Venezuelan Globovision Under Attack

President of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela accused Globovision, the nation’s last independent TV broadcaster, of “media terrorism,” but terrorism struck the station on July 3.

In May, Nicolas Maduro, the president of the Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela, accused the 24-hour news channel Globovision, the nation’s last independent TV broadcaster, of “media terrorism,” and described the station and its director, Alberto Ravell, as “violators of the constitution and of the rights of Venezuelans” as well as being “anti-democratic, failed and fascist.” The allegations were denied by the station with Ravell saying the government investigation was “laughable” and meant to intimidate the media.

But no one laughed on July 3 when 30 armed, pro-government activists raided the premises of Globovision, a private Venezuelan television broadcaster, during a live newscast and exploded two tear gas canisters. Two security guards, another Globovision employee and a police officer were injured during the attack.