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Proposal Would Let Chavez Censor Venezuelan Media

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's government could detain citizens without charges and censor the news media if President Hugo Chavez declares a state of emergency under a draft constitutional amendment adopted Thursday.

The amendment is one of 69 proposed reforms that the National Assembly, dominated by Chavez supporters, is expected to approve next Tuesday. The reforms - which also include such crowd-pleasers as a six-hour workday - then go to Venezuelan citizens in a single yes-no vote in a national referendum on Dec. 2.

'It practically leaves the doors open for them to detain you just because they consider you suspicious,' said Marino Alvarado, who heads the Venezuelan human rights group Provea. 'It creates judicial conditions that are favorable for massive violations of human rights.'

Roman Catholic leaders, media organizations and other human rights groups have expressed concerns about the state of emergency amendment, which would allow government to temporarily waive 'the right to information,' which could be used to censor the media.

The Associated Press

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