MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez threatens to end more private media broadcast licenses

President Hugo Chavez threatened to terminate the broadcast licences of private media outlets seen as sowing unrest in Venezuela, just days after the nation's oldest private TV station was forced off the air when the Venezuelan government refused to renew its broadcast license.

Large, sometimes violent protests by students warning of a threat to freedom of expression erupted after the decision - an outcry that Chavez says is being fomented by government opponents trying to topple his administration. Chavez has said other broadcasters, radio stations and newspapers covering the protests of unspecified sanctions if they continue to "incite'' instability. Saturday's warning took that a step further - warning the private media he could abruptly end their licences at any moment. "In the case of the old bourgeois channel (RCTV), we were quite patient and waited for its concession to end but don't believe that it will always be like that. A concession can end before the established time ... for violations of the constitution, the laws, for media terrorism, for many things,'' he said. Chavez also said that domestic and international critics "can go to hell" and called for the unity of all Venezuelans. "Let them all go straight to hell, the representatives from the international oligarchy, let them know from the streets of Caracas that we are sending all to Hell because Venezuela is a free country. We won't accept any meddling from the "international right"". The comments were made to thousands of roaring red-clad supporters who at times chanted, "It's your turn next, Globovision!'' in reference to the only major opposition-aligned TV channel remaining in the country. During a failed 2002 coup against Chavez, RCTV, Globovision and other private channels broadcast opposition calls for protests to overthrow Chavez while giving scant coverage to his return to power amid protests by his supporters. Chavez accused the US government, which swiftly recognized the transitional president who took power at the time, of trying to orchestrate a "soft coup'' this time by using the private media, the opposition and the students. Although many of Venezuela's media outlets are still privately owned and critical of Chavez, the RCTV case has raised concerns because it was the only opposition-aligned TV station with nationwide reach. The decision has been condemned by several foreign governments, press freedom groups and international organizations, whom Chavez accused of conspiring to smear his government.