Chavez faces off with Brazil on media licence issue (Roundup)

Jun 1, 2007, 17:35 GMT

Caracas - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez drew a line in the sand with its neighbour Brazil, insisting his government will deny Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) a new broadcasting licence despite an appeal from the Brazilian Senate.

After a week of street protests from students against the decision, his left-wing populist government Friday promoted a pro- government demonstration for Saturday.

Thousands of students planned to protest again Friday against the government's media policy.

The Brazilian Senate approved earlier this week a petition asking Chavez to renew RCTV's licence.

Chavez retorted by criticizing the Brazilian Senate and calling them 'parrots' who repeat Washington's mandates. The Venezuelan president insisted that it would be easier for the Portuguese empire to revive in Brazil than for his government to change its mind about the RCTV licence.

'I send my condolences to the people of Brazil. How sad to have a Congress like that for Latin American integration!' Chavez said.

He noted that right-wing parties dominate the Brazilian Congress. Chavez called upon legislators 'to take care of Brazil's problems,' and added, 'I think it has some.'

Thousands of students planned to protest again Friday against the government's media policy.

   Chavez's refusal to renew the broadcasting licence of RCTV - the oldest and most popular private station in the country - has caused tension for days in the streets of Caracas.

There have been dozens of injuries and arrests from clashes with police. On Thursday, in an incident which as of yet has not been connected to the clashes, a university student who had taken part in the protests was shot three times and killed at a gasoline station in Caracas.

Two suspects have been arrested for the shooting of Andreina Gomez Guevara, 24, according to Justice Minister Pedro Carreno. The two attackers - a man and a woman - allegedly confessed to killing Gomez Guevara from a motorcycle in exchange for some 4,600 dollars.

   The Andres Bello Catholic University condemned the shooting, but said the killing of Gomez Guevara was unrelated to her participation in the protests.

   Vice-Minister of Security Tarek El Aissami said the government would guarantee the general security and the rights of the demonstrators.

   'There are some dark sectors, which are riding on the wave of the protests, in order to produce a national riot,' said El Aissami. 'The Venezuelan state is obligated to protect the life and the property of all its citizens, those that protest and those that do not.'

   Student leaders have said they would stop their street protests only when RCTV is back on the air. On Thursday, thousands of demonstrators demanded the release of over 100 of their peers who remain detained.

   Chavez replaced RCTV with a new, government-controlled channel - Televisora Venezolana Social (Teves) - and has threatened to close another broadcaster, news television channel Globovision. Globovision covered the recent protests over the closure of RCTV and strongly inveighed against the state.