Venezuela Court Fines Opposition TV Channel

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9 November 2011

Inmates are subdued after a prison riot in Cabimas, Venezuela. Globovisión was fined more than US$2 million for its coverage of the uprising. (AP)
Inmates are subdued at a prison riot
in Cabimas that killed 22 people.
Venezuela’s Supreme Court fined Globovision, the largest opposition TV channel in the country, for allegedly presenting coverage that encouraged violence during a prison uprising that killed 22 people. Globovision has appealed the US 2 million fine to the Supreme Court, saying it will likely force it to cut back news coverage or lead it to bankruptcy. Globovision is the sole remaining anti-Chavez TV Channel after RCTV, another opposition station, was not granted a broadcasting license in 2007.
Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/americas/anti-chavez-tv-2-million-fine.html
(Reliability: 8.5)

Comment: Globovision is the only major TV channel that openly criticizes President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. In recent years, other privately-run TV channels in Venezuela have curbed their criticisms of Chavez as a result of alleged government intimidation. Meanwhile, the Chavez government denies silencing critics and says there are still opposition media sources in the country. International organizations like Human Rights Watch said the fine is an abuse of power.

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