CARACAS, (Reuters) – Venezuela’s government is cranking up the pressure on the Globovision television network, the last major national broadcaster to hold an editorial stance opposing President Hugo Chavez.
Globovision’s news director quit in February, raising fears among government critics about its future as an independent voice. A month later, network boss Guillermo Zuloaga was briefly held on charges that included offending the president.
Last week, authorities in the OPEC nation issued an arrest warrant for Zuloaga and raided his Caracas home. Then on Monday, they took control of a mid-sized bank run by another director of the TV station, Nelson Mezerhane, citing liquidity problems and risk of fraud.
Known for its one-sided and often shrill reporting, Globovision is an important soap box for opponents of Chavez, who has substantially increased the number of pro-government newspapers and broadcasters since he took power 11 years ago.
His supporters say that was essential to counter private media companies that have generally been hostile to him.
Pro-Chavez broadcaster Mario Silva hailed the moves against the Globovision directors in his show on state TV late on Monday, calling the takeover of Banco Federal long overdue.
The authorities would soon turn the Globovision logo red in honor of Chavez’s socialist revolution, with a red beret on top, the white-bearded Silva predicted, wearing an olive green shirt and military cap similar to those worn by the president.
Zuloaga had earlier told Globovision in a phone call from an undisclosed location that he was the victim of a political witch hunt by Chavez, who wanted to silence its criticism, and that he had no plans to turn himself in.
