Venezuelan Ambassador Samuel Moncada has expressed disappointment about the refusal of  The Times to publish a reply in response to inaccurate claims in an article entitled Hugo Chavez takes to the airwaves - 24/7 (by Hannah Strange - 9 February 2010).

The article stated that: "the Government closed down the anti-Chávez channel RCTV after it refused to cut to a presidential speech".

The response by the Ambassador explained that RCTV had not abided by the Venezuelan law and should they comply with the law, like other stations, it will be aired again.

“These pieces of legislation, quoted above, [the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television and the Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence] mandate television channels to adhere to certain norms, such the requirement to classify their programming, issue warnings on classified elements to be broadcasted and avoid violence and inappropriate explicit sexual content, particularly when children are watching” reads one segment of the letter.

Regarding this topic, Ambassador Moncada said: “Even if you disagree, it is in the interest of the media and the people to have clear information about Venezuela".

 *Press Unit of the Venezuelan Embassy in London. 18 February 2010. The full text of the unpublished letter is below.

Mr. Jeremy Vine
Assistance Editor, The Times
Times House
1 Pennington Street
London E98 1TT

Dear Mr. Vine:

RCTV refuse to comply with the law

Instead of accusing the Venezuelan Government of closing down RCTV, The Times should research this case and expose RCTV as a company which has failed to comply with both the Law on Social Responsibility in Radio and Television and the Law on the Right of Women to a Life Free of Violence.

These pieces of legislation mandate television channels to follow certain norms, such as classification of their programming, warning on classified elements to be broadcasted and avoiding violence and sex exposure, particularly when children are watching.

The rest of channels operating in Venezuela do comply with the law. RCTV is the only one which does not.

As soon as RCTV satisfy the demands of the law, it will be aired once again, just as has happened with other TV channels, such as America TV, Momentum, and TV Chile.

A better and wider knowledge of the law would improve The Times’ coverage on freedom of the press in Venezuela. 

Sincerely,

Samuel Moncada
Venezuelan Ambassador