MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

UN calls on Venezuela to withdraw arrest warrant against head of media network

Frank La Rue, UN Special rapporteur on freedom of expression

United Nations special rapporteur on freedom of expression called on Venezuela to withdraw the arrest warrant against the head of the opposition Globovision television network, declaring that it had no right to silence critics.

Frank La Rue, said that the “harassment” of Guillermo Zuloaga was symptomatic of what he called the continuous deterioration of freedom of the press in Venezuela.

“No government in the world has the right to silence critics or those who oppose the state with criminal proceedings,” La Rue said in a statement. He cited fears that the warrant was “politically motivated, aimed solely at silencing Zuloaga.”

Zuloaga is a fugitive after Venezuela’s Attorney general issued an arrest warrant charging him with usury last week. An arrest warrant was also issued for his son, Guillermo Zuloaga Siso, according to La Rue who called for it to be lifted as well.

“This is not the first time that staff members of Globovision, including Mr. Zuloaga, are criminally prosecuted because of the exercise of their right to freedom of expression,” said La Rue, an independent expert from Guatemala who reports to the United Nations Human Rights Council.

On Monday, the Venezuelan regime of President Hugo Chavez took control of Banco Federal, a bank that is owned by another Globovision director and handles its payroll, citing liquidity problems and risk of fraud, and leaving the station's employees in fear for their livelihoods.

President Chavez suggested that he might take control of shares in Globovision television station -- the last major broadcaster in Venezuela to have kept up its staunchly anti-Chavez chance.

Critics say Chavez is taking Venezuela down an increasingly authoritarian route, stifling dissent and nationalising much of the economy. Supporters say he is the victim of propaganda and a US-led campaign of vilification.

Known for its partisan coverage, Globovision has provided an important platform for political opponents of Chavez, who has substantially increased the number of pro-government newspapers and broadcasters since he took power 11 years ago.

La Rue reiterated a request, made in 2003 and again in 2009, for an invitation from Chavez' administration to visit Venezuela in order to make an in-depth assessment of the state of freedoms of expression and of press in the country. “This request regrettably remains unanswered,” he said.

Meantime Venezuela escalated the dispute by asking Interpol to arrest Zuloaga and his son.

“This is a gentleman who has committed a crime, and he should have to answer to Venezuelan justice,” Justice Minister Tareck El Aissami said Friday. “We have already started the process. We have generated an Interpol alert for the capture of this fugitive, wherever he is. He and his son are sought by a Venezuelan justice tribunal.”

The charges against Zuloaga originated in May 2009, when 24 vehicles were found on one of his properties in Caracas. According to the government, they were being kept there in violation of existing law.

Zuloaga, who owns car dealerships, has said the vehicles were stored at his house as part of his business.Zuloaga was previously detained in March, when he was accused of criticizing the government during a public forum outside the country.

President Chavez has said he was surprised at the “scope of the Zuloagas fortune and would ask prosecutors to confiscate their assets.