The Venezuelan government has ordered the closure of 34 radio stations in its latest move to silence in its media critics.
German state radio Deutsche Welle is reporting that Diosdado Cabello, Venezuela’s minister of public works, has called the decision to close the stations part of “a new phase of information” and part of the government’s effort to “democratize the airwaves.”
According to Cabello, the closures are a response the stations’ failures to meet legal operating requirements. He warned that more closures may follow. The decision to shut down the 34 stations came one day after Luisa Ortega Diaz, Venezuela ‘s top prosecutor, suggested toughening the country’s media law to “regulate the freedom of expression.”
An estimated 240 radio stations are said to be under investigation—40 percent of Venezuela ’s broadcasters, according to Deutsche Welle. The Venezuelan Chamber of Radio Broadcasters is calling the government’s move an “enormous violation.”
President Hugo Chavez has revoked the broadcasting licenses of his critics before. He has accused Globovision , Venezuela ’s leading independent broadcaster, of “media terrorism” and imposed heavy fines on its operations. In 2007 he followed through on similar threats to the popular RCTV, a persistent critic of his government.