[I think there is more to this story than meets the eye. Note he speaks of how the private media is highly critical of him and note too his mention of them fomenting “conspiracies”. I have noticed that in Venezuela there is a FIERCE battle between Chavez and the non-communists. Keep in mind that the CIA operates through the mass media. I think what is happening is the CIA is assisting the free press in that country to counter the Communist propaganda and Chavez doesn’t like it. Chavez fears that the CIA will unseat him. Note also the mention of the coup. I’ll bet the CIA was involved in that too. I think there is a FIERCE secret war going on in that country as the CIA and the Communists battle it out – but so far – the communists seem to be winning quite easily.

The answer probably now is to fund a war against Chavez. The problem with a communist is that you normally need to shoot these scum out of power and drag their rotting little bodies through the streets. My motto is that the only good communist a dead one! Jan]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez backed the possibility of holding a national referendum, if he’s re-elected, on whether to shut down private television stations that he has accused of subversive activities.

Chavez’s comments late Thursday came amid rising tensions between the government and the country’s largely opposition-aligned private media ahead of Sunday’s vote.

Chavez was asked in a televised interview if he would consider asking the nation whether the government should block certain channels from renewing their broadcast licenses next year. (Watch Chavez land a nod as Time magazine’s Person of the Year )

“That is perfectly possible,” Chavez said. “It’s perfectly possible that the country gives its opinion, including for how long.”

Chavez also said he regretted not having shut down the country’s major private broadcasters right after a short-lived 2002 coup against him, citing four in particular: Globovision, Venevision, RCTV and Televen.

Chavez has clashed with the country’s private television and radio networks, which are often highly critical of his government and have favored the opposition in recent years.

During the coup, several TV channels chose to broadcast cartoons and movies instead of his return to power by loyalists in the military amid a popular uprising.

Many media outlets also supported a devastating 2003 strike that failed to unseat Chavez.

In the run-up to Sunday’s vote, Chavez has warned that he may refuse to renew their licenses, accusing them of fomenting conspiracies against his government, and also said he’s ready to shut down any that try to disrupt the election.

On Thursday, he threatened immediately to shut down any outlet that defies electoral rules prohibiting exit polls and other unofficial counts from being reported until after the National Electoral Council issues its preliminary bulletin.

“You can be sure that they will be closed for breaching the law,” he said.

Just a day earlier, a top lawmaker from Chavez’s ruling party told government supporters to take over private TV stations on Election Day if they report that opposition challenger, Manuel Rosales, is in the lead ahead of official results, alleging the channel may use rigged exit polls to mislead the public.

“When they start to do that, we must take over the TV channels … a peaceful takeover as we have always done at the doors of these TV stations,” Iris Varela said.

Asked about the possibility that closing private TV stations likely would provoke an international backlash, the Venezuelan leader said that was what held his hand earlier but declared the days of a “permissive Chavez” were over.

“I don’t care what the world says. I care about what happens in Venezuela,” he said. “The world can say, ‘Oh, dear!’ but this is my country; I’m responsible.”

Local media executives — joined by the United States and the Miami-based Inter American Press Association — argue that Chavez has sought to limit freedom of expression since taking office in 1999.

His government has passed a law restricting violence and sexual content over the airwaves, but critics call it a “gag law” that is deliberately vague so that the government can punish media outlets that oppose the administration.

Chavez has denied taking excessive measures, arguing that he is not trying to stifle criticism but rather clamp down on those allegedly using journalistic activities as a front for illegal efforts to topple his government.

Chavez was speaking in a joint interview with two state-backed and two private TV stations in the final hours before the end of campaigning.

Source: CNN
URL: http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/americas/12/01/…/p>