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“Hugo Chavez Pulls 34 Radio Stations Off the Air (says those who share socialist vision will be back)”
Fox News ^ | 08/02/09
Posted on August 2, 2009 11:14:10 AM PDT by Behind Liberal Lines

Note: The following posts are a quote:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2305800/posts

Venezuela debates law against freedom of the press
El Comercio, Lima, Peru ^ | 31 July 2009
Posted on July 31, 2009 11:34:07 PM PDT by marron

CARACAS [AFP]. The attorney general of Venezuela, Luisa Ortega Díaz, presented yesterday to the National Assembly (parliament) a proposed law on “media crimes” which would provide jail terms for information professionals and businessmen.

In her speech before the deputies, Díaz asked that the State regulate freedom of expression and the behavior of the communications media. According to the proposed law, violators could receive up to four years in jail.

The draft of the law explains that a person who divulges information considered false, manipulated or twisted, which causes harm to the interests of the State or public moral or menatl health has committed a media crime and could be punished with up to four years in prison.

According to the attorney general, “the abusive exercise of freedom of expression and information confronts the State with new forms of criminality”. “The media can not be used to commit criminal acts [...] They can not generate a climate of insecurity, nor generate by means of the news, sensationalism with impunity. On the contrary, they must fulfill an educational function”, she said.

Among the crimes specified are included the refusal to reveal information… which impacts the right to protect journalistic sources, which could bring a sentence of between 6 months and 4 years in jail.

The National College of Journalists attacked the proposed law considering that “it would place citizens one step from being punished for having opinions and making them public” and said that it was intended to intimídate and silence the populace.

Official attacks

In 2007, the government did not renew the TV concession to RCTV. Globovisión has been threatened with closure.

TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Click to Add Topic
KEYWORDS: chavez; press; venezuela; Click to Add Keyword
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1 posted on July 31, 2009 11:34:08 PM PDT by marron
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To: Free ThinkerNY; livius; Congressman Billybob
Just in case there was anybody left in the sentient universe that didn’t know Chavez was Dictator of Venezuela.

2 posted on July 31, 2009 11:35:54 PM PDT by marron