The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) called out several important international organizations on April 12th to defend the current attacks by the Venezuelan government against the press. The action is to prevent the legal persecution from President Hugo Chavez against journalist Guillermo Zuolaga, the CEO of the private news Channel Globovision, according to the news release.
The Venezuelan court has filed a motion against the Venezuelan media owner for spreading false information and insulting the President at IAPA meeting the week before. The news channel Globovision, was considered bias by the current administration in its reporting in the 2002 military coup, that ousted Chavez out of the presidency for 48 hours.
The government is clearly attempting to eliminate opposition from media sources who do not favor current policies. This issue is beyond repressing press freedoms, but the trampling of civil liberties along with human rights violations.
Senior executives from IAPA addressed the case to the United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-moon, the Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director Irina Bokova, Organization of the Americas (OAS) Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza, and several other agencies to safeguard the freedom of the press.
The IAPA stated this recent developments reinforced the notion that press freedom and free speech are deteriorating in the country. Less than a month ago, the government wanted to impose regulations over the internet. With more government control, closing down traditional media outlets that oppose the government, users were resorting to social media to report the news as a new platform for news.
The journalism craft is losing its voice in disseminating the news to keep the Venezuelan regime in check. The policies are moving towards totalitarianism, while the remaining populations of Venezuelans who oppose the current administration have to endure, leave or fight back. The future remains uncertain and the length of time Chavez will continue to govern. The Venezuelan majority made their choice to elect him in 1998, to reorganize a new candidate-selection process will be extremely difficult with the majority supporting the current Venezuelan revolution.
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