RCTV and Globovision participated in the coup, and the coup leaders gathered in the offices of a sister channel, Venevision. All these channels relayed either lies or news blackout during the coup. CNN's former LatAm desk chief, who worked for RCTV during the coup, later quit saying the station didn't deserve its license. CNN's use of Mexican footage sounds too convenient to be an honest mistake, we've seen too many lies from the US media. Having said that, I totally condemn Chavez for closing or denying licences to any station. His honest opponents, those who don't launch armed coups, need opposition media. He should have gone after the owners, not the stations. I detest these stations for giving him such good excuses to attack media.

OD, London, UK

TO Mark in Washington D.C... I think you live in a fantasy world. THE STATION THAT WAS CLOSED SUPPORTED THE MURDER OF CHAVEZ. I believe that that is significant grounds NOT to renew a broadcasting license.

Bill Peterson, Boston, MA

I'm with S Davies, London on this one. Ken do you still defend your pal, Hugo? And what about you National Union of Journalists? Are you still so whole-hearted in your backing for the 1992 coupster turned president?

K Hammond, London,

Well done Hugo
Other countries should do the same. The corporate media has too much control over our lives. Do we need to be brainwashed with soap operas, game shows and biased news everyday? There's no great loss, Chavez has done the people a big favour. These trashy channels offer very little culturally, they do more harm than good.
Shut them all I say!

Andrew Ven, Granada, Spain

Be on the lookout, people! Hugo Chavez is walking a very, very fine line! He's losing credibility, and fast! Not just in the eyes of his constituents, many of whom are fleeing from his camp in light of his recent actions, but most importantly, in the eyes of the 'free world'. If he continues to err in matters of money and international business(which is basically the same thing paramount in the West) he is bound to be kidnapped, overthrown...or worse. You'll see. He'll be the next Noriega! His Bolivarian revolution has effectively put a target square on his forehead.

patrick, dublin, ireland

When a leader believes that he/she is absolutely right, then an "ends justifies the means" mentality is likely to follow. People like Hitler, Stalin, Sadam, etc. believed in the correctness of what they were doing, but they also believed that some people weren't able to understand how right they were, so those people were told to shut up. I am sure that Bush and his people believe that what they are doing is right and important. They also believe there are "evil" forces that would try to undo what they are trying to accomplish. So logically those "evil" forces need to be silenced by whatever means are available.

Every leader wishes that his opponents would be silent, but no matter how much we believe in someone's vision we must always allow other voices to be heard. I am very concerned about the recent trends in the US, Russia, Venezeula, etc. to try to coerce political opponents silence by both subtle and not so subtle means.

Bjuhasz, Sacramento,

In 50 years time when the Venezuelan people have been reduced to abject poverty and a stagnant economy, bloated by failed welfare projects and unrealised communist fantasies - much like Cuba is nowadays - the Venezuelans will finally wake up and clamour for a 'democracy'. And of course what they'll get is American hegemony forced down their throats. So whether its now or in 50 years' time, America is going to force something down their throats; why are people so afraid that some social experimentation is taking place before the inevitability of America's heavy-handed approach to everything foreign?

sakis, London,

When Britain decided not to renew Thames broadcastigs license in the 90's did we hear proclamations of a return to monarchy? Broadcasters licences are not sacrosanct contrary to the views of most in the U.S.

Carl, Hemet, California

Don't you think Sr Chavez is more like Juan Peron then Fidel Castro? Both seem to be instinctive popularists rather than theoretical Marxists, with a strong streak of old-fashioned caudillo about them. Chavez, like Peron, is genuinely popular and wins votes, whereas Castro came to power by force. Like Peron he will ruin everything, but I wonder if, unlike Peron, he will remain a folk hero to the Left?

Frank Upton, Solihull,

Those who have eyes should see. Those who have ears should listen. These are words that the president of venezuela always uses in his speeches. Why are not all the venezuelan population seeing and listening all of the events going on in that county? There in not worse eye-blind than that who does not want to see. Venezuelan please open your eyes once and for all.

Liz, Venecia, Italy

Nice one Lennie. CNN has undoubtedly tried to present Chávez in a bad light, as it does with virtually any socialist government, pseudo or not.

RCTV, as already noted, is NOT an independent and unbiased news source. How you deal with this, as president, is another matter.

I can see shades of Thames Television here, after it's screening of 'Death on the Rock' and suddenly, poof! Your licence is revoked.

Maybe Chávez isn't as red as we might like to think, perhaps there is a shade of blue somewhere in his blood after all? Whatever, he is making a terrible mistake. But then again, absolute power and all that, it's no wonder he's turning into a South American Thatcher.

Jennifer Hynes, Plymouth, England

RCTV cannot broadcast by cable satellite or anything else because their equipment was confiscated by the government based on a decision of the supreme court. The two combined factors, the no renewal of the license to broadcast and the confiscation of equipment, constitute in fact a closure of the station.
Additionally, the opinion of Mr. Chavez regarding the participation of RCTV in the things that happened in April 2002 is no proof of that. He provided no evidence supporting his point of view, no inquiry has ever been done about this and no court of law has sentenced about that.
The station was closed only because Mr. Chavez does not like it.

Daniel Castro, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom

first of all, as i understand it, RCTV can still broadcast whatever they want via cable television. it was the license to use the public airwaves that the Venezuelan authorities did not renew....and why did they not renew it? among other things the network is alledged to have sympathized and/or sided with the opposition-supported military coup against the democratically elected, and quite popular president of Venezuela...not sure about in the UK, but over here in America networks were pressured not criticize President Bush after 911...if a network had actually supported the government's overthrow, i expect the network would not only be out of existence, but it's managers and reporters would be doing hard time in Guantanomo.

nathan johnson, fairfax, ca, usa

The station that was shut down was one of the oldest TV stations in Latin America, and was the only station that could be seen everywhere in the country, troops seizing equipment?
The bottom line is that by silencing critics to your performance you obviously have something to hide as Mr. Chavez has. Is actually very interesting that the station went down and a new pro-Chavez station a second after came through without any open call for a new franchise, like it would anywhere in the world. Only a dictator would have his say done like that. I am not pro- Imperialism but Communist-like regimes have certainly failed elsewhere.

Dan, Calgary,

Chavez is a threat to the obscene profits of the multi-nationals. The capitalist media can naturally be expected do whatever it can to undermine him.

rene alvarez, Miami, Florida

As I write I´ve just come off the phone with my ex-wife. My daughters are crouching down in the corridor of their appartment as gun shots are being fired outside, many by the police and directly at protesters. On Globovision, I´m looking at some of Chavez´s thugs armed to the teeth ( even with sub-machine guns) as youngsters try to bring this to the attention of a passing motorised policeman. And still I read comments here praising Chavez!!

Globovision is now being sued for "implicitly"promoting the assassination of Chavez.. Their crime? Showing footage of the attempt on John Paul II´s life with background music by Panamanian Ruben Blades. The lyrics state that things will not stay like this. It is a message of hope - the Pope recovered - although things look bleak they do improve. Hardly a call to arms. This is the level of paranoia to which the Government have fallen.

Nigel Edwards, Caracas, Venezuela

I deeply regret seeing how much my country has deteriorated last decade. Despite the price of oil without precedent, Chavez has built nothing, has wasted or gave away to his followers (there are many of course, all profiting from Chavez populism) or Cuba the wealth of the last decade. Every time I go to visit my country (I left 15 yrs ago) I cannot believe it when I see children living under bridges, unemployed ex middle class men begging for help to buy insulin for his kid at the pharmacy. Here some NEWS for pseudo leftists: Chavez has brought misery to Venezuela. Although the former politicians where deeply corrupted and many rich families did nothing but profit from their connections in the gangrenous governments, I never saw so many poor and hopeless people begging in the streets before Chavez. Never there were young professionals leaving the country by thousands before. Chavez is doing differently from former politicians, that’s true. BUT NOT BETTER, he is doing even worse.

Jenny Mendoza, Beijing, China

It's starting in Honduras also with President Mel Zelaya ordering all TV stations, radio stations and cable companies to only broadcast his propaganda for 2 hours per day. During this time the people do not have a choice if they want to watch TV they have to watch Mel. All international cable channels are cutoff. So it is the Mel Show and He definitely flunked the course on how to produce a TV program.

T Posey, Somewhere, Honduras

lol, Mark, we are witnessing the rise of South American Fascism? South and Latin American Fascism began to rise in the middle of the 20th century, with the support of the United States, and peaked in the 1970's and 80's. The idea that it is rising now is patently absurd; it is on the decline. What you are witnessing now in Latin and South America is the rise of democracy, populism and South and Latin American nationalism, which the United States has been trying suppress for years. The Fascism that you indicated is a threat to the United States is no such thing. On the contrary this form of Fascism served U.S. interests in the region, which is why our government supported the brutal Fascist regimes of Guatemala ( after overthrowing their democratically elected government) El Salvador, Nicaragua ( then the Contras that sought to reestablish the fascist tyranny), and Chile, to name some of the most brutal. These leaders of these governments make Hugo Chavez's look like Thomas Jefferson, relatively speaking.

Andrew, merrimack, NH

Yes and what we are seeing here, ladies and gentlemen, is the rise of fascism in South America. Chavez will spread his evil and filth among the poor and blame America. Interesting that most governments are silent on this removal of freedom in our time. Similar to Nazi facism 70 years ago.

I'm not worried though. The U.S. will rise again to take on the threat while the UN and others have failed to do so.

Mark, Washington D.C., USA

if cnn wants to be involved in politics,and then wrongly embarrasses everyone, then someone should be fired from cnn.

p.gill, jamaica, u.s.a.,new york

Chavez is following his mentor, Fidel, and will soon bring complete economic chaos to Venezuela and to all its people. While his philanthropic intentions seem honourable, he is not capable of making any difficult sustainable decisions that would truly honour his intentions. Economic and political chaos will soon develop and he will then close all outside communication to ensure the people cannot learn of the world's disgust. Perhaps he will then follow Fidel and allow internet access to only 1% of the people. Chavez acts like a child in someone elses candy store, soon to be empty, and alone.

Peter Memory, Toronto, Canada

I wonder how closely Chavez's communist are alighned with the communist that back Bush and our own Federal Government at the anti-illegal invasion rallies?

Carson, Fremont, United States / California

I'm no Chavez supporter - without transparency no matter how good your intentions you will fail - but this article and the comments fail to not two things.

One RCTV supported the 2002 attempted coup.

Two the station is not (as far as some other articles I have read) being 'shut down', instead it is not having its licence renewed. Now, I'm not 100% on the difference between the two but this article has not help at all in understanding the difference.

Lennie, Edinburgh, Scotland

I imagine these poeple will slowly lose their contact with the real world and before they know it we'll back hearing about mass disappearances and torture by his henchment of anybody "plotting against him" What is it with dictators? Alas, it's up to the people and not us to deal with him: noting the amount of mistakes we've made there before.

Gavin, London,

Mr Chavez says he admires Castro. One of the first things Castro did upon gaining power in Cuba was to close down many of the newspapers. Fidel Castro is a despot who lrepersses basic freedoms. Hugo Chavez is on the same path.

Bill, Thorofare, Usa

Very briefly - the Administration is saying that Globovisión has "implicitly" called for Chavez to be assassinated. The footage which was shown was of the attempt on John Paul II´s life with background music by Panamanian Ruben Blades to the effect of " have faith... it doesn´t end here". This is a message of hope - no matter how bad things look at the moment, they will get better. To assert that this is an invitation to assassinate Chavez shows the degree of paranoia currently felt by the Government. They are seriously rattled but this kind of action simply shows them to be more inept than ever.

Nigel Edwards, Caracas, Venezuela

Chavez is becoming more and more revolutionary Castro. Those who now back him should hit libraries and read some history, because it never ends there.

Jose Costa, Lisbon, Portugal

Another fine experiment in socialism..

ff, dd,

The main consequence of the RCTV affair will be that, in fact, Chavez won't have to ban any other broadcasters. Ninety percent of censorship in a dictatorship is self censorship. Now that an example has been made, everybody else will toe the line. It would be nice to think that outside broadcasters will not be bullied so easily, but the reaction of companies such as Google to Chinese complaints does not bode well.

Charlie Harrington, Huddersfield, UK

Comrade Chávez vowed, from the very first days he soiled the
Venezuelan presidency, that he would turn the country into
another Cuba. Why is everyone so surprised that he has finally
made his move against the media? He has always been a dyed-in-the-wool
Marxist. What else do people expect from him? For any possible doubters, I recommend reading the most honourable and courageous Marta Columina whose column appears in the city's still untouched broadsheet El Universal.

Eugene, Heidelberg, germany

About time someone took on the media. Chavez it seems is the man.

David Stanley, Gourge, France

The station that was shut down was one of the oldest TV stations in Latin America, and was the only station that could be seen everywhere in the country. Why have tropps seizing equipment?
The bottom line is that by silencing critics to your performance you obviously have something to hide as Mr. Chavez has. Is actually very interesting that the station went down and a new pro-Chavez station came through without any open call new franchise, like it would anywhere in the world. Only a dictator would have his say done like that. The worst is that institutions that should protect the freedom of speech aren’t doing so.

Dan, Calgary,

To anyone with two eyes and an open mind, Venezuela has been inching towards totalitarian dictatorship ever since the election of Hugo Chavez. Just as Hitler used the democratic process to obtain office and then dismantle it bit by bit, Chavez is forging a one-party state where no opposition is tolerated. It is sad that so many leftist apologists in the UK and across Europe remain silent on the demise of a democracy.

R M, London, UK

All that is required for evil to occur is for good people to do nothing. The evil will be committed under the cover of Chavez providing breakfasts for poor kids, Cuban doctors for the sick, neighborhood organizations to crush anti-regime critics, bribes for oil interests, anti-American and (soon) anti-Semetic rhetoric and accusations, creation of "people's courts," and pensions for the elderly. Did I forget autobahns? Yes, autobahns will be built. The OAS, as usual, will wring its hands. American liberals will make excuses, as they did for National Socialists in early and mid 1933. Anyone remember Walter Lippmann? The result will be much the same as in 1933: "goodies" for those on the margins for society and the "targeting" of "enemies of the people" in return for silence from the "people" and the silence of those abroad. The similarities are truly striking. Foreign reaction will consist of weak words and many excuses and rationalizations.

James, Jacksonville, Illinois U. S.

Though Chavez tries to make it sound good by robbing from the rich to give to the poor this has been proven time and time again that they type of government he is trying install will only lead to total social decay.

Some may be be corrupt from the previous type of government but at least when there is a democracy in place, people have more of a chance of having a better life by striving for it. All the people that want to get ahead in life there will only move because there is no chance for success. They will lose most of their skilled people and end up with a nation of unskilled burdons to society.

Scooter, Montana, USA

Chavez will be able to get away with this for at least four reasons. First, he "cares" for the poor by his supporting child care, breakfasts for youngsters, medical care for the marginal, support for older people, etc. Second, many people in Venezuela are willing to sell their freedom for a full dinner pail. Third, liberals in the U. S. and elsewhere will remain silent, in much the same way they have their failure to confront Mugabe in Zimbabwe and dying freedom in South Africa. Four, Chavez keeps scapegoating unpopular influences, especially the US and the NGOs that are concerning about civil rights and political liberties. The first point is especially important. After all, who can oppose someone who assists "the People" with all kinds of goodies from oil money, even if it is at the cost of unpopular critics of Chavez and his movement. His neighborhood watch groups and his upcoming "People's Courts" will finish the story. Sadly.

James, Jacksonville, Illinois U. S.

We should make them watch FOX News. If they cant stand CNN, id love to see to what levels of idiocy FOX would drive him.

Kevin, Phoenix, AZ, USA

Censor freedom of the press...after that it will be confiscation of private property. When the government comes to take your house away, who can you complain to?

After that it will be personal freedoms taken away. These are the wonders of socialism/comunism. VENEZUELA, Awake!

Armando Perez, Miami, USA/FL

Will Ken Livingstone still defend his friend Chavez ?

s davies, London , uk

CNN is regarded as a fascist network instrument of the new world order but so are the rest including MSNBC, FOX, all are are not telling the truth. Unfortunatley Chavez is right to shut them down.

Susan Blum, Newton, Mass-USA

Chavez is well within his rights and in fact is treating this station (and others) with more respect than most other western democracies would.

Chavez was democratically elected, and has won 6 consecutive elections, all certified as fair by international observers such as the Carter Center. His popularity level is around 70% and has been as high as 85%, making him one of the most popular elected officials in the world of all time.

In a democratic country it is illegal to overthrow the leader or to plot to do so. You must beat them in a fair election. RCTV represents the views of a tiny radical minority, which has repeatedly been caught broadcasting blatantly false information in order to destablize the governemt. It also vocally advocates illegal violent overthrow of the government. In a country like the United States or Britain such a station would never be allowed to exist and the managers would certainly be tried for sedition.

Matt Brown, Oaxaca , Mexico

The reincarnation of Mao Tse-Tung. My country is bleeding and the sad thing is that some people still think the regime is great. I include politicians in the west, because of the world dependence on oil.

Please find alternatives to oil quickly. We will all benefit from it. Oil is the weapon of mass destruction which his regime is using to oppress Venezuelan people and to kill our countrys' hopes.

Josephine Brown, Manchester, United of Kingdom

I trust CNN, and the Corporate Media in general, less than I trust Hugo Chavez..

waterflaws, Denver, USA, Colorado

Chavez is a big problem for Latin American Countries democracies. Venezuelans are living a real nightmare. This may be the last time you hear bad news about Venezuela. After this event, people will be silenced and everything will be wonderfull under´s Chavez´ own view.

Jose, Mexico, Mexico