May 29, 2007: The RCTV-TVES saga

 Venezuelan opposition continues to express their anger at the licence cancellation of RCTV.  Escorted by their parents, High school children staged a protest on Prados del Este highway (south-eastern <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Caracas). They came from middle and upper class private schools of Baruta district. Despite having no permit to protest or stop traffic, Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles Radonsky allowed their action. Current Venezuelan legislation on children and adolescents forbids their participation in politically motivated revolts or guarimbas (unauthorized urban disturbances). An official investigation has just started on this issue.  

 

The government warned it would not tolerate opposition guarimbas.   Right wing party Primero Justicia (PJ) in Baruta and Chacao districts has used this type of notorious protest in the past. It resorted to guarimbas during the attempted coup in 2002 and PDVSA revolt in 2003. Recent attempts to start Guarimbas and the catholic church meddling have prompted the government to accuse the right wing opposition of organizing and promoting recent revolts.

During the day, University students continued to demonstrate in various parts of <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Venezuela. Pro government students  held a gathering in downtown Caracas to express their support to TVES and the cancellation of RCTV. Opposition students gathered at Chacaito and posh Las Mercedes. Then, they submitted a petition at the local OAS office. Baruta Mayor and PJ member, Henrique Capriles Radonsky readily granted them leave for protesting in the Baruta district. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

This afternoon, President Chavez said student protests were part of a scheme to destabilize the Venezuelan government. He warned Globovison  and other TV stations over misrepresentation of recent events. Yesterday, the government had accused Globovision - an opposition leaning TV station - of promoting a murder attempt on President Hugo Chavez. It also accused CNN for linking Chavez to al-Qaeda. CNN denied such allegations.  Globovison also defended its case with a press release. This has added up to the current debate on TV responsibility and freedom of expression in Venezuela.

Opposition Mayor Leopoldo Lopez has said recent protest were peaceful. In addition, UCV Dean Antonio Paris agreed with him. He also deemed them as “spontaneous”. However, there are those who might not agree at all. Demonstration at Baruta y Chacao district caused damage to their private property and shops yesterday. Opposition students have also charged UCV authorities of promoting non-peaceful protests, yesterday.  Thirty two people have been injured during protests which started Sunday.

Regional governments have also acted on the RCTV case. While Nicaragua, Panama and Ecuador fully support Venezuelan Government, Chile has dearly praised freedom of expression. Brazil has abstained from commenting on the RCTV cancellation. Peru has said it would not do as Venezuela. Costa Rica did not approve the cancellation as it represented a mortal strike on democracy. Last week, Mercosur members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) had abstained to support Venezuela´s decision on RCTV. The US administration has also expressed its concern over the cancellation of RCTV licence. However, OAS has restrained from intervening as no country has filed a case. It has suggested RCTV case should be resolved with local remedies.    

Tonight, Home Minister Pedro Carreño held a meeting with of all local government authorities of Caracas. It dealt with recent student revolts and their effect on order and private property. The government said it guaranteed peaceful revolts only. Furthermore, an agreement was reached to avoid further infringement of law and order. From now on, Baruta and Chacao Mayors will be responsible for any further disturbance of public order or the occurrence of guarimbas. There are still some people protesting illegally in their districts. Other Caracas districts have been able to manage peaceful revolts and avoid traffic disruptions.

Unofficially, it also emerged that over a hundred children were detained today for creating havoc and destruction during revolts in San Antonio de los Altos, Mirada State. Their family members said they were protesting peacefully but Miranda Governor Diosdado Cabello stated otherwise. According to local and international legislation on children, their parents will be responsible for their doings. There is still not a clear figure of those injured or detained during the last 96 revolt incidents around the country.

  

Sources:

Gobovisión El Universal Union Radio BBC Al Jazeera Le Monde RNV VIVE VTV RFI VOA CNN The Independent Guardian.co.uk El Mundo.es