CADAL promotes a Statement in favor of Press Freedom in Venezuela

The Statement joins to the concern expressed by prestigious international organizations for the political motives of President Hugo Chávez for decreeing the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), the oldest private TV station of the country, whose license expired on May 27, 2007. Also, the Statement points out that this political decision by the government of Venezuela of not renewing a license to a TV station is a serious worsening of freedom of expression in Venezuela, and it is in violation of the first article of Ushuaia (Democratic Clause).

Those signing below, join to the concern expressed by prestigious international organizations for the political motives of President Hugo Chávez for decreeing the closure of Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), the oldest private TV station of the country, whose license expired on May 27, 2007.

This political decision by the government of Venezuela of not renewing a license to a TV station is a serious worsening of freedom of expression in Venezuela, and it is in violation of the first article of Ushuaia (Democratic Clause). The mentioned clause states: “The total functioning of democratic institutions is an essential condition for the development of integration processes between the States integrating this Protocol”. This Protocol was subscribed in the city of Ushuaia, Republic of Argentina, on July 24, 1998, and was formally ratified by Venezuela by mid February, 2007.

For this reason, we claim to the member countries and the authorities of MERCOSUR, to intercede before the government of Venezuela to leave this measure without effect and to guarantee the complete exercise of freedom of expression in that country, since it is a basic foundation of a democratic system.

Mariana Aylwin (Former Minister of Education of Chile), Daniel Sabsay (Jurist), Marcos Aguinis (Writer), Juan José Sebreli (Writer), José Ignacio García Hamilton (Writer), Fernando Iglesias (Writer and National Representative candidate), Gustavo Espinosa (National Representative, Uruguay), Sandra Etcheverry (National Representative, Uruguay), José Carlos Cardoso (National Representative, Uruguay), Federico Pinedo (National Representative, Argentina), Paula Bertol (National Representative, Argentina), Patricia Bullrich (Chairwoman of the Party Unión Por Todos), Martín Borrelli (Local Legislator of Buenos Aires and Chairman of the Federal Party), Marcelo Godoy (Local Legislator of Buenos Aires), Marta Varela (Local Legislator of Buenos Aires), Marcelo Meis (Local Legislator of Buenos Aires), Carlos Araujo (Local Legislator of Buenos Aires), Eduardo Viola (Professor of International Relations at Universidad de Brasilia), Tristán Rodríguez Loredo (journalist), Fernando J. Ruiz (University Professor), Carlos Facal (Lawyer), Isay Klasse (Editor), Elena Valero Narváez (Writer), Ricardo de Zavalía (Editor/lawyer), Gerardo Ancarola (Lawyer), Mary C. Turner (Editor), Noemi Klasse (Professor), Fernando Gril (Generación Democrática), Gabriel C. Salvia (Chairman of CADAL), Rosendo Fraga (Political Analyst) and Walter Javier Arrazola Mendivil (National Representative of Bolivia).