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Arrests devastate Panama's Servicio Maritimo Nacional coast guard
Luciani, Jované and Villalaz charged in poisoned medicines case

OAS meeting gathers an audience for many causes

Pro Ciudad takes its first steps
Small dolphin demo for the international media

Reports from Venezuela on RCTV, TVes and all the commotion
Panama News Briefs

Chávez blames RCTV for permanent onslaught against public morality

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue --- VHeadline

May 27, Caracas --- President Chávez says he will assume full responsibility for not renewing Radio Caracas Television's (RCTV) license.

Preparing for the end of RCTV's license today, the President has ordered the National Armed Force (FAN) to contain any act of violence by opposition groups and has also warned RCTV's owners not to sabotage equipment that will be used to launch the new TVes station one minute after midnight.

The president accuses the oligarchy of turning a national matter into a world battle and insists that the government has a legitimate constitutional and legal right to renew or not to renew licenses.

"I have assumed responsibility because I am the head of government and after assessing that (RCTV) private television's attitude, conduct and permanent onslaught against public and national morality... this channel has become a threat to the country, to the children, so I decided that it is up to me not to renew the concession but they have made it into a world battle."

Chávez has promised that the new channel TVes will be critical but says it will be constructive criticism.

Regarding the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) decision to allow the use of RCTV's assets, the president calls it "just," saying it will void any attempt at sabotage by RCTV.

Conatel announces renewal of RCTV rival Venevision's license

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue --- VHeadline

May 27, Caracas --- The National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has renewed the airwave licenses of private Venevision channel, State channel 8 (VTV) and five radio stations.

A news release from Conatel reports that the renewal process was completed before today's expiration date, May 27.

The commission also states that it received several petitions for airwaves space, which are currently being processed.

The press release indicates that it sent out 42 communications to different radio stations asking them for necessary details to complete petitions and informing them that their petitions of renewal are being processed.

Venevision is the main ratings rival of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) whose license expires tonight.

Venevision is owned by telecommunications magnate Gustavo Cisneros, who seems to have been playing his cards right.

Violence emerges as the old gives way to the new on sovereign airwaves

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue --- VHeadline

May 28, Caracas --- Last night the national anthem was sung twice in Caracas. Once outside the building of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) and once at the opening of the new state-funded Venezuelan Social Television (TVes).

The new channel came on air at 12.20 a.m, a little later than planned and it was TVes president Lula Rodríguez, who appeared on the screen from the Teresa Carreno Theatre in Caracas.

Rodríguez says the new channel will uphold dignified concepts of Venezuela, its men and women, concepts that will be multiplied with the natural vibe of the people and its cultural diversity.

Rodríguez opened the channel, proclaiming "we have a new channel in Venezuela" and launching the slogan "how good you look!"

During the day, the Metropolitan Police (PM) managed to keep separate two demonstrations, one supporting RCTV, which went off the air at midnight, and the other supporting the new TVes station.

An outbreak of violence was reported in the afternoon in front of the National Telecommunications Council building where opposition supporters took on the police protecting the building. According to news reports, shots were fired and several police officers were injured.

Violence also erupted near the RCTV building at midnight, as employees and directors addressed supporters after the channel was taken off the airwaves.

Scenes of sorrow quickly turned to anger, as opposition and government supporters confronted each other several streets away.

Incidents of sporadic and violent protests have been reported in the major cities.

RCTV's Granier says goodbye with political outburst and promise to return

by Patrick J. O'Donoghue --- VHeadline

May 28, Caracas --- Saying farewell for now to supporters of his Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), 1BC group director Marcel Granier delivered a politically charged speech against the government after his channel came off the air at midnight.

"We must not allow Venezuela to become another Cuba and we cannot allow Venezuela to ally with terrorist states, purchasing arms like madmen to destroy people that have nothing to do with us."

Granier also stated that freedom of expression in Venezuela has been on the decline for some time and accuses other media sources of submitting to government handouts or threats.

"Hundreds of journalists have been harassed by government armed bands and equipment destroyed, as we will show in legal proceedings that we have started at the Inter American system of justice ... we trust that justice will be done."

A defiant Granier has promised to return to the airwaves and find a way to "reconnect to the people."

The government has not been open to dialogue and has been sectarian and exclusive, the businessman contends, adding that Venezuela has to decentralize so that each region can make its own decisions.

"We need strong companies, we need strong trade unions... what we don't need are alliances with terrorists to buy arms to destroy innocent people."

The sentiment of defiance has been taken up by the majority of opposition media sources, such as Noticierodigital.com whose editorial line is summed up in "RCTV: farewell for now."

Arrests devastate Panama's Servicio Maritimo Nacional coast guard
Luciani, Jované and Villalaz charged in poisoned medicines case

OAS meeting gathers an audience for many causes

Pro Ciudad takes its first steps
Small dolphin demo for the international media

Reports from Venezuela on RCTV, TVes and all the commotion
Panama News Briefs