Following the article “More Blood on the Hands of Hugo Chávez“, El Universal reports that a second student has died in the A & E department of the Mérida university hospital after protests erupted against the suspension of RCTV Internacional across cities nationwide.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF), based in Paris, stated that cable channels “had to choose between airing presidential ramblings or disappearing from the nation’s television screens.” What RSF refers to as “presidential ramblings” is locally known as “cadenas,” which are described as follows:
The “cadenas” go far beyond mere official messages. They grant President Chávez an unlimited and unannounced right to speak without time limits on almost the entire national broadcasting system. Given that Hugo Chávez also has his own Sunday program, “Aló Presidente,” is there really a need for this? Assuming there was, why must the state’s speeches be forced on so many channels, especially under the threat of sanctions and even suspensions? Wouldn’t one public channel suffice to broadcast the “cadenas”? The use of these “cadenas” violates the independent media’s right to decide their own content. It hinders the free circulation of news and pluralistic information. It undermines the right of Venezuelans to choose their own programming.