EL UNIVERSAL

Venezuelan journalists, teachers, news media workers, students, doctors, artists, political leaders, and other members of the civil society are marching in Caracas to advocate freedom of expression and demand resumption of the broadcasts of private television station RCTV.

The mobilization started at noon in Plaza Venezuela, north Caracas, and is scheduled to end outside the headquarters of RCTV, in Quinta Crespo, west Caracas.

Around 11:00 a.m. (local time), journalists, trade union and political leaders gathered outside the headquarters of the Journalists' Professional Association on Andrés Bello Avenue, and marched to Plaza Venezuela.

Before arriving in Plaza Venezuela, the demonstrators stopped outside the Apostolic Nunciature, where university student Nixon Moreno is waiting for political asylum.
 
Statements
When asked about the non-renewal of the broadcast license for private television station RCTV, which stopped transmissions last May 27, Zulia state governor and former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales said the "closure of RCTV is a goal the government scored into its own goal, and which the President (Hugo Chávez) did not assess correctly."

Rosales branded discontinuance of RCTV as another signal of Chávez' "authoritarian behavior."

Meanwhile, Baruta Municipality Mayor Henrique Capriles Radonski, said "the closure of RCTV" was not necessary.

On the Journalist's Day, Capriles added, "This was a day for commemoration, and it has become a day of protest."