VZCZCXYZ0022
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0910 1571746
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061746Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1597
INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1751
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 3664
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 0331
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1413
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5106
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1718
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000910 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR R, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, INR/IAA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC KIPR PGOV CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: RCTV CLOSURE AND THE OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 
 
 
¶1. Summary:  Santiago's most influential dailies ran editorials 
criticizing the lack of a strong stance against Chavez' decision to 
close RCTV, notably by the OAS and other countries.  Influential "El 
Mercurio" highlighted that the United States has been the only 
country to firmly oppose Venezuela on this issue and warned about 
the threat around the world from such individuals.  End summary. 
 
¶2. On June 6, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El 
Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) ran an editorial entitled "How Far Will 
You Go Chavez?"  Quotes: 
 
"The blow against the independent station...is not an isolated 
event....  It is the beginning of a process to silence all 
dissenting media....  The official position was that the station and 
other media were incubating coups and civil unrest....  Now Chavez 
is using the same arguments against private universities....  There 
is little doubt that he will next target independent higher 
educational institutions....  The regime's orientation is 
unquestionably totalitarian.... 
 
"The bland reaction by the OAS and other countries -- with the 
notorious exception of the United States in the OAS -- feeds Chavez' 
hegemonic appetite....  He may seem delirious, but there are 
precedents of individuals like him in world history." 
 
¶3. On June 5, conservative, afternoon "La Segunda" (circ. 33,000) 
ran an editorial entitled, "Venezuela's case in the OAS."  Quote: 
 
"With resolve and firmness, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice 
asked OAS Secretary General Jos Miguel Insulza to visit Caracas and 
draft a report in consultation with the interested parties....  This 
episode reveals a general awareness among the true democrats about 
the progressive consolidation of Chavez' socialist dictatorship and 
the threat of his intervention in the political processes of other 
countries in the region....  At the same time, it confirms the 
inefficiency of international organizations to correct these 
deviations.  In particular, the OAS is lacking in implementing the 
applauded Democratic Charter under specific circumstances." 
 
¶4. On June 6, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) 
ran an editorial entitled "The Case of RCTV and the OAS General 
Assembly."  Quote: 
 
"Given the numerous expressions of concern over RCTV... and the 
consensus in the region that one of the key pillars of democracy is 
freedom of expression, why hasn't the OAS included this issue in its 
discussion?....  The interest of the OAS in this case should not be 
seen as undue intervention in Venezuela's internal affairs or as 
questioning its government....  (The case of) Venezuela is proving 
that those who accuse the OAS of being 'inefficient' are right.  The 
shared view in the region is that the closing of the station is one 
more step in Venezuela's radical political process toward the 
concentration of powering in the hands of its President.  This case 
is a good opportunity to change that view." 
 
KELLY