Venezuela: HRF Commemorates Freedom of Expression on the Anniversary of the Shutdown of RCTV

NEW YORK (May 27, 2008) -- “Today marks the first anniversary of President Chávez’s most overt act of intolerance. The constant attacks on the media, the bullying, and the criminally violent acts of his supporters continue to stain Venezuela where journalism is one of the most dangerous professions,” said Armando Valladares, Chairman of the Human Rights Foundation (HRF). The Report of the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Organization of American States (OAS) says that “at midnight on May 27, 2007, TV channel Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) ceased its transmission, when the decision of the government of Hugo Chávez not to renew its concession became effective. […] On December 28, 2006, the president of Venezuela had declared his intention of not renewing RCTV’s concession.” After the shutdown, RCTV began broadcasting its programming via YouTube and ultimately became a cable TV station.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights states that RCTV used to “broadcast to a large national audience and air opinion-based programs with an independent editorial line.” RCTV’s shutdown generated immediate protest by the world’s most influential institutions that defend freedom of expression and freedom of the press, including: Inter-American Commission of Human Rights, Global Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, International Association of Broadcasting, Committee to Protect Journalists, Commonwealth Press Union, Inter-American Press Association, International Federation of the Periodical Press, International Press Institute, World Association of Newspapers, World Press Freedom Committee, Asociación Iberoamericana de Derecho de la Información y de la Comunicación, among many others, all unanimously condemning this censorship as violating freedom of expression and press.

HRF believes that the arbitrary shutdown of RCTV constitutes a grave violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression of every person in Venezuela. The right to freedom of expression and the consequent proscription against censorship are enshrined not only in the Constitution of Venezuela (articles 23, 57, and 58) but in the main international human rights instruments, namely, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (article 19), the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights (article 19), the American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (article 4) and the American Convention on Human Rights. Pursuant to article 13 of the latter, the right to freedom of expression, “includes freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds,” and it, “may not be restricted by indirect methods or means, such as the abuse of government or private controls over newsprint, radio broadcasting frequencies, or equipment used in the dissemination of information, or by any other means tending to impede the communication and circulation of ideas and opinions.”

HRF maintains a website, FreeRCTV (www.freerctv.com), aimed to inform individuals around the world about the arbitrary shutdown of RCTV. Today, it commemorates freedom of expression by releasing a song recorded by the afro-celtic-yiddish-ska band: ‘The Fenwicks,’ in honor of RCTV and journalists everywhere who resist censorship. FreeRCTV also features a short film about President Chavez and the media to give viewers a sense of the Venezuelan government’s treatment of independent media. The website includes a clock counting the days, hours, and minutes since the shutdown, and promotes participation from visitors who want to join HRF’s defense of freedom of speech and campaign against press censorship, and to deliver their complaints to every Venezuelan embassy on the planet by clicking on the site’s petition.

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending human rights in the American hemisphere. It centers its work on the twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF’s ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF’s International Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky, Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramón J. Velásquez, Elie Wiesel, and Harry Wu.

Contact: Thor Halvorssen, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486, info@thehrf.org