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Venezuelans Oppose TV Channel’s Suspension
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(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The vast majority of people in Venezuela are against their government's decision of not renewing a well-known television station's broadcasting license, according to a poll by Datanálisis. 70 per cent of respondents oppose Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez's order to force Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) off the air.
The RCTV network has been on air for 54 years in Venezuela, and currently attracts the country's largest audience. Chávez has accused the network of harming his "revolution" and has said it is aligned with the opposition.
On Apr. 22, Chávez referred to the controversial decision, claiming freedom of expression is guaranteed in Venezuela, and adding, "It's very clear. The broadcast license expired and the state, who is the owner, reserves the right to give it to another organization or to other sectors."
RCTV workers and journalists have appealed through international lawyers. The case will now go before the Inter-American Human Rights Court. The network is set to go off the air on May 27.
Venezuelan information minister William Lara, who along with Chavez has publicly accused the network of bias, dismissed the poll's findings, calling them "venal lies and statistics."
Polling Data
Do you support or oppose Venezuelan president Hugo Chávez's decision of not renewing RCTV's broadcasting license?
Support | 16.4% |
Oppose | 70.0% |
No reply | 13.6% |
Source: Datanálisis
Methodology: Interviews to 2,000 Venezuelan adults, conducted in late April 2007. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.