An International Press Institute (IPI) advocacy mission will travel to Caracas, Venezuela, on 15 November for four days of meetings with publishers, editors and journalists from a broad range of media, as well as government officials, opposition leaders, and representatives of civil society, to investigate the current press freedom climate in the country.
Venezuela was placed on IPI’s Watch List in October 2000 and the press freedom situation there remains worrisome.
Apart from verbal and physical aggression against members of the privately-owned and largely pro-opposition media, legal and administrative measures, judicial decisions, and legislation that contradicts international standards are also a reason for concern.
On 1 August 2009, the country’s telecommunications administrator, CONATEL, closed down indefinitely 34 radio broadcasters for allegedly failing to submit paperwork regarding their ownership. CONATEL has also initiated several sets of administrative proceedings against the Caracas-based TV broadcaster Globovisión, which could result in the temporary or definitive closure of that channel. The country’s oldest private TV station, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), was closed down in May 2007 after it was accused of collaborating with organisers of the 2002 coup attempt against President Hugo Chávez and of violating the 2005 Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television.
“The aggressive rhetoric of the Venezuelan government has encouraged local officials, pro-government supporters and others to threaten, harass and even physically attack journalists and media outlets,” said IPI Director David Dadge. “IPI will discuss its very serious concerns about the press freedom situation in Venezuela and hopes to work toward creating a dialogue between the government and the country’s private media.”
The IPI delegation to Venezuela will consist of IPI board member Galina Sidorova, editor-in-chief of the Russian monthly investigative magazine, Sovershenno Secretno, and Michael Kudlak, IPI Mission Coordinator.
