Venezuela tax agency fines anti-Chavez TV station
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela’s tax agency ordered an anti-government news network to pay $2.3 million in back taxes on Friday, a day after its president was charged in a separate investigation and troops raided his home.
A statement from Venezuela’s tax agency said Globovision owes taxes on airtime it donated to non-governmental organizations six years ago. It said public networks are taxed on potential revenue, regardless of whether they charge advertisers or others.
“We have to keep fighting against impunity, whatever those who are affected might say,” President Hugo Chavez told state media. “They have to comply with the laws.”
Tax officials arrived at Globovision’s Caracas studios to notify its executives of the fine on Friday — a tense exchange that the network broadcast live.
Globovision now owes 5 million bolivars, or $2.3 million, including unpaid taxes, fines and interest, said Fanny Marquez, a tax official.
The all-news network has been the only anti-Chavez channel on the open airwaves since 2007, when Chavez refused to renew the broadcast license of another opposition channel, Radio Caracas Television. That network, which moved to cable, also owes back taxes on airtime it donated to NGOs in 2002 and 2003, Marquez said.
Globovision dismissed the claim against it on Friday, saying the fine was intended to silence its criticism of Chavez and to intimidate his opponents. Station director Alberto Federico Ravell called it “judicial, fiscal and governmental terrorism.”
The airtime in question was given to NGOs during a 2002-2003 strike intended to oust Chavez, Globovision lawyer Ana Cristina Nunez said. Human rights groups and political parties broadcast regular messages throughout the stoppage.
Chavez has long accused Globovision and other private media of conspiring against him, but tensions have flared recently. State television now runs short ads that label Globovision as “sick” and urge viewers to: “Turn off the illness.”
Chavez last week asked the attorney general and telecommunications chief to take action against non-state media or resign.
Telecommunications chief Diosdado Cabello on Friday said he’d asked prosecutors to open a criminal investigation into news outlets including Globovision. He said the government also plans to amend a telecommunications law regulating cable television, which until now has been exempt from some rules, including those that require public networks to carry all of Chavez’s speeches live.
Prosecutors on Thursday charged Globovision president and owner Guillermo Zuloaga with usury, alleging unlawful markups at two Toyota dealerships he jointly owns. Days earlier, they opened a second investigation on “environmental crime” claims related to wild animals he hunted and has mounted in his Caracas home. Dozens of National Guard troops accompanied prosecutors to his home to gather evidence.
Broadcast regulators are also investigating Globovision for inciting “panic and anxiety” during its coverage of a minor earthquake last month, when station head Ravell criticized the government for its slow response.
Separately, the Supreme Court rejected a Globovision petition seeking the nullification of 2003 regulators’ ruling that led to a $270,000 fine.
Free press groups including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists have voiced concern about what they call “unwarranted accusations against the press” in Venezuela.
____
Associated Press Writer Fabiola Sanchez contributed to this report.
Related News
Chavez: Venezuela mulls allowing air force to shoot down suspected drug planesSeptember 17th, 2009 Venezuela considers shooting down drug planesCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez said Thursday he's mulling the possibility of allowing Venezuela's air force to shoot down suspected drug planes, but he is not convinced it's a good idea. "We are studying it.
Hugo Chavez says Moscow has offered Venezuela $2.2 billion in credit to buy Russian weaponsSeptember 13th, 2009 Venezuela gets $2.2B in credit for Russian armsCARACAS, Venezuela — Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit for Venezuela to purchase weapons including armored vehicles and surface-to-air missiles, President Hugo Chavez said Sunday. Venezuela is buying more arms because it feels threatened by Colombia's decision to give U.S.
Chavez: Venezuela expecting delivery of rockets from Russia after signing military agreementsSeptember 11th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to get rockets from RussiaCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he has signed military agreements with Russia and is soon expecting the arrival of some "little rockets."
Chavez says the rockets reach up to 186 miles (300 kilometers) and are strictly for defense purposes. Chavez returned Friday from a world tour including a visit to Russia, where he met with President Dmitry Medvedev.
Anti-Chavez television channel notified of new probe, risks losing broadcast licenseSeptember 7th, 2009 Anti-Chavez TV station faces possible shutdownCARACAS, Venezuela — The government said Monday a leading TV channel aligned with Venezuela's opposition could lose its broadcast license for allegedly airing a viewer's text message calling for a coup and the assassination of President Hugo Chavez. Diosdado Cabello, president of the telecommunications commission, said authorities will also ask prosecutors for a criminal probe to determine whether the owners of Globovision should face trial for allegedly trying to incite rebellion.
Tens of thousands march against Chavez in Venezuela, accusing him of growing authoritarianismSeptember 5th, 2009 Tens of thousands protest Chavez in VenezuelaCARACAS, Venezuela — Tens of thousands marched through Venezuela's capital on Saturday to protest what they call growing authoritarianism by President Hugo Chavez. A few thousand of the president's backers held a separate counter-rally to express support for the government's policies.
Venezuela opens new probe into anti-Chavez TV, announces 29 more broadcasters will be closedSeptember 5th, 2009 Venezuela opens new probe into anti-Chavez TVCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela's telecommunications chief announced a new probe into a television station opposed to President Hugo Chavez's government on Saturday, and said 29 broadcasters will soon face closure. Diosdado Cabello said the most recent investigation into Globovision, the sixth in eight months, was opened because the channel allegedly broadcast a ticker strip of text messages from viewers calling for a coup.
Chavez: Venezuela to strengthen ties with Russia, China as US makes inroads in Latin AmericaAugust 16th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to strengthen ties with alliesCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says Venezuela's ties with nations like Russia and China have gained importance as the U.S. moves to expand its military presence in Latin America.
Chavez says Venezuela will purchase tanks, citing threat from ColombiaAugust 5th, 2009 Chavez: Venezuela to buy more tanksCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says his government plans to buy dozens of tanks because Venezuela feels threatened by pending deal to increase the U.S. military presence in Colombia.
Judge removed following complaints of pressure to rule against Chavez opponentJuly 21st, 2009 Venezuela sacks judge handling anti-Chavez TV caseCARACAS, Venezuela — A judge handling one of Venezuela's most politically charged cases said Monday that she was fired after complaining about pressure to rule against an opponent of President Hugo Chavez. Alicia Torres said she received notification from the Supreme Court that her appointment as a judge had been revoked.
US ambassador returns to Caracas following diplomatic spat with VenezuelaJuly 2nd, 2009 US ambassador returns to Venezuela after spatCARACAS, Venezuela — The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela has returned to his post — more than nine months after he was expelled by President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez tells US general to look in mirror, saying US is threat to his region, not VenezuelaJune 28th, 2009 Chavez to US general: You're the threat, not usCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez says a U.S. general shouldn't be raising concerns that Venezuela is buying arms, and the American commander is wrong to argue there isn't a "conventional military threat in the region."
Chavez says the U.S.
Dueling marches in Venezuela back anti-Chavez TV channel, government's threats to shut it downJune 27th, 2009 Thousands march for, against anti-Chavez stationCARACAS, Venezuela — Thousands of Venezuelans held separate protests Saturday to support and condemn an opposition-aligned TV station that President Hugo Chavez's government has threatened with closure. Opposition protesters marched to Venezuela's journalists' association, chanting "Journalism is freedom!" Some waved Venezuelan flags, while others carried signs reading: "They won't shut us up."
In recent weeks, the government has stepped up its confrontation with Globovision — the only strongly anti-Chavez channel remaining on the open airwaves.
Venezuelans protest government moves against anti-Chavez TV channelJune 26th, 2009 Chavez: 'Media outlet' concession likely to endCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez made a thinly veiled threat against an opposition television station on Thursday, hours after dozens of protesters took to the streets in a show of support for the network. Without mentioning Globovision's name, Chavez called on the people to be on the alert for a conspiracy "that has to do with a media outlet."
"The possibility exists that the concession they hold will come to an end," Chavez said.
Venezuela's Chavez says defiant news network could be closed _ if it doesn't stand downJune 12th, 2009 Chavez: Gov't may shutter critical TV channelCARACAS, Venezuela — President Hugo Chavez threatened to close down an opposition-sided news network, saying the defiant Globovision channel's days on the airwaves will be numbered if its directors don't stand down. Chavez on Thursday urged executives at Globovision "to reflect" upon the TV channel's tough anti-government stance — or else the station "won't be on the airwaves much longer."
The socialist leader has threatened Globovision before, demanding sanctions against the channel for its alleged violation of broadcast regulations.
Venezuelan court asks Interpol to detain opposition leader who fled to PeruApril 22nd, 2009 Court orders capture of anti-Chavez leaderCARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan prosecutors say a court has asked Interpol to detain a leading opponent of President Hugo Chavez who is seeking political asylum in Peru. Prosecutors say in a statement that the Venezuelan court on Wednesday ordered the capture of Manuel Rosales because he "has shown he isn't willing to present himself" in court.
Loading ...