 CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Tens of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets Saturday chanting "Freedom, Freedom!" to protest President Hugo Chavez's decision not to renew the broadcast license of the country's most-watched TV station, an outlet for the opposition.
Police lined a Caracas avenue while the protesters paraded past, some holding signs reading "No to silence," while others placed tape over their mouths.
Radio Caracas Television, the sole opposition-aligned TV station with nationwide reach, is due to go off the air at midnight Sunday. Protesters say that by not renewing RCTV's license, Chavez is attempting to silence critics of his leftist government. "Our president wants to control everything, even what we watch on television, so his voice is the only voice on the airwaves," said Roger Montoya, a 23-year-old university student at Saturday's march. "It's totalitarianism."
| The Supreme Court said Venezuela's telecommunication commission would assume responsibility for RCTV's equipment, including microwave dishes and antennas ... |
Chavez defends the decision as a legal move to democratize the airwaves by turning over RCTV's signal to a public service channel. The president and his supporters have accused RCTV of supporting a failed 2002 coup against him, violating broadcast laws and regularly showing programs with excessive violence and sexual content.
| And supporting the opposition is the 'crime' that really counts. |
In one downtown Caracas plaza, hundreds of red-clad Chavez supporters gathered in front of a large television screen, where alleged violations by RCTV were replayed as the words, "Tell the truth," rolled across the screen.
Founded in 1953, RCTV broadcasts a mix of talk shows, sports, soap operas and the popular comedy program "Radio Rochela," which often pokes fun at Chavez.
| Dictators can't allow themselves to be lampooned. Once parody and humor take hold their downfall is inevitable. Chavez knows this. |
The Supreme Court said Venezuela's telecommunication commission would assume responsibility for RCTV's equipment, including microwave dishes and antennas, while the court reviews RCTV's appeal of Chavez's decision not to renew its license. The court also ordered the military to temporarily guard RCTV's broadcasting equipment.
| Just temporary, you understand, and the court is so concerned about the safety of the journalists that it will ask the military to 'temporarily' guard them too. It's close to a police state in all but name. |
During a speech that all of Venezuela's private TV channels were forced to broadcast, Chavez defended his decision. "That television station became a threat to the country so I decided not to renew the license because it's my responsibility," said Chavez.
Globovision is the only other major opposition-aligned channel, and it is not seen in all parts of the country. Two other channels that used to be staunchly anti-Chavez, Venevision and Televen, have recently toned down their coverage.
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