Hugo Chavez shuts down opposition

[cellardoor6]

No more than a few weeks ago there were imbeciles all over BBS glorifying Hugo Chavez for being a "freedom fighter" and a good, wholesome Democratic leader, all while President Bush was "an evil, dictator, fascist, Hitler, violator of rights".

But guess what, Chavez showed once again that he has no problem with shutting down opposition in his country so he can consolidate his power even more so. He recently overstepped his power and gave a presidential order not to renew a license for a Venezuelan TV station that opposes him that has been in business for 53 years.

I'm wating for the morons to come and defend this act anyway they can. Or for someone to finally admit that Hugo Chavez doesn't really care about rights in Venezuela or human rights in general (which as been proven by his record), and that suggesting Bush is a dictator while defending Hugo Chavez is an obvious sign of mental retardation and/or belligerent bias.

What Hugo Chavez has done would be like President Bush shutting down CNN and claiming that it was necessary to prevent a coup.

Heres the article

And it reads:

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he will not renew the license for the country's second largest TV channel which he says expires in March 2007.

In an address to troops, Mr Chavez said he would not tolerate media outlets working towards a coup against him.

Radio Caracas Television, which is aligned with the opposition, supported a strike against Mr Chavez in 2003.

But the TV's head said there must be some mistake as its licence was not up for renewal in the near future.

Marcel Granier also vowed to fight against the president's plans in Venezuela's courts and on the international stage.

The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says Mr Chavez has repeatedly threatened to take the TV off the air but has never given a date.

The move could help silence some of his critics in the media who have been a thorn in his side for several years, he says.

Mr Chavez, who was returned to power by a wide margin on 3 December, said Mr Granier was mistaken in believing "that concession is eternal".

"It runs out in March. So it's better that you go and prepare your suitcase and look around for what you're going to do in March," he said during a televised speech to soldiers at a military academy in Caracas.

"There will be no new operating licence for this coupist TV channel called RCTV. The operating licence is over... So go and turn off the equipment," Mr Chavez said.

'Violation of freedom'

Mr Chavez said the channel was "at the service of coups against the people, against the nation, against national independence, against the dignity of the republic".

The channel is among a number of private TV and radio networks that in recent years have strongly criticized Mr Chavez' government and favoured the opposition.

Many media outlets, including RCTV, supported a bungled coup in 2002 and a devastating general strike in 2003 that failed to unseat the president.

The press freedom campaign group, Reporters Without Borders, said the proposed move would be a grave violation of freedom of expression in Venezuela.

RCTV is one of the country's oldest channels and began broadcasting in 1953.

[JakeHero]

But but cellardoor6, Chavez is a socialist and anything he does is automatically good! These all lies by Bush!

[Der-Ubermensch]

I wasn't even aware that Venezuela had harnessed electrical power in '53, television no less..

Back on topic.. Chavez's arrogance will get the better of him soon. It's acts like this that outright discredit him, both on the international scene and to his people. He needs to get off his high horse, or alpaca as it were.

[cellardoor6]

At 12/31/06 02:30 AM, Der-Ubermensch wrote: I wasn't even aware that Venezuela had harnessed electrical power in '53, television no less..

Back on topic.. Chavez's arrogance will get the better of him soon. It's acts like this that outright discredit him, both on the international scene and to his people. He needs to get off his high horse, or alpaca as it were.

Its not so much that he is arrogant. Its that he is a liar, hypocrite, and a oppressive dictator. He cracks down on dissidents in his country, doesn't allow free speech, keeps his country in fucking poverty by his failing socialist blunders. But then he has the audacity to point the finger at our country and our President for things that we don't actually do, yet he does himself?

Hes a fucking creep.

But the issue here is that people are so stupid, so biased against the US, and so enthralled with the myth of benevolent socialism, that they actually defend him and paint the picture that he is a good guy just because he speaks against the US and Bush.

People in the world today are becoming mindless morons with no conscience.

[Der-Ubermensch]

Let's not forget that he's trying to be the next Castro. Not like Fidel is an angel himself..

[cellardoor6]

At 12/31/06 03:29 AM, Der-Ubermensch wrote: Let's not forget that he's trying to be the next Castro. Not like Fidel is an angel himself..

That totally furthers my point.

Look at what Castro did! Hes been in power for what 40 years? yet he never fulfilled his promises to Cuba. Cubans still live in poverty, they have never been given democracy, they have never been given what they were promised. The benevolent socialism that so many stupid westerners preach about DOESN'T EXIST. And when people are stupid enough to give up freedom in exchange for socialist leadership, they never benefit from it. Cuba and Venezuela are perfect examples.

And until people realize this, they are still going to pull the typical, ridiculous "Chavez>Bush" nonsense.

[Der-Ubermensch]

Hmm.. In the case of Cuba, don't you think it was the trade embargo that crippled it more than anything?

[qygibo]

More like all of the middle class people fleeing the country to take refuge in America. Anyone else get a sneaking suspicion that if Chavez keeps this up, that he'll end up losing much of his middle class like Castro did?

[bcdemon]

At 12/31/06 02:12 AM, cellardoor6 wrote: What Hugo Chavez has done would be like President Bush shutting down CNN and claiming that it was necessary to prevent a coup.

Well if CNN was involved in an attempted coup to oust Bush, I'm pretty sure he would shut it down.

But I'm going to try to find out more on this coup attempt before I agree/disagree with this action.

[Begoner]

Obviously, such authoritarian action is worrisome wherever it occurs. However, such policies curbing free speech are not exclusive to Venezuela. Not even the US is exempt from measures which aim to subvert the media. Certainly, I cannot support Chávez for this abhorrent deed; however, he has been a net positive influence on the country, and one act cannot demolish all the good works which he has created, nor does it cast a shadow on his policies of ameliorating poverty. The specter of the failed coup attempt against him still remains firmly ingrained in his memory; perhaps there would be a freer press had there been no such threat to his democratically-given power.

[Begoner]

Got some examples?

The most overt is the Plame scandal.

At 12/31/06 10:23 AM, MickTheChampion wrote: Oh, so are you saying that America would allow a Venezuela-funded channel spreading pro-Communist propaganda on their television?

Yes actually.

sad but true.

[Begoner]

Hahaha, no fucking way laddie. I've seen how biased the American media is, it's all fucking pro-Israel and that.

That's mostly because the American people are pro-Israel and such. The overt bias is the American media is a sad reflection on American society. Few Americans would watch a pro-communist TV station, even if the government granted it permission to broadcast its message.

[YHWH]

Because most American's aren't idioic enough to believe in Marxism.

[AapoJoki]

When I read the title, I was afraid that it meant that Chávez has banned all political parties except his own, and no more free elections will be held in Venezuela. If this was the case, I would admit that Chávez is on a dangerous power trip, and leading Venezuela to dictatorship.

However, your title couldn't have been more misleading. Shutting down that television station is not a big deal. Being an independent network is one thing, but it's clearly understandable if a media outlet conspiring against the democratically elected government for years cannot renew their licenses. It would be the same thing as Al-Qaeda owning a tv station in USA that would continuously keep crying to overthrow the American government violently. Are you saying that such a network would be allowed to broadcast in the States?

One thing I have to admit though: I haven't been very impressed with Chávez lately. He's fraternizing way too much with world dictators, such as Lukashenko of Belarus and Mahmoudinejad of Iran, simply because they are the "enemies of his enemy". And his appearance in the United Nations was just foolish. Yeah, maybe Bush is "evil", but you just don't say stuff like that in the general assembly. (Although Bush keeps calling his least favourite people "evil" all the time too.)

[JakeHero]

At 12/31/06 03:05 PM, MickTheChampion wrote:

At 12/31/06 02:06 PM, Begoner wrote: even if the government granted it permission to broadcast its message.

Which it wouldn't, especially not a nation that's increasingly being considered an enemy.

Considering pro-communist newspapers are allowed in circulation, I doubt the government would have any qualms with a pro-communist news channel if it could pay its fees to run.

[YHWH]

There is plenty of Communist media in America if you know where to look.

[Madferit]

At 12/31/06 02:26 AM, BanditByte wrote: But but cellardoor6, Chavez is a socialist and anything he does is automatically good! These all lies by Bush!

Lol, you two are BY FAR my favorite people on newgrounds.

I can't beleive people support that tyrannic asshole.

[Begoner]

This is a bit off topic, but do you really believe Robert Novak (I think his name was) actually had a right to disclose Valerie Plame's name to the media? She can never do that same work for the CIA that she used to now that her secret is out.

No, of course not. It was an attempt to subvert the media, which, luckily, backfired.

[JakeHero]

At 12/31/06 03:27 PM, Alacrity wrote: Lol, you two are BY FAR my favorite people on newgrounds.

I'm my favorite person on newgrounds too!

[bcdemon]

After reading about the coup attempt a few years ago, if I were him, I would shut them down too.
The station is a threat to national security, to bad.

[Britkid]

We all knew this would happen as soon as he got into power. America was supposed to be all concerned but they haven't done anything and now Chavez has complete power of his country. Too late too bad, unless we want another war.

At 12/31/06 03:11 PM, BanditByte wrote: Considering pro-communist newspapers are allowed in circulation, I doubt the government would have any qualms with a pro-communist news channel if it could pay its fees to run.

Only people looking for trouble would buy a communist newspaper in America. I bet you'd have to look hard for one anyway. A channel would only require a press of a button on a remote, which is America's speciality.

At 12/31/06 02:00 PM, MickTheChampion wrote: Hahaha, no fucking way laddie. I've seen how biased the American media is, it's all fucking pro-Israel and that.

I said the gov not the people.

[animehater]

At 12/31/06 03:15 PM, MickTheChampion wrote: Even to the point that it supports insubordinance and blatant attacks on the State?

Pretty much. I mean we have had such things many times in the past.

You see in america we have a thing called freedom of speech.

[Britkid]

At 1/1/07 04:19 PM, animehater wrote: Pretty much. I mean we have had such things many times in the past.

Example? It wouldn't be allowed if it threatened the state.

You see in america we have a thing called freedom of speech.

Oh sorry. I forgot. You being the only country in the whole world that has free speech. All Americans are the cleverest, strongest people in the world who the communist states and dictatorships of everywhere else should worship.

[Britkid]

At 1/1/07 08:38 PM, MickTheChampion wrote: "Freedom of Speech"? Please America, police my ignorance - what is this "Freedom of Speech"?

Probably some democratic trick. Come on comrade, let's go shooting political opponents and traitors.

[ReiperX]

I don't think he is as evil and vile as people put him on as.

Does he have some good views? In some instances, I think yes.

Is he a good leader? Definately not. He is very paranoid, and often rash with how he speaks, much like our President, although I would say that President Chavez does got quite a bit farther. But he has been democraticaly elected multiple times. He is popular, and he is far from an evil dictator.

[Empanado]

At 1/1/07 08:57 PM, MickTheChampion wrote: Kekeke! I will be with you shorly mon vieux, for I am busy rubbing poo on ze walls!

SMEAR! You don't rub poo on the walls, you smear it.

>:(

At 1/1/07 09:03 PM, ReiperX wrote: I don't think he is as evil and vile as people put him on as.

Does he have some good views? In some instances, I think yes.

Is he a good leader? Definately not. He is very paranoid, and often rash with how he speaks, much like our President, although I would say that President Chavez does got quite a bit farther. But he has been democraticaly elected multiple times. He is popular, and he is far from an evil dictator.

Seconded. I believe he's been overtly demonized by the US media. Yes, he has been democratically elected, and won fair and square, as confirmed by an international electoral commision that was present during the elections. Both of them.
Adding to that, state interference within the media (rarely to the point of actual cancellation of a media outlet's license, although it's not totally unheard of) is, sadly enough, commonplace within most Latin American governments.
Just to cite an example, just a couple of months ago in Mexico a former editor of an opposition newspaper who had just announced that he posed information, soon to be published, on some shady government activities, was found dead with several bullet wounds.

Of course, that doesn't make it right. What Chávez did is grave, regardless of the station's position towards his administration. However, this has to be seen under the Latin-American spectrum of things-- shit like this happens. We're used to it. Some countries more than others, but we've pretty much learnt to put up with it until we have a chance to create a change.

Chávez has done good things for his people and for the region as a whole. He's also done bad things. He's not a commie totalitarian dictator, but he's far from being the next Simón Bolívar either. In all honesty, I consider him somewhat of an anachronism. He does really, really, but really remind me of Juan Domingo Perón.

But, is he a nutcase? You bet your ass he is. Not reaching the Kim Jong-Il level of nutcase, but I'd certainly say he's a couple of notches above the Silvio Berlusconi level of nutcase.

[Empanado]

Oh, and:

At 12/31/06 02:12 AM, cellardoor6 wrote: No more than a few weeks ago there were imbeciles all over BBS glorifying Hugo Chavez for being a "freedom fighter" and a good, wholesome Democratic leader

I'm pretty sure they were all the same person. =/

[cellardoor6]

At 12/31/06 02:00 PM, MickTheChampion wrote:

At 12/31/06 01:59 PM, zeus-almighty wrote:

At 12/31/06 10:23 AM, MickTheChampion wrote: Oh, so are you saying that America would allow a Venezuela-funded channel spreading pro-Communist propaganda on their television?

Yes actually.

sad but true.

Hahaha, no fucking way laddie. I've seen how biased the American media is, it's all fucking pro-Israel and that.

Hmm I wonder why the US government allowed Al-Jazeera to be broadcast in the US.

Get a fucking clue.

Oh and by the way, the news station that gut shut down WAS NOT funded by the US government, and there has been NO PROOF that they were involved in a coup. Chavez only made it appear that way so stupid people like yourself can defend him for no rational reason.

I can't believe how fucking stupid you people are.