Cuban-Venezuelan Actress and Singer Marí Conchita Alonso Defends RCTVs Right to Dissent; Joins HRF Campaign for Prisoners of Conscience

“Marí Conchita Alonso has joined the Human Rights Foundation’s campaign in support of political prisoners in Venezuela. She declared today: “I am devoted to the liberation of those wrongfully imprisoned for doing nothing more than expressing themselves and those who are guilty of nothing more than fighting corruption or doing their jobs. These include Francisco Uson, a former cabinet minister and democracy activist; Humberto Quintero, a former national guardsman who captured an important leader of a Colombian terrorist organization; whistleblower Eligio Cedeño, a former banker held for his detailed knowledge of government corruption; and former captain Otto Gebauer, who was sentenced for twelve years for peaceful civil disobedience.”

Alonso, and her production partner Edward Bass have begun development of a film called “Two Minutes of Hate,” a love story that will include archival footage, including scenes of mass protests in April 11, 2002, when the Venezuelan military opened fire on innocent civilians who were protesting. The violence led to the resignation of President Hugo Chavez in 2002 and later to the short-lived coup carried out by Pedro Carmona. “There is so much misinformation about what occurred on April 11th and we intend to do two films, a documentary as well as a narrative feature on the subject,” said Bass, who last produced the feature film Bobby about the murder of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.

In the process of making this film Alonso has begun a media tour to underline current conditions in Venezuela. “We are thrilled to have Marí Conchita’s support and have no doubt that only through a consistent and accurate education campaign can we raise the profile of the many individuals in prison or facing persecution simply for having opinions that differ from the government of Venezuela,” said Thor Halvorssen, HRF’s president.

Alonso spoke earlier this month to the Latino Coalition, the largest association of Latino business leaders in the United States. She highlighted to the assembled crowd the troubling situation of RCTV, a television broadcaster that will be prevented by the Venezuelan government from continuing its broadcasts past May 27th. The government has stated that its license will expire on that date and will not be renewed.

While the station has been accused of violating broadcasting laws and supporting the 2002 coup, neither the station nor its managers have been formally charged with such violations related to any of these accusations. Likewise, RCTV has not been given the opportunity to appeal the decision in court nor have they been served with any official papers informing them of the closure. The shutdown, if it occurs, will have been carried out without due process.

The Venezuelan president has stated that the decision to shut down RCTV was his and that this was being done to RCTV because it is a “fascistic,” “coup-plotting,” “bourgeois” television station and an “enemy of the revolution.” The RCTV case is essential for understanding the increasingly authoritarian nature of the Venezuelan government as it seeks to dominate the national conversation by restricting pluralism in the media. It represents the boldest action the government has taken in its efforts to restrict freedom of the press and a turning point in the struggle for freedom of expression in Venezuela.

The shutdown of RCTV has already created worldwide concern with a mounting coalition of organizations that include Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the International Radio Broadcasting Association, the Organization of American States, and Freedom House. Last week, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary General of the United Nations was personally given a brief on the matter by the Human Rights Foundation.

“The Human Rights Foundation has done great work in the struggle for freedom of expression in Venezuela. They have made an interactive, bilingual website with all of the information regarding the shutdown of RCTV. They have also made public a short film about attacks against the media that have occurred in Venezuela since 2001. I invite the press and all who support freedom to visit www.freeRCTV.com,” said Alonso.

Contact Human Rights Foundation: Sarah Wasserman, (212) 246.8486, sarah@thehrf.org

Contact for Marí Conchita Alonso: Angela Rodrí­guez, (305) 441.7976, acrent@aol.com Si desea una copia de esta nota de prensa en español, dirí­gese a

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