Country
Late on Friday, Venezuelan Minister of Public Works and Housing (Mopvi) and acting director of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel), informed that 34 radio stations had to stop broadcasts "immediately." Early on Saturday, the radio stations subject to the decision went off the air progressively.

Three Conatel officials appeared in the headquarters of Belfort radio network (CNB) in Caracas, and instructed operators to discontinue broadcasts.

Meanwhile, citizens rallied outside CNB in Caracas to reject the move and voice support for the radio network. Renowned journalists and politicians also showed up in CNB.

"No person that has said that this infringes the law. Nobody has argued that because they know that we are strictly abiding by the law," Cabello stated.

Gerardo Blyde, an opposition leader and Mayor of Baruta Municipality, southeast Caracas, branded the decision as "well-aimed punch at freedom of speech."

Tomás Guanipa, secretary general of opposition Primero Justicia party, said the closure "hits all Venezuelans." Andrés Velázquez, leader of opposition La Causa R party, termed the move "an act of fascism."

So far, the radio stations that have discontinued broadcasts are Sol Stereo 88.5 FM, Metropolitana 1550 AM and 97.1 FM, 92.1 in Charallave, Barlovento 1230 AM in Caucagua and El Hatillo 96.9 FM.

Further, five stations attached to CNB, namely 102.3 in Caracas, Zuliana 102.1, CNB 94.5 Tachirense, CNB 100 in Valencia and CNB Falconiana 96 in Punto Fijo, Radio Bonita 15.20 AM in Guarenas-Guatire, went off the air.

The remaining stations listed among the 34 radio stations whose broadcast licenses were terminated by Conatel are awaiting instructions or notices from Conatel.

In the meantime, CNB started broadcasting on the Internet on http://www.cnb.com.ve.

Carolina Contreras Alzamora / Roberto Rodríguez M.
EL UNIVERSAL