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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Chavez to shut down opposition TV | Chavez to shut down opposition TV |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said he will not renew the licence 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 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. |
| There will be no new operating licence for this coupist TV channel - the measure has been drafted so go turn off the equipment Hugo Chavez | There will be no new operating licence for this coupist TV channel - the measure has been drafted so go turn off the equipment Hugo Chavez |
| 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. | 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". | 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. | "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. | "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' | '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". | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | RCTV is one of the country's oldest channels and began broadcasting in 1953. |