The presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela- Daniel Ortega and Hugo Chavez - have enjoyed a close political relationship. But are the rumors of Venezuelan investment in a Nicaraguan television station misleading?The Nicaraguan press reported that Telenica Canal 8 was sold last month for $10 million to a consortium called ALBA de Nicaragua S.A. or Albanisa. These reports alleged that the Albanisa group- owned in part by Venezuela’s PDVSA- purchased the channel which was highly critical of Ortega. Opposition to Chavez and Ortega denounced the purportedly “secret deal” and claimed that it was part of a “government takeover” of the press. Anti-Ortega political commentator Carlos Fernando Chamorro quit from his post at Canal 8 and claimed that he wanted "nothing to do" with Ortega.
Nevertheless, a close assessor to Chavez denied the hysteria surrounding the sale of Canal 8 and supposed Venezuelan involvement in Nicaragua. Bayardo Arce emphatically tried to clarify the matter:
Bayardo Arce, the top economic adviser of President Daniel Ortega, said on Tuesday that the Nicaraguan government "did not purchase" the private TV network Canal 8 (Telenica) as Rafael Paniagua, a Venezuelan official and general manager of Albanisa, said last week. Arce claimed that Paniagua "is crazy" and "spoke too much."Gone unreported is what will happen with Canal 8’s programming once the purchase is completed. Perhaps it would be best to see what changes (if any) happen at the network before arriving at knee-jerk conclusions either for or against Ortega and Chavez.
In an interview with Canal 12, a Nicaraguan TV station, Arce lashed out at the Venezuelan official Rafael Paniagua, who said that Alba de Nicaragua (Albanisa), a company set up by Presidents Daniel Ortega and Hugo Chávez, purchased the TV network Canal 8 for about USD 10 million, DPA reported.
"In the case of Canal 8, the government has not invested any money. We have not invested a penny to buy a radio, a TV station or a flea market," Ortega's senior adviser said.
Image-La Jornada
Online Sources- Salon.com, El Universal, Knight Center, AFP, Americas Quarterly
3 comments:
I hope someday I will hear something about the "good" forces in latin america, not just about the "dark" ones. But your view is clearly through the eyes (and convenience) of your government. You are NOT Latin American.
What about Uribe? I know, you love him. Guess what?
http://mobile.globalpost.com/webblog/colombia/army-mass-grave-la-macarena
Why don't you also report, besides this holocaust about the newly inagurated US military base in Guatemala?
You know what? If you have any love for the people of Latin America, stop favoring the ones who hate them, stop spreading their news. And no, I'm not talking about Hugo Chávez. Many other things happen to besides him sneezing.
"I hope someday I will hear something about the "good" forces in latin america, not just about the "dark" ones. But your view is clearly through the eyes (and convenience) of your government."
Well you got me. I'm not really an ex-grad student trying to stave off unemployment. In reality I'm a secret agent clandestinely working for the White House trying to advance U.S. interests.
"What about Uribe? I know, you love him. Guess what?
http://mobile.globalpost.com/webblog/colombia/army-mass-grave-la-macarena"
Here's a tiny clue as to how much I TRULY adore Alvaro Uribe, perpetual president of Colombia:
http://ourlatinamerica.blogspot.com/2009/01/colombias-uribe-to-get-medal-of-freedom.html
"Why don't you also report, besides this holocaust about the newly inagurated US military base in Guatemala?"
Has the base killed several thousand people on its own or are you dabbling in unnecessary hyperbole?
"You know what? If you have any love for the people of Latin America, stop favoring the ones who hate them, stop spreading their news. And no, I'm not talking about Hugo Chávez. Many other things happen to besides him sneezing."
You're absolutely right. It's why we try to talk about different subjects and news in the Americas beyond Hugo Chavez' bodily functions. Whether you agree with what we write is up to you and your opinion is respected.
"You are NOT Latin American."
Once a gringo always a gringo, I suppose!
Here here, Erwin. Whoever this clown is, he clearly has no clue. Keep up the good work.
Post a Comment