...Noticias editor blasts HRW for vacillation in defense of Catia TV

http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=9630


snip

... in other words, almost a week after the closure which took place
on July 13.

In fact most opposition news outlets had only started reporting the issue on Monday ...
mainstream broadsheets were definitely low-key on the story, their columnists preferring to
comment Cubans in Venezuela and other key opposition themes.

Journalists Without Borders did issue a declaration supporting Catia TV's rights but
the National College of Journalists (CNP) and Trade Union of Press Workers (SNTP) that are
usually quick off the mark when it comes to statements against attacks on journalists and
private media print & broadcast media did not make any statement ... alleging lack of time to
hold a special meeting.



Venezuela's Catia TV
Illegally Raided & Shut Down



The Year's Most Serious Attack Against
Press Freedom


By Alex Contreras Baspineiro
Special to The Narco News Bulletin

July 14, 2003


Catia TV in Caracas, a community television station that is not
merely at the service of the community but, rather, is directed
by the local people, has just been closed in a maneuver more
often seen under the old military dictatorships: The orders came
from the current Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas, Venezuela (and an
ex-"journalist"): Alfredo Pe*±a, supporter of the attempted coup
d’etat of April 2002 that Catia TV, among others, defeated.

Catia TV brings a very different form of television to (and from)
the public than that of the Commercial stations. The programs,
interviews, the operation of the equipment, the editing, and the
organization of this Community Media outlet – that broadcasts
from the poor neighborhoods in East Caracas – is constructed by
the men, women, elders, and children. who live there... all the
people, mobilizing daily. That’s why it was shut down: to silence
the voices that Catia TV made strong. The transmitter and other
equipment have been seized.

A Different Way of Communicating



Blanca Eekhout, Venezuelan scholar of the Narco News School of
Authentic Journalism, and the director of Catia TV, told us that
the local people made the TV station. Channel 25 – better known
as “the Community TV station of the East” – had state of the art
equipment thanks to the combined efforts of professionals, the
public, the government, and solidarity organizations.

http://www.narconews.com/Issue30/article808.html