Peruvian author urges action against Chavez

He calls on Venezuelans to mobilize against leader

The Associated Press
Posted June 12 2007

BRASILIA, Brazil � Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa urged Venezuelans to mobilize against their nation's "dangerous trajectory" toward totalitarianism after President Hugo Chavez forced an opposition-aligned television station off the air, according to a Brazilian news agency.

Vargas Llosa, who was in Brazil for a series of conferences, criticized Chavez's decision not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, or RCTV, in an interview with Agencia Estado news service.

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"The important thing is for Venezuelans to resist," Vargas Llosa said. "Shutting down RCTV ... will hopefully encourage opposition against a very dangerous trajectory which for Venezuela and the rest of Latin America is very dangerous.

"Venezuela's opposition must become more and more energetic against a demagogue who can destroy Venezuela," he said.

RCTV, Venezuela's oldest and most-watched private channel, went off the air May 27, and its license was turned over to a state-funded channel.

Chavez accuses the station, which was fiercely critical of his government, of playing a key role in backing a short-lived 2002 coup against him. He says he respects freedom of speech.

International journalism watchdogs call the move a blow to freedom of the press, and Chavez opponents in Venezuela have protested the closure...."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/caribbean/sfl-hvargas12jun12,0,1262787.story?coll=sfla-news-caribbean