Venezuelan students protest removal of anti-Chavez television channel from cable TV

Students protest removal of anti-Chavez channel

CARACAS, Venezuela — Thousands of university students protested against President Hugo Chavez again Tuesday, accusing the socialist leader of forcing an opposition-allied TV channel off cable and satellite as a means of silencing his critics.

The march by some 3,000 people was peaceful, unlike protests in several cities Monday that escalated into clashes among anti-Chavez factions, the president’s supporters and police, leaving two youths dead in a western state.

Demonstrators marched on Tuesday from Caracas’ central plaza to the headquarters of the leading government-run television channel, where they condemned the removal of Radio Caracas Television Internacional, or RCTV, and accused state media of biased reporting.

“Tell the truth,” student leader Roderick Navarro told the channel’s representatives. “We don’t want this media outlet to continue dividing the people.”

Government officials argue that RCTV violated recently approved regulations that require two dozen local cable and satellite channels to televise mandatory programming, including Chavez’s speeches, whenever the government deems it necessary.

The channel, which has been fiercely critical of Chavez for years, did not transmit the president’s speech to his supporters over the weekend. RCTV was forced to move to cable in 2007 after Chavez refused to renew its license for regular airwaves, accusing the station of plotting against him and supporting a failed 2002 coup.

Five other channels were also dropped from cable, none of which is as widely watched as RCTV.

In a televised address, Chavez said one of them, TV Chile, contacted the telecommunications agency and will probably be permitted to return to cable and satellite.

Chavez lashed out at France, criticizing its government for urging Venezuela to reconsider RCTV’s removal from cable and satellite TV. The foreign ministry condemned what it called “unacceptable and reprehensible” meddling in Venezuela’s affairs and announced that a letter of protest would be presented to the French ambassador in Caracas.

For years, Chavez has frequently forced television channels to air his marathon speeches. But the rules had applied only to broadcast TV until last month, when the state-run telecommunications agency expanded them to include local pay-TV stations.

The new regulations have been roundly criticized by Chavez opponents, the Roman Catholic Church and media organizations.

Jose Miguel Vivanco, Americas director of Human Rights Watch, accused the president of cracking down on independent media that don’t share his socialist views.

“Chavez has sought to intimidate and punish broadcasters who criticize his government,” Vivanco said in a statement. “Now he’s also going after those who refuse to promote his own political agenda.”

On Monday, two youths were killed during skirmishes over an anti-Chavez protest in the western state of Merida. One of the victims was shot and the other was killed by an explosive, Merida Gov. Marcos Diaz said.

Police and students also clashed in Caracas, where at least six demonstrators and a journalist suffered minor injuries.