Venezuela's Chavez May Shut TV Stations

CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez warned Wednesday he will force TV stations to close if he determines that they're promoting violence during a petition for a vote on his rule.

"If an act of violence occurs, a coup attempt, or subversion ... and a television station is involved in it, be assured that it will be taken off the air," said Chavez during a speech at the presidential palace.

Chavez has recently accused dissident soldiers and radical opposition groups of plotting to spur violence during a Nov.28-Dec. 1 signature drive for a presidential recall.

News media owners responded by saying they had not been asked to broadcast ads. Still, they offered to air voting information approved by elections authorities before an opposition petition drive this weekend to demand a presidential recall vote.

Chavez claimed that Venezuela's private television stations were refusing to broadcast paid government advertising.

Marcel Granier, general director of RCTV television, and Victor Ferreres, director of Venevision, told reporters that none of Venezuela's private TV stations had been asked to air pro-government ads.

Also Wednesday, the Inter-American Press Association urged Chavez's government to respect press freedoms during the recall drive.

Opposition groups are trying to drum up support for the drive, claiming Chavez is trying to impose a socialist state. More than 2.4 million signatures must be collected to force the recall, which would be held next year. Chavez's term runs to 2007.

Chavez allies said Tuesday they had collected enough signatures during their own petition drive last weekend to force recall votes against 37 opposition lawmakers and so increase their majority in congress.

Will Venezuelans Sign Up To Dump Chavez?***Chavez is scrambling to counter the opposition's moves.He has ominously warned public sector workers and soldiers that if they sign the petition "their names will be recorded forever." He's also wooing voters by channeling new funds into subsidized food stores and other social projects. Chavez' popularity rating, which went from 80% in 1999 to 30% in June, has crept back up to 35%. That may not be enough to stop his opponents. Most analysts are betting the petition's sponsors will get the required 2.4 million signatures. "The people are feeling the economic crunch and want to see a change," says Steven Ellner, professor of political economy at Venezuela's Universidad de Oriente. Unemployment is 20%, while crime is soaring.

Opposition leaders are hoping for a resounding victory. If they collect well over the threshold number of names, "the President will be a lame duck," says Henrique Salas Romer, an opposition presidential contender. But Chavez may not go easily even if a recall referendum were to win. The danger remains that his supporters and opponents alike could take to the streets -- and that Chavez could declare a state of emergency. Venezuela's political struggle is far from over.***

Hugo Chavez - Venezuela

Venezuela's Chavez Talks Tough Before Poll Drive ***DESTABILIZATION THREAT -Chavez called on his supporters to be on the lookout for cheating when opposition petitioners turn out to sign on Friday. "Every one of our militants should be in place at 6 a.m. Friday morning," he said.

Ledezma and other opposition leaders said they hoped the presence of around 50 international observers and numerous foreign journalists would prevent any attempt by Chavez supporters to disrupt this weekend's pro-referendum campaign.

Chavez, who survived a coup last year followed by a crippling two-month general strike, predicted that if a referendum went ahead and he lost, "the country would enter into a profound process of destabilization." He did not elaborate.

Popular support for Chavez's self-styled "revolution" has slipped as high inflation and unemployment have pushed more and more Venezuelans into poverty. His foes accuse him of ruling like a dictator and of trying to drag Venezuela toward Cuba-style communism.

A rival pro-Chavez signature drive last weekend seeking to recall 38 opposition parliamentarians failed to produce a visible, massive turnout. Electoral authorities have a month to verify the total signatures collected.

Chavez hailed the pro-government drive as a "tremendous success," saying it showed a 60 percent level of backing. But opposition leaders scoffed at this. ***

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I'll bet money Chavez has his Chavistas gearing up to create chaos and disrupt the recall petition which will then be blamed on his opposition.

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