Venezuelan regulators pull 34 radio concessions

Chavez's government has increasingly clashed with private media in recent months and is slowly tightening its grip over the industry, raising concerns among watchdog and human rights groups that accuse the government of trying to stifle dissent

But Nelson Belfort, president of Venezuela's Radio Chamber and owner of five broadcasters affected by the measure, said it was "suspicious" that his stations were sanctioned so quickly.

"This is the cost that one has to incur for defending freedom of expression," Belfort told Globovision. "We lament that the media could be shut down, and especially without due process."

Romulo Raymondi, director of radio Barlovento 1230 AM in Miranda state, told The Associated Press he planned to appeal the order to shut down the station his father opened 45 years ago, saying it caused him "a lot of pain and sadness."

Lawmakers, meanwhile, are discussing a bill that would punish yet-to-be defined media crimes with up to four years in prison. Attorney General Luisa Ortega said Thursday that the law would punish media that have attempted to "cause panic" or "manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts."

AP

So now the "peoples" dictator feels the need to start shutting down radio stations...especially ones that don't agree with him..........

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Lawmakers, meanwhile, are discussing a bill that would punish yet-to-be defined media crimes with up to four years in prison. Attorney General Luisa Ortega said Thursday that the law would punish media that have attempted to "cause panic" or "manipulate the news with the purpose of transmitting a false perception of the facts."

You know what scares me? It's the vague, evil sounding language they use that they can interpret very loosely to nab people.

"Media crimes". What the hell are those? Anything they want them to be, I guess.