Chavez to close critical media outlet, ammend constitution

**Xiahou** · 12-29-2006, 00:44

I know everybody loves ol' Hugo, so when I came across this story I thought I'd share it:

``Pack your bags and turn off the lights,'' Chavez said during a televised speech to soldiers in Caracas. ``There won't be a new concession for a coup-mongering television station called RCTV.''

RCTV would be the first private television station shut down by Chavez. The president, who won a second six-year term in a Dec. 3 vote, in June threatened to shut private television stations that criticize the government and broadcast ``messages of hate.''

``Chavez is looking to keep the opposition quiet, to threaten his enemies,'' said Luis Vicente Leon, director of polling company Datanalisis in Caracas. ``It will inspire self- censorship in the rest of the media, and where there's self- censorship, there's no free speech.''

Chavez also said he will seek to change the name of the country's military to the Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, adding the name of 19th century South American liberator Simon Bolivar.

The name change would be part of an overhaul of the constitution next year, Chavez said. The president this month said he will seek to change the constitution to end term limits on presidential re-election.

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**Strike For The South** · 12-29-2006, 00:46

Its for the good of the country of course

**Tribesman** · 12-29-2006, 01:25

Just wondering .
In your country if there was a media outlet who publicly backed an armed coup against an elected government , a coup BTW that abolished the constitution of that country ......
furthermore a media outlet whose owners were part of the coup .......
a media outlet that is getting foriegn finance for the sole purpose of destabilising the country and bringing down the elected government.......

How long would it be before that outlet was shut down ?
Would they wait for the license to expire do you think ?
Would you be complaining if they did shut it down ?

Though the attempt to end term limits for the office of President is definately not a good thing with all things considered , but in itself term limits do have pros and cons .

**Marshal Murat** · 12-29-2006, 02:32

Where are those Russian agents?

I think that Venezuela is a flash in the pan, something akin to Cuba, but farther away. With Hugo Chavez preaching and communizing the country, he can only last so long.