CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela stepped up pressure on television station Globovision yesterday, slapping a $2 million fine on the anti-government channel a day after pressing charges against its president and raiding his house.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused Globovision of fomenting opposition to his socialist revolution and has threatened to close the channel. But Globovision says it is being harassed for open criticism of the Chavez government.
Tax officials visited the station’s headquarters yesterday and said the company owed $2.3 million dollars in back taxes.
Authorities late on Thursday and early yesterday searched the home of Globovision president Guillermo Zuloaga, charging that he had broken environmental law by illegally keeping specimens of stuffed rare animals in his home.
It was the second raid in recent weeks.
“Now no one can think that this is coincidence. I think that it is very clear that they are orchestrating an offensive against Globovision and its editorial line,” said Ana Cristina Nunez, a lawyer for the Zuloaga family.
Zuloaga was charged on Thursday with usury in a case related to the earlier raid on his property which uncovered a number of new vehicles.
