MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION on Venezuela

9.2.2010

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 122 of the Rules of Procedure

Renate Weber, Frédérique Ries, Marietje Schaake, Izaskun Bilbao Barandica, Marielle De Sarnez, Ramon Tremosa i Balcells on behalf of the ALDE Group

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B7-0093/2010

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B7‑0094/2010

European Parliament resolution on Venezuela

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions, and in particular that of 23 May 2007 on the Channel Radio Caracas TV in Venezuela,

 

- having regard to Rule 122(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

 

 

 

A.  whereas the TV Channel Radio Caracas and 3 other TV Channels had their licences suspended on the 24 January 2010 for not having connected to the official channel in order to transmit the presidential message on the occasion of the 52 anniversary of the fall of the dictator Perez Jiménez,

 

B.  whereas media freedom is of primary importance for democracy and respect for fundamental freedoms, given its essential role in guaranteeing the free expression of opinions and ideas and in contributing to people's effective participation in democratic processes,

 

C.  whereas the right of the public to receive information from pluralistic sources is fundamental for a democratic society and for citizens´ participation to the political and social life of a country,

 

D.  whereas the non-renewal of the broadcasting license of the private audiovisual group Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) expired on 27 May 2007 even though it continued broadcasting via cable,

 

E.  whereas the non-renewal of the license of this audiovisual organ, one of Venezuela's oldest and most important, will deprive a large section of the public of a pluralist source of information, thus undermining not only the right of the press to criticise the authorities, but mostly the right of the public to receive information and pluralistic opinions expressed by media,

 

F.  whereas the Organisation of American States through the Inter-American Commission of Human rights warned that the new closure of channels has enormous repercussions regarding the right to the freedom of expression;

 

G.  whereas during the latest violence and the student protests in different cities for and against the waiver of RCTV International, two young students were killed and dozens of other people got injured, due to the hard-line attitude of the police,

 

H.  whereas the events of the last days are not isolated ones as there is a growing concern in the Venezuelan population due to the climate of insecurity, the enormous indicators of delinquency, and violence that have turned Venezuela,

 

I.  whereas the media must abide by the provisions of the law, and closing a media outlet should be the last resort and a measure that should only be implemented after being given all the guarantees of due process, including the right to present a defence and appeal in independent courts of justice,

 

 

J.  whereas Articles 57 and 58 of Venezuela's Constitution guarantee freedom of expression, communication and information,

 

K. whereas President Chavez recently declared that the use of social networking sites as Twitter and internet, and text messaging via mobile phones to criticise or oppose his regime “is terrorism”,

 

H. whereas the reform of the law on science and technology currently debated by the National Assembly of Venezuela aims to regulate “information network” in a manner that could lead to internet censorship,

 

I. whereas some leaders close to President Chávez such as the Vice-President and Defence Minister, Ramon Carrizález, the Minister of Environment, Mrs Yubiri Grouse and the President of the Central Bank, Mr. Eugenio Vázquez Orellana have resigned due to the totalitarian drift of the regime,

 

 

1.  Deplores the decision of the Government of Venezuela to suspends the licenses of RCTV and other 3 cable television channels and calls on their restitution;

 

 

2.  Reminds the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela of its obligation to respect freedom of expression and opinion and freedom of the press, as it is bound to do under its own Constitution and under the different, international and regional Conventions and Charters, to which Venezuela is a signatory;

 

 

3.  Calls on the Government of Venezuela, in the name of the principle of the impartiality of the state, to ensure equal treatment under the law for all media, including internet, whether privately or publicly owned and irrespective of all political or ideological considerations;

 

4.  Calls on the Venezuelan government to be committed to the values of the rule of law, and to promote, protect and respect the right to freedom of expression including on internet and freedom of assembly;

 

5.  Deeply regrets the latest violence's acts, including the death of two students, Yosinio Carrillo Torres and Marcos Rosales, and expresses its solidarity with the families of the victims; calls on the authorities to carry out an investigation to clarify the causes for which these young people were assassinated and to bring those guilty of these crimes before the justice;

 

6.  Calls on the Venezuelan authorities to unequivocally condemn these serious abuses immediately and ensure that the police intervenes only to protect the integrity and life of all persons while exercising their legitimate right to assembly;

 

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, the Secretary General of the Organisation of American States (OEA), the EUROLAT Parliamentary Assembly, the Mercosur Parliament and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.