Recently, law enforcement searched the home of Federico Medina Ravell, who was accused of writing tweets questioning information the government has said about President Hugo Chavez's health. His wife and children were detained and two computers were taken from his residency. He is now under investigation for "instigating terrorism in social networks".
The government also commanded Globovision, a television station, to stop spreading information questioning the government on whether an inauguration can happen without the president being in Venezuela. To justify their actions they pointed to article 27 of Venezuela's broadcasting law, which says that nothing can be broadcasted that "denies authority" or "threatens public order".
Freedom of speech is a right. Please tell Venezuela to stop censorship and the instillation of fear in the media!
Dear Venezuela Government,
Censorship is becoming an issue in Venezuela, especially when it comes to President Hugo Chavez's health and inauguration.
A blogger is being investigated for "instigating terrorism in social networks" because he was accused of writing tweets questioning information from the government about Chavez's health. His family, including two children, was detained and his computers were taken.
Then, a television station was ordered to stop questioning whether an inauguration can happen without the president being in Venezuela. This apparently violated Venezuela's broadcasting law which, says that nothing can be broadcasted if it denies authority or threatens public order.
Freedom of speech is a right. Please stop censorship.
Thank you for your time.
