Politics Attorney General calls for law to punish mass media crimes
July 03

Venezuela investigates media over campaign for private property
The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) announced on Friday, July 03 that it will open punitive administrative proceedings to all the media that have broadcasted advertisements advocating private property. Conatel also issued a precautionary measure that prohibits radio and TV stations to broadcast such advertisements.

Diosdado Cabello, the Minister of Public Works and director of Conatel, said that the decision was due to the fact that the spots, which are produced by two different organizations: Asoesfuerzo and the Center for Dissemination of Economic Knowledge (Cedice) "make people think that there is a threat in this area." According to Minister Cabello, this would be misleading advertisement. Cabello added that the spots do not specify the way these threats would work.

He stressed said that a TV station received USD 1.39 million for the advertising spaces and broadcasted 53 spots in the same day.

The director of Conatel said that he requested the Attorney General Office to open an investigation against Asoesfuerzo and Cedice, considering that there could be a money-laundering crime, since the origin of the funds used to pay the ads is unknown.

Ex government supporter warns against potential break-in of local newspaper
Deputy for formerly pro-government political Podemos party, Ismael García, cautioned on Friday that government authorities could be planning the entry and search in El Aragüeño, the forerunning daily newspaper in central Aragua state, property of the Sindoni corporation.

"It is going to be assaulted by a court terrorism unleashed in the state, against the Sindoni's group," said García, who claimed to handle information supporting his report.

However, the parliamentarian said that he has been unable to talk with the businessman's relatives. "I clearly understand the chase and threats on this economic group," he added.

García held Aragua state governor Rafael Isea responsible for alleged "hunt of the media."

In his opinion, private property is ignored. "Whatever the president (Hugo Chávez) says, through court terrorism, they (the government) not only shut down the media, but also take hold of them."

Govn't files charges against Globovisión for the fifth time in less than six months
The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) filed on Friday a new administrative proceeding, the fifth one in less than six months, against private news TV channel Globovisión.

This time, the grounds were broadcast of spots in favor of private property identified by NGOs Asoesfuerzo and Cedice.

At the time of service of the notice at the channel headquarters by Conatel's officials, Globovisión legal counsel Ana Cristina Núñez reported that the action is premised on alleged violation of article 29, Radio and TV Social Responsibility Law.

The article makes reference to solicitation to break law and order and damage to the national security.

Venezuela to remove broadcast license from 240 radio stations
Eighty-six AM radio stations and 154 FM radio stations will be subject to administrative proceedings by the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) because the owners of the media failed to meet a request made by the officials of the regulatory agency to update their data, said Conatel's director, Diosdado Cabello.

Cabello, who is also the Minister of Public Works and Housing, presented the results of the special proceeding at a press meeting. He announced that Conatel will immediately open an administrative proceeding to all radio station concessionaires that did not provide the bureaucratic requirements to the agency. The goal of the proceeding is that the government recovers the broadcasting licenses.

The official said that the withdrawal of the license implies the seizure of equipment and a five-year ban to participate in any telecommunication activity.

He said that 240 radio stations are operating illegally.

Attorney General calls for law to punish mass media crimes
Venezuelan Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz on Friday, July 3 said that she would seek enactment of a law to punish the crimes perpetrated by the mass media, claiming that the existing legal mechanisms provide for administrative sanctions only, as the country lacks criminal laws to punish such offenses.

Reference was made to an advertisement published on some local newspapers last week showing a pregnant woman who covers her private parts, and accompanied by a caption reading: "The Social Responsibility Law takes away what is yours... Say no to the Cuban law," the Attorney General Office said in a press release.

Ortega Díaz stressed that a team is already working to assess her proposal and the actions her office may adopt. She added that "the news media should be there for teaching, entertaining, and informing people timely, impartially and truthfully."