Chávez Tightens Control on Press by Reserving Power to Order Media Blackouts
During this election year, the government of President Hugo Chávez is increasing pressure on media and journalists, El Nuevo Herald reports.
The National Assembly is expected to approve a controversial telecommunications bill put forth by Chávez that allows the executive branch to hold absolute power to order an information blackout for national security reasons, writes Casto Ocando for El Nuevo Herald. The Supreme Court has already approved it, he says.
The law will permit Chávez to suspend any type of "transmission, emission or reception of signals, signs, writings, images, sounds or information of any nature'' by invoking the need to protect public order and national security, Ocando says.
Media and journalism organizations warn the law could seriously affect freedom of expression. "They are wanting to take Venezuela towards a socialist government where only one voice is heard" Roger Santodomingo, director of the National Journalists' Guild, told the newspaper. (See Santodomingo's blog.)
In a column in El Universal, journalist Victor Suarez warns that such a blackout could be extended to all forms of telecommunication, including phones, faxes and Internet.
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