 22 the
court changed its mind again and a new judge reinstated the
original order preventing Zuloaga's departure.


3. (U) Harassment against opposition oriented TV station
Globovision has continued throughout the month of July. Ten
new summons were issued against journalists and employees of
the station (for a total of 18 court ordered appearances)
regarding a controversial October 13 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."


4. (C) With five investigations against the station
currently pending in the offices of the government media
regulatory agency CONATEL, Minister of Public Works and
Housing, Diosdado Cabello, is likely to continue to use his
position as head of the agency to further harass the network.
Globovision President Aberto Federico Ravell, in a private
email shared with PolOff on July 16, opined that Cabello will
shut the network down when he decides it is time. Ravell
hypothesized "As the concession for Globovision was given to
two persons, and one of them has died, we anticipate they
will use legal mechanisms to recover 50% of the station,
especially because they claim it (the concession) is not
inheritable."

-------------- --------------
PRO-CHAVEZ STATIONS (AND SPORTS) IMMUNE FROM RESTRICTIONS
-------------- --------------


5. (C) In another move designed to cripple opposition
oriented media, GBRV Minister Diosdado Cabello addressed the
National Assembly (AN) on July 9 insisting that pro-Chavez
lawmakers limit radio networks to a maximum of three stations
under the proposed "Law on Social Responsibility for Radio
and Television." Under Cabello's proposal, radio networks
would further be atomized by limiting their ability to
conduct simultaneous programs (joint broadcasts) to only 30
minutes a day. (Ref B) One presumed target of the measure is
union radio an independent network of five stations and 15
affiliates.


6. (C) Pro-Government stations, however, seemingly are
immune from the "new draft rules" designed to silence more
critical stations. On July 20, Radio National de Venezuela
(RNV) inaugurated a new state-sponsored radio station (92.5)
in Monagas, Anzoategui. According to media reports, the
pro-Chavez station will broadcast on a circuit of 73
stations, with an additional 35 stations to be brought into
the circuit in the near future. Director of RNV, Helena
Salcedo made a point of telling media attending the
inauguration that, "in this area there was no access to
stations or state run channels. People could only receive
their information by cable, which is too costly for the
majority of the population. We are insuring that people
really can receive information, as established in the
constitution."


7. (U) In a July 17 interview on state controlled VTV,
Cabello announced his intention to immediately begin
administrative proceedings against "illegal" radio stations.
Cabello publicly threatened to seize 50% of Globovision, and
made a point of defending his "administrative proceedings,"
claiming that 27 families currently control 32% of the radio
spectrum. In an ironic and uniquely Venezuelan twist,
however, Cabello specifically announced that all baseball and
soccer games would be exempt from the new time restrictions
of 30 minutes a day for joint broadcasting. According to
Cabello, "Every rule has its exception."

--------------
NYTIMES REPORTER EXPERIENCES THUGGERY
--------------


8. (U) On July 9, New York Times photographer Scott Dalton
was harassed, briefly detained, and had his electronic camera
photos erased by security agents allegedly working for
Barinas State Governor Adan Chavez. The photographer,
accompanied by NY times journalist Simon Romero, was shooting
photos at a public event where the Governor was speaking. The
journalists were researching material for a July 20 NY Times
article chronicling kidnappings, societal violence, and
public insecurity in Barinas, a rural ranching state governed
by President Chavez's eldest brother and birthplace of
President Hugo Chavez.


9. (C) Following the incident, Romero told Embassy assistant
information officer that Dalton had been harassed by "three
men wearing red shirts." According to Romero the agents
tried to push the photographer into a bathroom, and when he
resisted, they seized his camera and erased several days
worth of photographic material. Following the incident, the
two journalists were escorted out of the event and Dalton's
erased camera equipment was returned to him. The two men
decided to keep the incident "low profile" in order to remain
in the area and complete their assignment.


10. (C) Comment: Pressure against the independent media
continues to slowly accumulate week by week in Venezuela.
Pundits speculate as to exactly when Chavez will launch the
final blow against the highly critical opposition oriented
station. The GBRV has shown it is not hesitant to use
intimidation, restrict the technical ability of radio
networks to broadcast, or resort to simple bullying in order
to intimidate and harass any media that dares to criticize.
Chavez has established a pattern of threatening critical
media, but then easing up as they self-censor. He
undoubtedly realizes he will pay a price in international
credibility if he closes down Venezuela's last remaining
critical TV station and would prefer to avoid that. Although
Chavez may delay action to close down Globovision as he
calculates the costs and benefits of this action, if the
station refuses to change its editorial line history
indicates that it will ultimately go off the air. End
Comment.
CAULFIELD