World Notables Back Venez in Media Tiff

Intellectuals, artists, professionals and members of political, social and human rights organizations from distinct parts of the globe showed their support to the Venezuelan Government s sovereign decision to not renew the license to RCTV.

"Over 300 notables and members of organizations from Latin America and other areas have signed a letter of support to the people and Government of Venezuela," Argentine writer and journalist Stella Calloni, a promoter of the document, told Prensa Latina on Tuesday.

She predicted the list will be endless, as the text remains open for every one to sign.

The solidarity document says that in a democratic country, radio and TV frequencies are a public asset managed by the State.

It adds that the signal previously granted to RCTV will now be occupied by public service TVES channel, devoted to education and rescue of history and culture to broaden pluralism of information and diversity.

It denounces that private media control 80 to 93 percent of Venezuela's radio-electric space.

Concessions to use airwaves are not eternal, RCTV has operated for 20 years, "we reject the campaign to manipulate information, describing as closure the sovereign decision of the government of President Hugo Chavez."

There seems to be a US-promoted plan to prepare public opinion for a violent change of Venezuela's institutional structure, the message notes.

In view of the disinformation campaign, "we call on all freedom loving people to mobilize in solidarity, because if Venezuela is attacked, all Latin America will return to the darkest times in history," states the letter.