| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on an unclassified U.S. intelligence report on Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez’s campaign to silence opponents by extending his control of the media. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“A new U.S. intelligence report outlining Hugo Chavez’s scheme to control Venezuelan media confirms the further deterioration of freedom of expression, democracy, and human rights under Chavez's rule.
“Just weeks ago, Chavez ratcheted up his campaign against free speech and political opponents by shutting down 34 broadcast stations across his country.
"These assaults on the pillars of a democratic society will continue unabated unless responsible nations stand up to Chavez and send a clear message to others in the region following the Chavez model that this behavior will not be tolerated."
Background: An unclassified report published by the Open Source Center, stated that “Chavez's government is moving forcefully to silence critics by introducing a Media Crimes bill that would give it sweeping authority to jail journalists, media executives, and bloggers who report on anything that the government considers to be harmful to state interests. It is simultaneously moving to shut down more than 200 radio stations, impose broadcasting requirements on RCTV International, and position itself to take over opposition news station Globovision.”
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