Chavez Takes the Gloves Off Against RCTV

by Rick Rockwell

Next month, President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela plans to unplug that country’s oldest TV network.

Many in the U.S. could care less. Some who do care will say this reinforces Chavez’ image as a Latin American despot. Others who may know a bit more, may remember that television network, RCTV, openly aided Chavez’ opposition in 2002 during a failed coup. And a few others may know of RCTV’s intimate ties to powerful political and corporate interests in the U.S. and how RCTV is part of a conglomerate that has operations not just in Caracas but also Miami.

So the story of Chavez’ move to close RCTV is much more complex than some would paint it and it does have direct ties to power and politics in the U.S.

But until this past week, most official statements from the Venezuelan government about the plans to remove RCTV’s license to broadcast have danced delicately or defensively around the main issues.

For instance, when Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, Venezuela's ambassador to the U.S. came to American University in March, he quickly changed subjects when the topic of RCTV arose (Please see: "Venezuala: Politics, Propaganda & Polarization"). On the debut episode of Latin Pulse, this author was corrected and chided by Dr. Clara Martini-Briggs, a public health official from Venezuela, who is currently a visiting professor at the University of California-Berkeley. The offense was not couching the RCTV issue in the proper terms. Dr. Martini-Briggs was careful to use the official government line at the time that the issue had nothing to do with the 2002 coup but rather the government had simply decided to let the license lapse because the network wasn’t fulfilling its public service mission. That, of course, was a convenient smokescreen for not wanting to discuss the heart of the controversy.

Here’s what’s at issue: If a television network aids those who would overthrow a president, should it be shut down? Does shutting down that network constitute a breach of free speech rights? And if so, are there other solutions to punishing the network for its involvement in a failed coup?

Of course, few are putting it that directly. But this past week, Chavez dropped all pretenses and his government went on the offensive.

This was likely precipitated by two events. First, thousands turned out in Caracas to protest against having RCTV’s broadcast signal turned off. RCTV is a cultural icon in Venezuela. Only the elderly remember a time when it wasn’t around. To some, this is not a political issue but a cultural issue. They want their telenovelas and other programs and they don’t think the government should be removing those.

The second event: Marcel Granier the chief executive officer of Grupo Phelps (also known as Empresas 1 BC) which owns RCTV went to Europe to lobby the European Union for support against Chavez. The reaction to his efforts was mixed, with at least one Spanish leftist announcing the EU should support Chavez.

Not coincidentally, Isaías Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Attorney General went to court last week seeking to punish RCTV for its involvement in the failed putsch. So much for the idea there were no ties between the license issue and the failed coup.

And there was more fallout too last week. The Inter-American Court for Human Rights began moving to enjoin the network closure saying it violates basic tenets of free speech. Also, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a special report calling for Chavez to desist, and layed out a eight-point plan for resolution of the issue.

Chavez’ response: "People who believe they can put pressure on me by appealing to international organizations, foreign governments, and the evil court of this and that, with demonstrations, forget it! You are not going to put pressure on me; with nothing and for nothing. Just accept it."

Stay tuned for more fireworks now that the gloves are off.

(The photo of President Chavez is from the Venezuelan government and in the public domain.)

politics
Hugo Chavez
corporate media
RCTV
Venezuela
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