Politics
The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) asked the Venezuelan government to "provide the necessary guarantees" to the media and reporters for them to carry out their work freely during the local polls next Sunday November 23. 

Concerns have emerged about possible government sanctions against Venezuelan TV news channel Globovisión and reiterated public announcements made by President Hugo Chávez, who has threatened to take reprisals against opposition candidates for governors and mayors, as well as dissenting media, if the pro-government candidates of his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) were not elected.

According to a complaint admitted by IAPA, Venezuela's National Telecommunication Commission (Conatel) launched a probe on October 16 into Globovisión, arguing that during Aló Ciudadano (Hello Citizen) show, aired on October 13, messages were delivered that allegedly amount to solicitation to commit a crime and to disrupt public order.

Both the new president of IAPA, Enrique Santos Calderón, editor of Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, and the chairman of the Committee on Freedom on the Press and Information, Robert Rivard, editor and executive vice president of US newspaper San Antonio Express-News, fear possible actions aimed at "trying to silence any independent voice in the country." 

Meanwhile, from Montevideo, the International Association of Broadcasting (IAB) admitted a complaint filed by Globovisión. The organization based in Uruguay also issued a statement expressing its "strenuous disapproval and rejection to the sanctions pursued against Globovisión for endangering freedom of expression, with the aggravating factor that it happens in advance to the election for state and municipal authorities." The AIB also deplored the "intimidating actions" against the media.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas