Mass Work Stoppage Set to Protest Puerto Rico's Layoffs, Union-Busting

Mass Work Stoppage Set to Protest Puerto Rico's Layoffs, Union-Busting
by EmeterioBetances
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Share this on Twitter - Mass Work Stoppage Set to Protest Puerto Rico's Layoffs, Union-Busting Thu Oct 15, 2009 at 07:52:34 AM PDT
More than 200,000 people are expected to march in a mass rally tomorrow in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a one-day work stoppage to protest Gov.
http://blog.aflcio.org/...

As Foreclosures Hit All-Time High, Wall Street on Pace to Hand Out Record $140B in Employee Bonuses

http://www.democracynow.org/

Democracy Now covers the report on Puerto Rico mass protest.

More than 200,000 people are expected to march in a mass rally tomorrow in San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a one-day work stoppage to protest Gov.
http://blog.aflcio.org/2009/10/14/mass-work-stoppage-set-to-protest-puerto-ricos-layoffs-union-busting/

As Foreclosures Hit All-Time High, Wall Street on Pace to Hand Out Record $140B in Employee Bonuses

http://www.democracynow.org/

Democracy Now covers the report on Puerto Rico mass protest.


URL:http://Label: Image
EmeterioBetances's diary :: :: NCPRR NYC CHAPTER SPONSORED EVENT

Thursday October 15, 2009

TIME

5:00 PM

LOCATION

Puerto Rican Federal Affairs Administration

135 W 50Th St.

New York City

The Puerto Rican Government has since January fired 25,000 public sector workers in the Island Nation. Their response to the fiscal crisis IS NOT an acceptable solution to an already severely under served people by their Government. In addition to the firings, the Government has announced that they will break all labor agreements with Unions ... Read Morerepresenting public sector workers. The impoverished Island Nation, a Colony of the United States since 1898 was already facing over 15% unemployment at the beggining of the year.

The response of the people of Puerto Rico to this crisis has been peacefull rallies and demonstrations. The Puerto Rican Government's response to to the people has been to ignore the the opposition to the administration policies.

On Thursday, October 15th Puerto Rico's social Justice movement and Organized Labor have called for a 1 Day General Strike. The NATIONAL CONGRESS for PUERTO RICAN RIGHTS, Labor Council Latin American Advancement LCLAA, The Network of Support for Puerto Rican Workers, The Puerto Rican Community and supporters of Social Justice will rally in support of the people of Puerto Rico in N.Y.C.

-NCPRR NYC CHAPTER SPONSORED EVENT

ACLU reported on the current situation in Puerto Rico following the protest that may lead to massive unrest. The story describes the use of civil disobedience proclaimed as an act of terrorism by Gov. Fortuno. No link is available.

ACLU rips officials for citing 'terrorism' in general strike - Puerto Rico Daily Sun - 08/10/09

Front Page Photo - Puerto Rico Daily Sun by Humberto Trias: More than 1,000 activists participated in a march organized by the Popular Democratic Party in Old San Jaun on Wednesday to protest the Fortuño administration's public policy of reducing the size of the government through layoffs. The protesters, headed by 20 government employees who received their dismissal letters, walked from Plaza Colón to La Fortaleza carrying signs saying "Give me back my job" and "We want to work."

Front Page Headline: Mitigation plan ready - Daco, retail associations say there will be food, gas during strike

BY EVA LLORENS VELEZ - DaiIy Sun staff - ellorens@prdailysun.net

The Fortuño administration is trying to scare public workers into not participating in the Oct. 15 general strike with its threats that protesters will be charged with engaging in acts of terrorism if they prevent the flow of goods and passengers at airports and seaports, American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director William Ramírez said Wednesday.

According to Ramírez, such actions do not qualify as "terrorism."

"Calling individuals who are exercising their right to protest terrorists is dangerous in a democracy, and I am very worried about the turn of events. These are public servants," Ramírez said. "[Officials) are sowing fear because no one wants to be labeled a terrorist."

Earlier this week, Justice Secretary Antonio Sagardía and Police Superintendent José Figueroa Sancha warned organizers of the Oct. 15 general work stoppage that they could be charged with engaging in terrorism if they block access to ports or the airport, because they would be interfering with interstate commerce. In a radio interview Wednesday, Gov. Fortuño also described such actions as terrorism.




Live Radio Broadcaste on the current events in Puerto Rico protest.
http://www.radioisla1320.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=91
Download player.

Thanks To Lrios for the Videos:


http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/10/15/793515/-Puerto-Ricos-National-Strike-todayLrios's diary :: ::

The video below explains a bit of what is happening today in Puerto Rico, the head of government belongs to the only pro-US Statehood party of the island, the Partido Nuevo Progresista (New Progressive Party) which is not progressive, do not be mistaken by the name, but a latin american conservative right wing party (like Uribe's party in Colombia or today´s PRI in Mexico) that wishes to annexate Puerto Rico as a US state.
Fortuño, who is a US-republican sympathizer calls himself a 'republican' even though there is no republican party registered in Puerto Rico's general elections; many now see him as the 'Michelleti of the caribbean' (Michelleti is Hondura's post-coup president) for being a ruthless egomaniac who despises the latin american left and labor unions. Fortuño's government has already tear-gassed students and threatened to arrest demonstrators.
Fortuño won the elections after former head of government, Anibal Acevedo (which last year went to the United Nations to denounce the unresolved issue of Puerto Rico's status and self determination and also to support a sovereign option for the island-nation) signed a 7% sales tax which enraged many people, Puerto Rico's first ever sales tax.
One of the labor unions, among many others, who are joining today the national strike, the international SEIU created this video.

Latin American Revolutionary Vanguard

Listen I think that the United Nations constitution would allow us to criticize the United States and for that matter arm ourselves against any occupying force in Puerto Rico. The United States continues to occupy Puerto Rico by force, subversion and asymmetric warfare. Our Demands are simple, we want Puerto Rico to be allowed to trade with all Latin American countries, we want to elect our own President to represent the Puerto Rican people, we demand that democracy be allowed to flourish. Millions of Puerto Rican's are left without a chance to vote. To my fellow Puerto Rican Patriots, understand that our plight and my concern about U.S. intervention in Puerto Rico and the region will demand that we all alert our reactionary forces. We understand what the United States policy is, when it comes down to Puerto Rico’s economy and development. We see the stagnation in our economy and demand that all oppressive and colonial rule by the United States government end. We are demanding real change; we want Puerto Rico to write its own geopolitical policies and destiny. We want Puerto Rico to make its own policies in all areas including political, geopolitical and economical. The U.S. gives us millions of dollars but in return Puerto Rico has given America a bigger sacrifice. Millions of young Puerto Rican soldiers continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan in order to protect the American people. Puerto Rico is not under attack, America is under attack! In return for our lives what have we received? The majority of Puerto Rican's are more impoverished than those living on the mainland United States. We have been occupied for over 600 years and our level of poverty in Puerto Rico is not even considered equal to the level of poverty on the mainland. So why should we become part of a nation that has not even improved our standard of living? The fact is that we will never improve our standard of living as long as Puerto Rico continues to be under foreign military occupation by United States military forces. Imagine if Puerto Rico was able to trade and build technology, import cheap oil and other resources from other countries. Improving its agricultural sectors to improve internal consumption and external output? Increase solar power, educational reform and medical reform like other nations in Europe or Latin America. But the United States prevents this from actually happening. The United States continues to dictate to the Puerto Rican people what its internal and external political or economical policies should be. In all of these sectors our nation continues to be occupied by the United States and the matter should be in every discussion, either on the international level or the domestic level. The Latin American reactionary forces cannot continue to sit idly by and continue to be paper tigers in the 21 century. We most protect our homelands in order to accomplish the vision of a unified Latin America. Hasta La Victoria Siempre!

Brigadner General Antonio Valero de Bernabe The Puerto Rican Liberator

This is a great article written by two Dons who have written about a history that has never been taught to the Puerto Rican population in the United States.
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé, Emeterio Betances, Pedro Albizu Campos, Filiberto Ojeda Rios will never be forgotten. There sacrifice has made our people struggle and our real history will be revealed. America and those who impose an undemocratic theocratic system in Puerto Rico will never bend the will of Puerto Rico. Never. This article reflects a historic figure, a grand Liberator of Latin America.


By: Jorge Gerardo Muñiz Ortiz and Daniel Prieto

Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé was born in the city of Fajardo in the Eastern part of the island of Puerto Rico on October 26, 1790. He is also known as the Liberator from Puerto Rico because he joined Don Simón Bolívar in his struggles to gain independence of Latin American countries from Spanish rule.

Spain to study military science and graduated in 1807 as a junior officer. He served in the Spanish Army and helped defeat Napoleon’s army at the Siege of Zaragoza in 1808, which granted him a promotion to the rank of colonel. Valero’s view towards the monarchy in Spain was so disdainful, due to the King’s policies towards the colonies in Latin America that he resigned from his commission with the army and fled to Mexico. In Mexico, Valero joined the Mexican Revolutionary Army and was named Chief of Staff and successfully helped in achieving Mexico’s independence from Spain. This led to the proclamation of Agustin de Iturbide, Valero’s leader during the resurrection, as the Emperor of Mexico. However, due to the fact that Valero despised the idea of monarchies, he

fled Mexico after revolting against Iturbide. Valero was captured and sent to a prison in Cuba, where he escaped with the help of a group of men who believed in Don Simón Bolívar’s pursuit of Latin American independence and Pan Americanism.
Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé learned of Don Simón Bolívar’s struggle for independence and unification of Latin America and decided to join him in his battles. Valero traveled to the small island of Saint Thomas in the Caribbean, where, it has been historically documented, many Puerto Ricans had established a base for their fight for the island’s independence from Spain (it has been documented that independence proponents Ramón Emeterio Betances and Eugenio María de Hostos would later be exiled to St. Thomas. They also believed in the unification of antillian nations into a confederacy). Valero travelled to Venezuela where he met General Francisco de Paula Santander (4th President of the Republic of the New Granada and 2nd Vice-President of the Republic of Colombia). After gaining Don Simón Bolívar’s confidence Valero would be appointed various positions including Military Chief of the Department of Panama, Governor of Puerto Cabello, Chief of Staff of Colombia, Minister of War and Maritime of Venezuela. Valero’s dream, which was not realized, was to liberate Puerto Rico from

Spain and become part of the United Provinces of New Granada as a separate state called Boriquén.
Valero served as honor guard during Don Simón Bolívar’s funeral and in 1853 was honored by Venezuela with “The Bust of the Liberator of Venezuela”. Valero would also be awarded with “The Medal of the Liberators of Mexico”, “The Bust of the Liberator of Peru”, and the “Medal del Callao”. Valero died in the capital city Bogotá, Colombia on June 7, 1863 and was buried there.
A quote from Don Simón Bolívar about Brigadier General Antonio Valero de Bernabé:
“Al llegar a Lima a principios de 1825, se presenta al Libertador. Bolívar ese mismo día le escribe a Santander: ‘Hoy ha llegado el General Valero con su hermoso batallón. No he hecho más que verlo, pero me parece un excelente oficial, por

lo que he oído de él y por su fisonomía. Le he dado el mando de la división que sitia al Callao a las órdenes del General Sálom’. Valero, siempre con el deseo de liberar a Cuba y Puerto Rico le presenta el plan a Bolívar. Este le responde las mismas razones que Santander le ofreció, pero le comenta que tiene el deseo de la liberación de las islas antillanas. Sabemos que Antonio Valero era un hombre apuesto, gentil con el sexo opuesto, fuerte de carácter y excelente ventrílocuo. Este don en que en una época era considerado como sobrenatural,

lo utilizaba con humor. Cuentan sus amigos que en el campo de batalla era ‘un león desencadenado’”.
English Translation: “At the time of his arrival at the beginning of 1825, [Valero] presents himself to the Liberator. That same day, Bolívar writes Santander: ‘Today General Valero has arrived with his beautiful battalion. I’ve seen him, and appears to be an excellent official, based on what I’ve heard about him and by his features. I have given him command of the divison based in Callao under the orders of General Sálom’. Valero, always with the wishes of liberating Cuba and Puerto Rico presents his plan to Bolívar. Bolívar responds with the same reasons that Santander gave him, but tells him about his wishes for the libration of the Antillean islands. We know that Antonio Valereo was a handsome man, gentile with the opposite sex, strong of character and excellent ventriloquist. This talent, which during my time was considered supernatural, he used is with humor. His friends say that on the battlefield Valero was an ‘unchained lion’”.


Link:
http://www.phiota.org/PhiotaSum09.pdf
Footnote:
1. Retrieved from the World Wide Web on June 25, 2009: http://lainformacion.us/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1683&Itemid=28



El Che Speech on Don Pedro Albizu Campos

Barack Obama The Sell Out?

Barack Obama has been in the white house and has been applying the same old Bush policies. He has been consecutive in giving the green light in drone bombings. That has been murdering innocent women and children. He continues Bush doctrine in all parts of the world. He has sent in troops to Afghanistan and plans to add more troops. He has continues to keep a small amount of troops in Iraq. He continues to expand his war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has even planned for a civilian-military prison.





Barack Obama has been in the White House and has been applying the same old Bush policies. He has been consecutive in giving the green light in drone bombings. That has been murdering innocent women and children. He continues Bush doctrine in all parts of the world. He has sent in troops to Afghanistan and plans to add more troops. He has continues to keep a small amount of troops in Iraq. He continues to expand his war in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has even planned for a civilian-military prison.


Barack Obama wants to hold people in prison for ever without any legal defense or proper judicial representatives. Not only has he kept in line with Bush policies. He hasn't done one good thing for the middle class Americans. Wall Street pays out huge bonuses with our money (TARP). He then stops congress from actually implementing strong regulations against the business elites. Barack Obama military budget has not decreased in order to reduce the deficient. It has actually increase in so called "Democracy Building projects" and other programs. Barack Obama is nothing but a two face con artist. During his campaign he made promises of changing the way Washington does business. But during his time as the president elect he has actually done the opposite. He has re-paid Wall Street for their contributions during his campaign. And also continues to go out of his way to be bi-partisan. I can only give Barack Obama a little credit on this issue since Bush on the other hand was never bi-partisan in fact he even threaten congress. But Barack Obama doesn't stray too far from the same Bush policies. He has failed to investigate the Bush Administration for war crimes. He continues to supply Israel with billions of our tax payer money. Even when Israel continues to ignore Washington’s plea to end settlement building in the West Bank. But on top of this entire masterpiece but is stabbing each and every one of us who voted for change. People continue to follow his rhetoric and blindly assume he is really reaching out.

Listen I am tired of this argument between Democrats and Republicans. Barack Obama policies have been something in which McCain can agree with. Now how insane is that a man who has some sort of hulk syndrome. In which he just snaps like one of those commercials for Slim Jims. If John McCain can get along with Barack Obama than we are looking at a two party system that is out of date in the 21 century.

Sell Out Obama, I wonder how much Wall Street paid for him?

Daddy Yankee Quedate Callao-Siete Nueve (New)

The following Youtube video is a song written about the situation in Latin America and Puerto Rico. Siete Nueve takes a shot at Daddy "Yankee" for promoting John McCain. In his song Siete Nueve dedicates the song to Don Pedro Albizu Campos who was a Puerto Rican Nationalist. Don Pedro Albizu Campos graduated from Harvard Law School and knew various languages. He was considered by the famous Che Guevara as a strong willed man who fought for Puerto Rico independence and who never surrendered against the Imperialist Colossal United States. In the song Siete Nueve tells Daddy "Yankee" to shut up and also tells him not to represent the majority of Puerto Ricans. He also tells Daddy "Yankee"to learn his history and that of all of Latin America. In one particular lyric he also takes a jab at the popular song of Gasolina that Daddy "Yankee" makes and describes the on going Imperial conquest the U.S. attempts all over the world. He takes another jab at what John McCain stands for and what Daddy "Yankee" was standing for when he associated the Puerto Rican masses.

Siete Nueve gets 5 Stars for dropping this exclusive and educational song.
Hasta La Victoria Siempre! Viva Puerto Rico Libre de Colonia, Y que Viva Latino America! Que Viva Peru, Chile, Honduras, y todo Sur Americaa! Que Viva EmeterioBetances, Don Pedro Albizu Campos! Te lo prometo que Puerto Rico vas a ser libre!


"Esta es la cancion que el MC Siete Nueve le dedica a Daddy Yankee luego de este apoyar la campaña politica de John Mccain. Esta version tiene visuales que presentan a daddy yankee endosando al Senador Mccain entre otras cosas. Espero les guste el video que hice acerca de la situacion. "

Why Obama can't be soft on North Korea

Below is the "The Christian Science Monitor" anaylis about Barack Obama stance against North Korea. The reason I find this particular article interesting is that its written within a context of religion. In recent news reports about Donald Rumsfeld use of biblic text sent to President Bush oval office describes what I consider the fog war. While news reports have indicated the use of biblical text in Iraq and other religious fanatic soldiers promoting conversion. One tends to wonder how far the Imperial United States is willing to go in converting the Middle East. The United States has been on going with the religious propaganda. In every home and house hold they are waging two physcos wars on every American. One is from the constant bombardment on television shows that deal with commercial consumerism. The other deals with the Christian religious propaganda that is on a 24 hour a day brain washing. But let me get back to the actual article. The article promotes a stronger stance from the Barack Obama against North Korea. That would be that America Empire is at war with the world. The "religious" website is promoting the bombing of North Korea with a nuclear bomb! If his isn't bad enough already the American Empire would also like to overthrow Iran Islamic Revolutionary Vanguard. The nature of this economic system will stop at nothing to ensure its hegemony in the world. I urge the people of the world to stop the American Empire. End all foreign and military occupation in the world. End the support for Saudi Arabia undemocratic system. End the support the United Arab Emerit undemocratic system. It's time that the world unite and end the SuperHyper power. -Don Famoso





Why Obama can't be soft on North Korea
Japan and South Korea already see him as eroding the US military posture in Asia.
By the Monitor's Editorial Board
from the May 28, 2009 edition
link:http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0528/p08s01-comv.html




It would be hard to imagine President Obama ever standing only a few feet from the North Korean border and warning its leaders that if they ever used nuclear weapons, "it would be the end of their country."
Mr. Obama is not the threatening kind. He prefers "soft" power to win over his adversaries. In fact, after North Korea's May 25 test of a bomb close in size to the one dropped on Hiroshima, he said the US would merely "work with our friends and allies to stand up to this behavior."
What a contrast to the last Democratic president.
It was President Clinton who actually spoke those threatening "hard power" words – within earshot of North Korean soldiers – in 1993. At the time, Pyongyang was revving up its nuclear-bomb program.
Mr. Clinton knew something back then that Obama is learning on the job: Tough talk against an enemy is sometimes needed simply to reassure America's allies that the US will live up to its defense promises. Those commitments include its unique role to provide nuclear deterrence, or promised retaliation, if an ally is attacked.
By his actions and his words, Obama is sending worrisome signals to Japan and South Korea that they might be left alone in a confrontation with North Korea or even perhaps China.
It's an impression he needs to correct quickly with credible reassurance.
Beyond Obama's lackluster response so far to North Korea's first successful atomic blast, Japan and South Korea worry that the president's focus on his big domestic agenda will erode the US military posture in Asia and the will of Americans to defend allies.
They see Obama's pullout of troops from Iraq and the calls by some in the Democratic Party to set a timetable for a US retreat from Afghanistan.
They worry that his proposed cuts in ballistic-missile defense would leave Asian allies vulnerable while his cuts in F-22 fighter jets would harm Japan's ability to build a similar plane to defend itself against China.
They watch as Obama cuts the US Navy's plans to build more ships to counter China's growing submarine fleet.
They worry about US willingness to defend Taiwan – as Bill Clinton did in 1996 – against a hostile confrontation with China. That worry stems from Beijing's recent success in luring Taipei's leaders toward closer ties with the mainland, thus weakening US support for Taiwan's sovereignty and its military strength.
Tokyo also notices that Obama has appointed a Democratic Party fund-raiser as US ambassador to Japan and not a professional diplomat with Japanese experience. And both Seoul and Tokyo are worried about signals that Obama will hold direct talks with North Korea without including them.
All these moves help explain recent steps in Japan and South Korea to prepare for an Obama era of American retrenchment.
Many legislators in Seoul now want to delay the planned 2012 hand-over of the wartime operational control of South Korean troops from the US. With North Korea soon able to place a nuclear weapon on a missile, they prefer the US keep its hand on a military response. South Korea also decided this week to join the US-led global effort to interrupt air or sea deliveries by North Korea of unconventional weapons or missile parts.
In Japan, officials are so worried about the reliability of the US nuclear umbrella that the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is debating whether to develop a capability to strike North Korea – "in order not to sit and wait for death," as an LDP committee stated this week.
Some LDP officials even want Japan to openly consider acquiring its own nuclear-weapons capability. They cite polls showing a drop in trust of the US by the Japanese public, caused in part by its weak stance toward North Korea.
Coincidentally, a US Council on Foreign Relations report released Tuesday warned Obama that if he doesn't reaffirm the US nuclear deterrence, "some US allies may decide in the future to acquire nuclear weapons."
Obama must not let North Korea's nuclear weapons ignite an arms race in Asia. The world must not again witness the kind of military rivalry between Japan and China that led to World War II.
In both words and deeds, the president must reaffirm a strong, long-term US military commitment to its many allies in the region.

Venezuela Targets Cable Station

Hugo Chavez has recently taken another measure against private ownership. This time he has been able to place certain regulations on the media outlets that are privately owned. In 2002 the CIA attempted to fund right wing opposition groups in Venezuela. In a failed attempt and with the media full support against Hugo Chavez regime. Hugo Chavez has decided to settle the score by re-empowering the people. He will continue to make private property a tool for the public and in support of the Bolivarian Revolution. I posted this news article in order to explain to issues with the U.S. media propaganda machine and the alternative news media we have her on the internate. Throughout my whole childhood up bringing I never experienced a media outlet that represented my country Puerto Rico in the United States. Like Unionvision, Fox News, and La Prensa in Puerto Rico are used as tools to undermine Democracy, Freedom and Justice for all of the third world countries. These Media outlets are tools that support Imperialism, Inhuman conditions, and are even counter-revolutionary. Their main objective is to destablize the socialist governments and replace them with regimes that are undemocratic in nature. They tend to impose the will of a few Rich people instead of the population as a whole. Our mission is to distrupt, intercept, and destroy our enemies media capabilities. The Puerto Rican people are under the same media propaganda attacks. Our mission should be simple and to the point. Restrict funding for these terrorist outlets. Terrorist sympathizers should also be under surviellance. We encourage the people of the world to help liberate Puerto Rico from the grips of Imperialism. To end the military occupation of Puerto Rico and to reduce the media outlets in Puerto Rico. To re-establish an alternative source of News Media that can help further the objectives for a Unified Latin America. -Don Famo$o

Venezuela Targets Cable Station
Globovisión Complaint Is Part of a Larger Offensive, Critics Say

President Hugo Chávez has declared that "no land is private," stirring fears of more state seizure of farms. (Miraflores Press Office Via Associated Press)

By Juan ForeroWashington Post Foreign Service Friday, May 15, 2009
BOGOTA, Colombia -- The government of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez has taken actions that could shutter a private television news station, part of an offensive that has led to the seizure of foreign oil firms and a congressional effort to control the financing of nongovernmental organizations critical of the state.
Authorities have accused Globovisión, an anti-government cable station, of inciting panic through its coverage of a May 4 earthquake before authorities released an official report. Then Monday, the government announced that 39 foreign and domestic companies that provide services to the state-run oil company had been brought under government control.
Chávez also declared Sunday that "no land is private" in Venezuela, stirring fears of more state seizures of farms. Several top opposition leaders, meanwhile, are under investigation for corruption, and the federal government has stripped one of Chávez's most intractable foes, the mayor of greater Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, of the authority to control the city budget.
The government's latest measures, coming three months after Chávez won a referendum that permits him to run for office indefinitely, have increased tensions in the oil-rich country. Opposition groups have vowed to organize protests, and press-freedom organizations have cautioned that free expression may be in jeopardy.
"This is a new effort by the government to control the flow of information and to restrict the critical coverage of news," said Carlos Lauría, Americas program director for the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. The result "of the permanent threats by the government . . . is a very damaging situation for Venezuelan society."
Venezuela has not closed any media outlets during Chávez's decade in power. But in May 2007, Chávez refused to renew the broadcast license of a stridently anti-government station, RCTV, accusing it of plotting against him. Harangues and threats against journalists are common, press-freedom groups say, and the state has made the creation of a parallel, pro-government media apparatus a priority.
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Globovisión is particularly reviled by Chávez and his aides for giving voice to politicians and military officers who participated in a failed coup in 2002. But most recently, it was the station's quake coverage that angered Chávez.
"They are playing with fire, manipulating, inciting hatred," Chávez said Sunday on his television show.
He called Globovisión's director, Alberto Federico Ravell, a "crazy man" and said, "This has to end, or I will stop calling myself Hugo Chávez Frías."
On Monday, Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro said Globovisión was guilty of "media terrorism." Another official close to Chávez, Andrés Izarra, director of a state television channel, called Globovisión coverage part of a "ferocious campaign" against the government.
Authorities have not explained how the station's reporting on the quake, which caused little damage, panicked and divided the public.
Chávez has referred the case to the Venezuelan National Telecommunications Commission, which has begun administrative proceedings against Globovisión and special inspections of private television stations. The National Assembly has also been investigating Ravell, as well as other media executives, for participating in an alleged plot to assassinate Chávez.
"It doesn't seem to me that closure is imminent," Lauría said, referring to Globovisión. "But what's clear is the government is preparing the terrain so that can happen."
Ravell said Globovisión offered a factual report, citing the U.S. Geological Survey. Globovisión also questioned why authorities had not released information about the quake.
"We went on the air with the news, as would any news channel, without calling for class warfare, without scaring children," Ravell said by phone from Caracas.
In a recent report, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, an arm of the Organization of American States, expressed concern about "acts of intimidation" against government foes, including statements by Chávez "that could have instigated the use of violence." The organization's Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression also noted attacks by a pro-Chávez group against Globovisión and said administrative actions taken by the government against reporters have been based on a "highly discretionary" application of the law.
The National Assembly is preparing a bill that would require that all foreign donations to NGOs be deposited in a government fund before disbursement. Government officials said that would permit the state to better control groups aiming to undermine Chávez; critics say the state simply wants to put the NGOs out of business.