http://ap.google.
Media Body Criticizes Venezuela's Chavez
By JORGE RUEDA - 17 hours ago
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Newspaper executives from across the Americas
accused President Hugo Chavez on Saturday of harming press freedoms in
Venezuela, warning that he is using "attacks and intimidation" to curb
criticism of his government.
The Inter American Press Association opened the second day of its
midyear meeting in Caracas with stinging criticism of Venezuela's
stance toward the media, even as Chavez supporters attended a parallel,
government-organize
few blocks away.
IAPA delegates cited Chavez's threats to close down Globovision - one
of two Venezuelan TV channels that remain critical of his government -
while faulting the socialist leader for severely restricting the
independent media's access to government information and sources.
Several of Venezuela's most widely viewed television networks have
curbed their criticism of the government since Chavez decided last year
not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, which
now airs only on cable.
"Chavez's government denies media outlets that are not subordinate to
his hegemony access to public information,
publisher of Venezuela's Correo del Caroni newspaper.
Chanting anti-IAPA slogans and calling the press association'
delegates "fascists" and "liars," several hundred Chavez supporters
protested the IAPA's presence in Venezuela during a peaceful
demonstration outside the hotel that hosted the gathering.
"If there were no freedom of expression in Venezuela, these information
terrorists would not be here in Venezuela," said Lucia Rios, a
23-year-old university student.
Chavez praised the counter-forum in a speech Friday night, denouncing
what he called a "manipulating media campaign" against his government.
Referring to Globovision, he said: "That sewer pipe should be left
open" to show that total freedom of expression exists in Venezuela.
Speakers at the government-sponsore
on Venezuela and alleged that news outlets use slanted reporting in a
smear campaign against Chavez.
Newspaper executives have "turned the media into political tools" that
constantly attack the president, said Marcos Hernandez, leader of a
government-friendly group called Journalists For Truth.
"Journalism is at risk in Venezuela because the population doesn't
believe in the media," he said.
IAPA president Earl Maucker, who is editor of the South Florida
Sun-Sentinel, denied the Miami-based group is unfairly singling out
Venezuela. He said the group has also expressed concern about free
press issues in the United States, especially cases where journalists
have been jailed for refusing to reveal their sources or where the
government withholds certain information.
Elsewhere in the Americas, about 30 journalists have recently been
threatened in Colombia and 25 others are jailed in Cuba - a "shame for
our hemisphere," said Gonzalo Marroquin, head of the association'
press freedom commission.
Associated Press writer Luis Alonso Lugo in Caracas contributed to this
report.
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