[NYTr] US Escalating Media War Against Venezuela: Minister
 
Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:36:16 -0500 (CDT)

Venezuelanalysis - Jun 23, 2007
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2338

Minister Says U.S. Is Escalating Media War against Venezuela

By Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, June 23, 2007 (venezuelanalysis.com)b Venezuelabs Minister of
Communication and Information, William Lara, condemned the a decision
to increase funding for Voice of America, so it would boost its
broadcasts into Venezuela.

Thursday, upon the urging of Florida Republican Congressman Connie
Mack, the House passed an amendment that urges the Broadcast Board of
Governors, which is responsible for Voice of America Radio, to allot
$10 million for broadcasts to Venezuela.

The amendment, which Connie Mack proposed in a subcommittee that
oversees funding for the U.S. State Department, passed in a voice vote.
Since the Democratic chair of that committee supported the measure, it
is expected that it will pass when the whole funding bill is put to a
vote in the full House of Representatives.

Mack said the measure was necessary because, b'Freedom of the press
died in Venezuela on May 27, 2007, when ChC!vez shut down Radio Caracas
Television.b Mack was referring to the Venezuelan governmentbs decision
not to renew RCTVbs broadcast license because of its past broadcast
violations and because the government wanted a good frequency for a new
public service television channel.

Mack framed the funding proposal as a matter of national security,
saying, bWe must recognize the War on Terrorism is in our backyard. The
gang of countries lining up with Chavez is powerful: Bolivia, Ecuador,
Nicaragua, and others together with the likes of Iran. We must
recognize the serious threat to our national security.b

Communications Minister Lara reacted strongly to the Mack amendment,
saying that it represents an bescalation in the media campaign that the
Republican administration is developing against the Venezuelan
president.b According to Lara, the non-renewal of RCTVbs broadcast
license and the launch of the new public service channel TVes represent
an increase in freedom of speech and of thought. bThe truth will
triumph and will continue to win this battle. The imperial lie against
Venezuela will be defeated again,b said Lara.

       
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