Extending media access in Venezuela
How the Venezuela government is leading the
battle against the corporate media - helping extend free speech to those who
have never had access to it before.
Venezuelan Media Minister Andres Izarra has announced a kick-start to the clash
of ideas or media war.
Attending a ceremony in Miraflores Palace dedicated to handing over TV and radio
equipment to community and alternative media, Izarra says the media war has
begun and it is time to take on what he calls the the Poison Press.
"Enough of the press that poisons .. from here I say to hell with them!"
The 11 groups that received 9 sets of radio equipment and 2 community TVs are:
La Reina (Anzoategui), Radio Perola (Caracas District), Tuyera (Miranda), Negro
Primero (Capital District), Amistad (Zulia),
Perijanera (Zulia), Chuspa (Vargas), Llovizna (Bolivar), Sultana del Cobre (Yaracuy),
TV Puerto (Anzoategui) and TV Caricuao.
Izarra told the recipients that they are fundamental in stopping the onslaught
against Venezuela of the transnational commercial press and their domestic
lackeys ... "we are fed up of sending them letters, of
meeting them and telling them that they are taking things out of context, lying,
manipulating and twisting... enough of lobbying to explain to them what is
happening."
Next year, the Ministry hopes to equip another 128 alternative media stations.
The move is seen as another step forward in implementing one of president Hugo
Chavez Frias' strategic plans to meet the political offensive of the US media.
Izarra calls the process the "construction of a new media order" that can meet
the commercial media head on.
Recalling the 80s in South America, Izarra says the
media was used to destabilize popular advances using smear campaigns and turning
his batteries again on journalist Phil Gunson, Izarra throws down a
gauntlet, "Mr Gringo we are going to defeat you again.... we work with the
truth, we have morals and above all, a leader that unites and inspires us ... We
say to the US Empire: you shall not pass. Viva
Chavez!"
March 2005