note on the venezuelan media

["michael a. lebowitz" <mlebowit@xxxxxx>]

        One of the biggest jokes in Venezuela at this time of the sign-up
campaigns for recall are the regulations on the media.(Signing for the
recall of 38 opposition members of parliament is occurring right now, and
next Friday-Monday will be the signature campaign to call for a recall
referendum for Chavez.) The regulation (as reported by opposition source
eluniversal.com) is as follows:

> The CNE announced on Tuesday that regulations ruling the electoral
> propaganda for recall referenda in Venezuela entered into force. Under
> these rules, propaganda on TV is limited to two minutes per day and radio
> broadcasting to five minutes. Anonymous announcements are prohibited.
> Those who violate regulations in TV/Film commercials could face fines up
> to $310,206, whereas revocable officials who do not respect them could be
> fined up to $278,266

        Why a joke? Because every opposition channel for the last week has
had dusk-to-dawn 'news' and discussion programmes which are focused on one
question only--- the 'firmazo', the sign-up campaign to recall Chavez. No
regulations on these.
        in solidarity,
         michael
---------------------
Michael A. Lebowitz
Professor Emeritus
Economics Department
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6
Office Fax:   (604) 291-5944
Home:   Phone (604) 689-9510