Citing political persecution, owner of Venezuela’s anti-Chavez TV channel seeks help from OAS

Owner of anti-Chavez TV seeks help from OAS

CARACAS, Venezuela — The president of Venezuela’s only opposition-aligned television channel asked for help from the Organization of American States on Friday, saying he wants its human rights commission to determine if he truly committed a crime in his homeland.

Guillermo Zuloaga, Globovision’s majority owner, visited the OAS’ offices in Washington to make the request of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

Globovision broadcast images of Zuloaga saying he went to the OAS office “to seek the justice we don’t find in Venezuela.”

“President Chavez knows that we have not committed a crime,” Zuloaga said.

Zuloaga — an outspoken critic of President Hugo Chavez — suggested the socialist leader ordered charges to be brought against him because he “fears freedom of expression” along with what many government foes perceive as rising public discontent over crime, double-digit inflation and corruption.

“What you’re scared of right now is the reality of Venezuela,” he said.

Prosecutors want Zuloaga jailed while he awaits trial on charges of usury and conspiracy for keeping 24 new vehicles stored at a home he owns.

Zuloaga, who owns several car dealerships, says prosecutors are carrying out a vendetta on Chavez’s orders.

Chavez denies he is behind the prosecution and has called a Zuloaga a fugitive criminal.

Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro told state television that Zuloaga must return to Venezuela to deal with the accusations against him.

“If he has any honor, he should face justice,” he said.

Zuloaga disappeared last month after a court issued an arrest warrant for him and one of his sons. Associates said he left the country, but did not offer details regarding his whereabouts.

Globovision has been the only anti-Chavez channel on the air since another channel, RCTV, was forced off cable and satellite TV in January.

Associated Press writer Christopher Toothaker contributed to this report.