[R-G] Reporters Without Frontiers against Hugo Chávez

[Anthony Fenton]

Reporters Without Frontiers against Hugo Chávez
January 15, 2008 By Salim Lamrani
Source: Tlaxcala
http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16220
Salim Lamrani's ZSpace Page


Taking advantage of Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez' state visit to  
France on November 19 and 20, 2007, Reporters Without Frontiers (RSF)  
published a letter addressed to French president Nicolas Sarkozy in  
which they denounce “some disturbing tendencies of [Chávez'] regime  
[and] his behavior on the international scene.” The Paris-based  
organization – which adopts a political position from the start by  
referring to a democratically elected government with the pejorative  
and stigmatizing term “regime” – thus continues the disinformation  
campaign it has undertaken against Venezuela (1).

“Very rarely has an elected head of state placed so many obstacles in  
the way of freedom of speech during his mandate”, asserts Robert  
Ménard, the association's general secretary for the past 22 years.

"The [Venezuelan] president [has silenced] any critical or dissident  
voice [and has eliminated] [...] progressively any form of  
counterbalance to power, particularly that of the press” (2).

Thus, according to RSF, freedom of speech does not exist in Venezuela  
and the opposition has no media available to express its disagreement  
with the government's policies.

There is a relatively simple way to investigate the veracity of the  
claims made by the French entity in “defense of press freedom”. It  
would suffice to have a look at the Venezuelan press and measure the  
space devoted to criticism of Chávez and his policies. The El  
Universal daily opines that the constitutional reform subject to a  
popular referendum on December 2, 2007*, contains a number of  
“aspects perilous to freedom of the press” and has no qualms in  
calling the Bolivarian government a “totalitarian [...] regime  
[...]”. (3)



The same newspaper accuses Chávez of scaring away foreign investors;  
it emphasizes “the risk of investing in Venezuela” because of  
government policies (4); it publishes a long interview with Julio  
Borges, national coordinator of the opposition party Primero Justicia  
who claims that “Chávez wants to put the country into a  
straightjacket [...] incompatible with the Venezuelan people's  
culture of freedom” (5), stating that the Bolivarian project “has  
failed” (6), accusing the government of repression and of violation  
of “the autonomy of the universities” (7), lashes out at Chávez  
because of his “immorality” (8); echoes a campaign that seeks to put  
the nation's president on trial for “a conspiracy against the  
republican system and usurpation of power” (9), and publishes Robert  
Ménard's open letter to Nicolas Sarkozy (10). And all this was in the  
November 20, 2007 edition alone.



For its part, the daily El Nacional accuses the authorities of  
repressing students (11), offers generous column space to the  
opponents of the constitutional reform (12) and evokes suspicions  
about alleged fraud to occur during the December 2007 referendum  
(13). In their editions of November 19 and 20, 2007, the newspaper  
Tal Cual denounces attacks on “freedom of expression” (14),  
virulently attacks the constitutional reform (15) – because it would  
suspend “constitutional continuity” (16)– branding the reform a “coup  
d'état” (17), calls for “a No vote to preserve democracy” (18) and  
accuses Chávez of “playing at being the hero” in the issue of the  
Columbian hostages (19). In addition, the newspaper decries “the  
dangerous alliance” between Venezuela and Iran (20).



The daily El Mundo inveighs against the violence of the authorities  
(21), complains about inflation and holds the government responsible  
for it (22), insists that the reform poses a danger to the Venezuelan  
people (23) and condemns the rapprochement with Iran (24). The  
newspaper El Tiempo speaks out against the shortage of some food  
products (25) and the health hazards found in some parts of the  
country (26). The TV channel Globovisión accuses the government of  
political repression (27) and affirms that the reform is a “crime  
against freedom of expression”, quoting the Inter American Press  
Association (28). On the other hand, the TV channel Venevisión –  
repeating the words of the Venezuelan chamber of commerce Fedecámaras  
(29) and claiming that the referendum would undoubtedly be tarnished  
by “fraud” (30)– admonishes its audience to reject the constitutional  
project for being adverse to “democratic values.”



This brief overview of the Venezuelan press, limited to the editions  
of November 19 and 20, 2007, shows the extent to which Robert  
Ménard’s claims are nothing but disinformation. The majority of the  
country's private press, representing 80% of the media, is  
characterized by an extreme vehemence – often to the edge of  
fanaticism – against President Chávez. To accuse Chávez of posing an  
obstacle to “freedom of speech” borders on the absurd. Any specialist  
on Venezuela worth their salt can testify to the freedom seen in the  
media, a freedom that would be unacceptable in the “fatherland of  
human rights” of France (it is ironic to see Ménard appealing to  
Nicolas Sarkozy whose control over the French media is astounding, to  
protect freedom of expression). Any empirical analysis, even a  
superficial one, leads to that conclusion. Consequently, RSF is not  
credible when bandying about untruths such as this, which can, in any  
case, be easily disproven.



RSF goes further, saying that “RCTV, the nation's oldest and most  
popular TV channel, has been excluded from the open signal broadcast  
spectrum at the orders of Hugo Chávez and “even against the opinion  
of a great part of his own supporters, while disregarding Inter  
American legal principles” (31). Here, we are faced with a tremendous  
lie. In the first place, RCTV is a TV channel that had overtly  
supported the coup d'état launched against president Chávez in April  
2002 –a detail that seems to be negligible in the eyes of RSF, who  
does not deign to recall it – without having to take the consequences  
(it is pointless to ask what would have happened to a French TV  
channel supporting a coup d'état against Nicolas Sarkozy).



Moreover, we are dealing with the most heavily sanctioned TV channel  
of Venezuelan history due to infringements of the law (but only once  
under the Chávez government). (32) Finally, RCTV has not been  
excluded from the open signal airwaves “at the orders of Hugo  
Chávez”. The license of the channel had expired on May 28, 2007 and  
the national telecommunications commission of Venezuela (CONATEL)) – 
and not Chávez– in view of RCTV’s track record  decided not to renew  
the license and open the frequency to another channel, a decision  
that was in perfectly in accordance with Venezuelan legislation. (33)



On the other hand, and contrary to the claims of RSF, the decision  
was backed by immense popular support as shown by the demonstrations  
of several hundred thousand of people between May 27 and June 2,  
2007. (34) Moreover, the president had suggested subjecting the  
decision on TV license renewals to a popular referendum. Ultimately,  
the decision taken was perfectly legal under both article 156 of the  
Venezuelan Constitution and with article 108 of the Law on  
Telecommunications, articles that give the government the power to  
regulate access to the open signal broadcast spectrum. (35) Since he  
was elected president, Chávez has never closed a single media outlet.  
Since 1998, only two outlets temporarily stopped broadcasting. These  
were Canal 8 and Catia TV, which were closed between April 11 and 13,  
2002, by coup regime, whose actions were hailed by RCTV.



Every year and all over the world, the authorities decide not to  
renew numerous concessions, though without arousing the indignation  
of RSF. The French organization never expressed their opinion on the  
cases of the Spanish TV channels TV Laciana in 2004, TV Católica in  
2005 and Tele-Asturias in 2006, whose concessions were not  renewed.  
The same thing happened to the British channels One TV, Actionworld  
and StarDate TV 24 in 2006 and with Look for Love 2 in 2007. (36)



RSF also denounces “the degree of control exercised by the Venezuelan  
head of state on the media landscape” (37) Once again, this is a  
monumental lie. As for the VHF broadcast spectrum, in 2000 there were  
19 private TV channels and 1 public channel. In 2006, the number  
increased to 20 private channels as against a lone public channel.  
Since May 28, 2007, there are 19 private and two public TV channels,  
Venezolana de Televisión and Tves, which replaced RCTV in the open  
signal channels on the public airwaves. As for the UHF broadcast  
spectrum, in 2000 existed 28 private and two public channels. In  
2006, there were 44 private and 6 public channels. As for AM radio  
stations,  in 2000 and 2006 there were 36 public stations compared to  
143 private stations. There were 3 public FM stations compared to 365  
private stations in 2000. In 2006 the number went up to 440 private  
and 10 public radio stations. (38) Thus, RSF is deceiving the public.



RSF opposed a draft law that seeks to limit foreign financing of non- 
governmental organizations. As a matter of fact, the United States,  
which backed the 2002 coup d'état, is now funding a number of  
organizations in the opposition. The lawyer Eva Golinger revealed the  
names of the persons sponsored by Washington. To Ménard, however,  
this decision constitutes implementation of “an veritable lockstep on  
civil society and its components”. (39) Does he think for one minute  
that France would accept an opposition   -which, by the way, had been  
responsible for a coup d'état - funded by a foreign power? Paragraph  
411-4 of the French Penal Code is eloquent in this regard:



“The act of sharing intelligence with a foreign power, an enterprise  
or organization that is foreign or under foreign control or with its  
agents, with the aim of provoking hostilities or acts of aggression  
against France, shall be punished with thirty years of criminal  
detention and a fine of € 450,000. The same penalties shall apply to  
the  act of providing to a foreign power, an enterprise or  
organization that is foreign or under foreign control or its agents,  
the means to undertake hostilities or realize acts of aggression  
against France.”



Finally, Robert Ménard emphasizes that his “offers to engage in  
dialogue had met with the accusation that is as grotesque as it is  
unwarranted, that our organization is working on behalf of US  
intelligence, and would organize another coup d'état”. (40) How could  
it be otherwise when we know that RSF supported the coup d'état of  
April 2002? Need we recall the statement published by RSF on April  
12, 2002?:



“Locked in the presidential palace, Hugo Chávez signed his  
resignation during the night due to the pressure exerted by the  
military. After that, he was taken to Fort Tiuna, the main military  
base of Caracas, where he is being kept under arrest. Immediately  
thereafter, Pedro Carmona, president of [the chamber of commerce]  
Fedecámaras, announced that he would lead a new transition  
government. He affirmed that his name was the result of a ‘consensus’  
reached between the Venezuelan civil society and the leadership of  
the Armed Forces”. (41)



The truth is that Chávez never “signed his resignation”, yet RSF took  
up this version of the coup plotters unreservedly and tried to  
convince international public opinion that Pedro Carmona was the new  
legitimate president.



And how could it be otherwise when we know that RSF is being funded  
by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) (42)? What is the NED?  
According to the New York Times, “The National Endowment for  
Democracy, created 15 years ago to do in the open what the Central  
Intelligence Agency has done surreptitiously for decades, spends $30  
million a year to support things like political parties, labor  
unions, dissident movements and the news media in dozens of countries  
[...]”. (43) According to Allen Weistein, who helped approve the  
legislation establishing NED, “a lot of what we do today was done  
covertly 25 years ago by the CIA”. (44) Thus, RSF receives financial  
resources from a CIA front and cannot be impartial.



Robert Ménard and his organization are not credible when they claim  
to be exclusively interested in “freedom of the press”. The truth is  
that they unquestionably work for a political agenda and are engaged  
in a fierce crusade against the democratic and popular government of  
Hugo Chávez. It is about time for Reporters Without Borders to take  
off the mask and show their true face to the light of day.



Notes



(1) Reporteros sin Fronteras, “Reporteros sin Fronteras escribe a  
Nicolas Sarkozy en la víspera de la entrevista con su homólogo  
venezolano Hugo Chávez”; Reporters Without Borders write to Nicolas  
Sarkozy shortly before the meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart  
Hugo Chávez. November 19th, 2007. http://www.rsf.org/article.php3? 
id_article=24427 (consulted on November 19th, 2007).



(2) Ibid.



(3) Vivián Castillo, “SIP ratifica validez de su último informe sobre  
Venezuela”; IAPA ratifies the validity of its latest report on  
Venezuela. El Universal, 20 November 20th, 2007.



(4) Víctor Salmerón, “La inversión extranjera cae a tan sólo 317  
millones de dólares”; Foreign investment plummeting to a mere $317  
million. El Universal, November 20th, 2007.



(5) Elvia Gómez, “‘Hugo Chávez quiere ponerle al país un zapato  
apretado’’”; Hugo Chávez seeks to straightjacket the county. El  
Universal, November 20th, 2007.



(6) Ana María Pérez, “Alcalde de Santa Teresa se pronunció en contra  
de reforma”; Santa Teresa's mayor speaks out against the reform. El  
Universal, November 20th, 2007.



(7) Zuma López, “Detenido decano y tres alumnos de UPEL Táchira”;  
Imprisoned: Dean and three pupils of the UPEL of the State of Táchia.  
El Universal, November 20th, 2007.



(8) El Universal, “MAS llama a abstencionista a votar por unidad del  
país”; MAS calls upon abstentionist to vote for the sake of the  
country's unity. November 20th, 2007.



(9) El Universal, “Breves políticos”; Political news in brief.  
November 20th, 2007.



(10) El Universal, “RSF criticó a Chávez en carta abierta a Sarkozy”;  
RSF criticizes Chávez in open letter to Sarkozy. November 20th, 2007.



(11) Eleonora Delgado & Simón González, “Órganos de seguridad de  
Táchira reprimen a estudiantes”; Táchira state security repressing  
students. El Nacional, November 19th, 2007.



(12) El Nacional, “Ismael García conduce programa contra la reforma  
en Globovisión”; Ismael García conducts program against the reform in  
Globovisión. November 18th, 2007; El Nacional, “Borges: La oposición  
tiene grandes posibilidades de ganar referéndum”; Borges: There is a  
strong possibility the opposition will win the referendum. November  
18th, 2007.



(13) El Nacional, “Opositores desconfían de la imparcialidad del ente  
comicial”; Opposition members distrust impartiality of the electoral  
authority. November 16th, 2007.



(14) Patricia Clarembaux, “Miente, que algo queda”; Lie, and  
something will stick. Tal Cual, November 20th, 2007.



(15) Ramón Sahmkow, “El 112, el artículo de la reforma en el que ser  
rico es malo”; Article 112, the article of the reform in which being  
rich is bad. Tal Cual, November 20th, 2007.



(16) Tal Cual, “‘Miedo a la reforma llega al chavismo’, según  
Martínez”; ‘Fear of the reform reaches Chavez supporters’, according  
to Martínez. November 19th, 2007.



(17) Tal Cual, “Baduel habla esta vez hacia el mundo”; This time,  
Baduel speaks to the world. November 19th, 2007.



(18) Tal Cual, “Votar No para preservar la democracia”; Vote No to  
preserve democracy. November 19th, 2007.



(19) Tal Cual, “Uribe da plazo a Chávez para que siga jugando al  
héroe”; Uribe grants Chávez a some time to play at being a hero.  
November 20th, 2007.



(20) Tal Cual, “La alianza peligrosa”; A dangerous alliance. November  
19th, 2007.



(21) El Mundo, “Batalla a tiros en Sabana Grande”; Shoot-out in  
Sabana Grande. November 20th, 2007.



(22) El Mundo, “Cotización del dólar no oficial continúa con  
tendencia alcista”; Unofficial dollar exchange rate continues upward  
trend. November 20th, 2007.



(23) El Mundo, La independencia de los poderes es fundamental para  
ser consejeros ”; Independence of powers is fundamental for being  
counselors. November 20th, 2007.



(24) El Mundo, “Chávez y Ahmadineyad juntos y revueltos ”; Chávez and  
Ahmadineyad united and mischievous. November 20th, 2007.



(25) K. Jurado & K. Irigoyen, “El pollo también escasea en los  
supermercados de la zona ”; Chicken too is becoming scarce in  
supermarkets of the zone. El Tiempo, November 20th, 2007.



(26) El Tiempo, “¿Y las autoridades sanitarias?”; And where are the  
health authorities? November 20th, 2007.



(27) JDG, “Policía del municipio Junín del Estado Táchira detubo a  
director-decano de la UPEL ”; Police of the Junín municipality of the  
State of Táchira detained director-dean of the UPEL. Globovisión,  
November 19th, 2007.



(28) AQB, “SIP: reforma constitucional amenaza libertad de expresión  
en Venezuela”; IAPA: Constitutional reform threatens freedom of  
expression in Venezuela. Globovisión, November 19th, 2007.



(29) Venevisión, “Fedecámaras reitera su rechazo a la reforma  
constitucional y pide la postergación del referendo”; The Venezuelan  
chamber of commerce (Fedecámaras) reiterates its disapproval of the  
constitutional reforms and asks for postponing the referendum.  
November 19th, 2007.



(30) Venevisión, “Copei considra que la oposición debe unirse para  
cuidar los votos el 2D ”; Copei believes the opposition needs to  
unite in order to keep an eye on the votes on December 2. November  
19th, 2007.



(31) Reporteros sin Fronteras, “Reporteros sin Fronteras escribe a  
Nicolas Sarkozy en la víspera de la entrevista con su homólogo  
venezolano Hugo Chávez”; Reporters Without Borders write to Nicolas  
Sarkozy shortly before the meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart  
Hugo Chávez. op. cit.



(32) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, “RCTV ha sido el canal más  
sancionado en Venezuela”; RCTV is the most sanctioned TV channel in  
Venezuela. March 29th, 2007.



(33) Lamia Oulalou, “Chávez bâillonne la télé d’opposition ”, Le  
Figaro, May 26th, 2007.



(34) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, “Hoy el pueblo demostró que  
está mobilizado en apoyo a la revolución”; Today the people of  
Venezuela showed that it is mobilizing in support of the revolution.  
June 2nd, 2007.



(35) L’Express, “Chávez bâillonne la dernière chaîne d’opposition ”,  
May 29th, 2007.



(36) Jean-Luc Mélanchon, “Où va la bonne conscience anti-chaviste ”,  
May 26th, 2007, www.jean-luc-melanchon.fr (consulted on May 30th, 2007).



(37) Reporteros sin Fronteras, “Reporteros sin Fronteras escribe a  
Nicolas Sarkozy en la víspera de la entrevista con su homólogo  
venezolano Hugo Chávez”; Reporters Without Borders write to Nicolas  
Sarkozy shortly before the meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart  
Hugo Chávez. op. cit.



(38) Telesur, “Informe RSF ‘Cierre de Radio Caracas Television. La  
consolidación de una mentira mediática a través de 39 embustes ”; RSF  
Report ‘Closure of Radio Caracas Television.’ The consoliditation of  
a media lie through 39 lies. June 7th, 2007.



(39) Reporteros sin Fronteras, “Reporteros sin Fronteras escribe a  
Nicolas Sarkozy en la víspera de la entrevista con su homólogo  
venezolano Hugo Chávez”; Reporters Without Borders writes to Nicolas  
Sarkozy shortly before meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo  
Chávez. op. cit.



(40) Ibid.



(41) Reporteros sin Fronteras, “Un journaliste a été tué, trois  
autres ont été blessés et cinq chaînes de télévision brièvement  
suspendues”, April 12th, 2002. www.rsf.org/article.php3? 
id_article=1109 (consulted on November 13th, de 2006).



(42) Robert Ménard, “Forum de discussion avec Robert Ménard”;  
Discussion forum with Robert Ménard. Le Nouvel Observateur, April  
18th, 2005. www.nouvelobs.com/forum/archives/forum_284.html  
(consulted on April 22nd, 2005).



(43) John M. Broder, “Political Meddling by Outsiders: Not New for  
U.S. ”; The New York Times, March 31st, 1997, p. 1.



(44) Allen Weinstein, Washington Post, September 22nd, 1991.





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Source: http://axisoflogic.com/artman/publish/article_25597.shtml



Original article published on 5th December 2007



About the author



Iris Buehler and James Hollander are members of Tlaxcala, the network  
of translators for linguistic diversity. This translation may be  
reprinted as long as the content remains unaltered, and the source,  
author, translator and reviser are cited.



URL of this article on Tlaxcala: http://www.tlaxcala.es/pp.asp? 
reference=4290&lg=en