[NYTr] RCTV: Media Campaign vs Venezuela; Amb's Letter to Pelosi Date: Fri, 1 Jun 2007 17:01:15 -0500 (CDT) Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit International Action Center - June 1, 2007 http://www.iacenter.org The truth behind the media campaign against Venezuela The International Action Center stands with the people of Venezuela and their democratically-elected President Hugo Chavez and we condemn Washington's propaganda campaign against the Venezuelan government, carried out with the complicity of the U.S. corporate media. We have included below a letter from Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez Herrera to Nancy Pelosi (in English and Spanish) responding to her attack on President Hugo Chavez. Over the next few days, the International Action Center will be launching an campaign to challenge and expose Washington's campaign of lies and disinformation against the people of Venezuela. Also see: "Myths and Facts About the Radio Caracas Television Case" at http://www.embavenez-us.org/RCTVFactSheetFinal_2007.pdf ------------------------------------------------------------------------ May 30, 2007 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. Madam Speaker Pelosi, I am writing in the opportunity to respond to your May 30 statement on Venezuela's decision not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). In it, you accused President Hugo ChC!vez of engaging in efforts to "suppress the media." I would like to assure you that the decision was made in full accordance with Venezuela's laws and does not represent a threat to the country's vibrant media or the ability of the Venezuelan people to receive information and opinion that is critical of the government. Equally, and as many observers have pointed out, since President Chavez came to power the government has tried to democratize the media to foster a diversity of voices to combat the historical monopoly on the broadcasting of information that causes so much harm to any democracy. The decision not to renew RCTV's broadcast license was a simple regulatory matter that was made according to the country's constitution, laws and public interest standards. It was not made based on RCTV's critical editorial stance against the government, nor was it directed at silencing criticism of the government. The Venezuelan media has enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy the right to report and offer opinions, whether or not they agree with President ChC!vez. This has also been recognized by numerous observers. As Bart Jones, a longtime correspondent for the Associated Press wrote in an op-ed published in the Los Angeles Times on May 30, "Radio, TV and newspapers remain uncensored, unfettered and unthreatened by the government. Most Venezuelan media are still controlled by the old oligarchy and are staunchly anti-ChC!vez." It is also important to note that while RCTV enjoyed access to the public spectrum, it far exceeded its prescribed role as a media outlet in a democracy. In April 2002, RCTV promoted a coup against the democratically elected government of President ChC!vez. After that, it participated and encouraged the sabotage of the oil industry of Venezuela, causing tremendous suffering on the Venezuelan people. In both instances, RCTV went beyond taking a critical editorial stance against the government. It used its privileged position as a media outlet to help subvert Venezuela's constitutional order. In no other country would a media outlet be allowed to play such an overtly undemocratic role, much less using a public broadcast spectrum. Again, in so doing, RCTV single-handedly subverted Venezuela's democracy. I wonder how the FCC would have responded had such events taken place in the United States. The decision to not renew RCTV's license will not affect Venezuela's longstanding commitment to freedom of expression, freedom of the press and freedom of information as your statement suggests. In fact, the majority of Venezuela's media outlets remain in private hands -- of the 81 television stations, 709 radio broadcasters and 118 newspapers throughout Venezuela, 79, 706 and 118, respectively, are privately owned and operated. More importantly, they all exercise their rights freely, often criticizing the government in strident terms reflecting the vitality of Venezuela's democracy. Since the non renewal took effect, the great majority of media outlets in Venezuela have openly reported on and offered their opinions on the decision. If you have any questions or concerns about Venezuela or the Venezuelan media, please do not hesitate to contact me. I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you at your earliest convenience to discuss this matter. Most importantly, I invite you to visit Venezuela and judge for yourself the vibrant state of the media and freedom of thought and expression enjoyed by all Venezuelans. Respectfully, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera Ambassador -------------------------- 30 de mayo de 2007 Honorable Nancy Pelosi Presidenta CC!mara de Representantes de Estados Unidos Washington, D.C. Sra. Presidenta Pelosi, Le escribo en la oportunidad de responder a su comunicado del 30 de mayo sobre la decisiC3n de Venezuela de no renovar la licencia de transmisiC3n de Radio Caracas TelevisiC3n (RCTV). En ella, usted acusa al Presidente Hugo ChC!vez de participar en esfuerzos por "suprimir a los medios de comunicaciC3n". Quiero asegurarle que la decisiC3n fue tomada en plena concordancia con las leyes venezolanas y no representa una amenaza a los medios de comunicaciC3n vibrantes del paC-s o la habilidad del pueblo venezolano de recibir informaciC3n y opiniones que son crC-ticas del gobierno. De la misma forma, y como muchos observadores han indicado, desde que el presidente ChC!vez llegC3 al poder ha tratado de democratizar los medios de comunicaciC3n para promover la diversidad de las voces para combatir el monopolio histC3rico sobre la transmisiC3n de la informaciC3n que causa tanto daC1o a cualquier democracia. La decisiC3n de no renovar la licencia de transmisiC3n de RCTV, fue una simple medida regulatoria que fue hecha de acuerdo a la constituciC3n del paC-s, las leyes y los estC!ndares del interC)s pC:blico. No fue tomada basC!ndose en la lC-nea editorial crC-tica de RCTV en contra del gobierno, y no fue dirigida a silenciar el criticismo del gobierno. Los medios de comunicaciC3n venezolanos han gozado, y continuarC!n gozando del derecho de reportar y ofrecer opiniones, asC- estC)n de acuerdo o no con el Presidente ChC!vez. Esto tambiC)n ha sido reconocido por numerosos observadores. Como Bart Jones, un corresponsal de larga trayectoria en Associated Press, quien escribiC3 en un editorial, publicado en "Los Angeles Times" el 30 de mayo, que "la radio, la televisiC3n y los periC3dicos continC:an trabajando sin censura, constricciones o amenazas por parte del gobierno. La mayorC-a de los medios de comunicaciC3n venezolanos todavC-a son controlados por una vieja oligarquC-a y siguen siendo incondicionalmente opositores a ChC!vez." Es tambiC)n importante seC1alar, que mientras RCTV ha gozado del acceso al espectro pC:blico, excediC3 sobremanera su rol preescrito como un medio de comunicaciC3n dentro de una democracia. En abril de 2002, RCTV promoviC3 un golpe de estado en contra del gobierno democrC!ticamente elegido del Presidente ChC!vez. Luego de eso, participC3 y promoviC3 el sabotaje de la industria petrolera en Venezuela, causando un tremendo sufrimiento al pueblo venezolano. En ambas instancias, RCTV fue mC!s allC! de tomar una lC-nea editorial crC-tica en contra del gobierno. UtilizC3 su posiciC3n privilegiada como un medio de comunicaciC3n, para ayudar a subvertir el orden constitucional venezolano. En ningC:n otro paC-s se hubiera permitido que un medio de comunicaciC3n juegue un rol tan antidemocrC!tico, ni mucho menos que utilice el espectro de transmisiC3n pC:blico. Una vez mC!s, al hacerlo, RCTV trastornC3 unilateralmente la democracia venezolana. Me pregunto cC3mo el FCC hubiese respondido si tales eventos se hubieran llevado a cabo en Estados Unidos. La decisiC3n de no renovar la licencia de RCTV, no afectarC! el largo compromiso de Venezuela con la libertad de expresiC3n, la libertad de prensa y la libertad de informaciC3n como su comunicado sugiere. De hecho la mayorC-a de los medios de comunicaciC3n venezolanos permanecen en manos privadas---de las 81 estaciones de televisiC3n, 709 estaciones de radio y 118 diarios a lo largo de Venezuela, 79, 706 y 118, respectivamente, son controlados y operados por el sector privado. Lo que es mC!s importante es que todos ejercen sus derechos libremente, a menudo criticando al gobierno en tC)rminos estridentes reflejando la vitalidad de la democracia de Venezuela. Desde que la no renovaciC3n entrC3 en efecto, la gran mayorC-a de los medios de comunicaciC3n en Venezuela han ofrecido abiertamente sus opiniones sobre la decisiC3n. Si tuviera preguntas o preocupaciones sobre Venezuela, o los medios de comunicaciC3n venezolanos, por favor no dude en contactarme. Le darC-a la bienvenida a la oportunidad de reunirme con usted cuanto antes para discutir este asunto. Mejor aun, la invito a que visite Venezuela y juzgue por usted el vibrante estado de los medios de comunicaciC3n y la libertad de expresiC3n disfrutada por todos los venezolanos. Respetuosamente, Bernardo Clvarez Herrera Embajador * ================================================================ .NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems . Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us . .339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org .List Archives: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/ .Subscribe: https://olm.blythe-systems.com/mailman/listinfo/nytr ================================================================