Chavez appoints pro-censorship lieutenant as information minister
Venezuelan President Chavez has appointed as information minister a supporter of a new bill increasing government censorship powers over radio and television. Chavez has repeadedly censored TV stations for broadcasting anti-government material, and once described television as a weapon of mass destruction.
[Jesse] Chacon, a computer systems engineer and retired army lieutenant, took part with Chavez in a 1992 botched coup. Chavez won the 1998 presidential election, and Chacon was named two years ago to head the state telecommunications regulatory agency CONATEL.As chief of CONATEL, which is responsible for monitoring television and radio broadcasting in Venezuela, Chacon is one of the architects of a proposed law that would prohibit broadcasting of sex and violence during most of the day and evening in order to protect children.
The proposed bill also forbids broadcasting events and statements that “incite disruption of public order.”
Opponents of the populist president say the Radio and Television Social Responsibility law before parliament is an attempt to muzzle criticism of the government by private media controlled by the opposition.
– CNN, Chavez ally named information leader.