Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (L) greets Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez during the 3rd Opec Summit, in Riyadh November 17, 2007. (REUTERS via daylife)
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - Venezuela's top prosecutor insisted Thursday that freedom of expression in Venezuela "must be limited" and proposed legislation that would slap additional restrictions on the country's news media.
The new law would punish the owners of radio stations, television channels and newspapers that have attempted to "cause panic" and "disturb social peace," Attorney General Luisa Ortega said.
It also would punish media owners who "manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts."
"Freedom of expression must be limited," Ortega said.
Ortega urged lawmakers to consider her suggestions as they debate a bill that would punish as-yet-undefined "media crimes." The National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Hugo Chavez, is expected to approve the measure in coming months.
[....]
Chavez denies that he intends to silence critics, saying his government fully respects freedom of expression.
In case you never read the free expression Bill Ayers delivered on a platform he shared with Hugo Chavez in Venezuela (2006) - there's a link to it here.
"... Venezuelans have shown the world ... the failings of capitalist schooling can be resisted and overcome."
"... we, too, must build a project of radical imagination and fundamental change."
"Viva Mission Sucre! Viva Presidente Chavez! Viva La Revolucion Bolivariana! Hasta La Victoria Siempre!"
See also this editorial in today's WaPo - Rockets for Terrorists: Will there be any consequence for Venezuela's material support for Colombian insurgents?
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