Rangel slams Inter American Press Society (IPS) as hypocritical

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, June 03, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Executive Vice President, former journalist Jose Vicente Rangel has lashed out at the Inter American Press Society (SIP)  as "one of the most shameless,  hypocritical and false bodies in the region." 

Recalling press censorship during the Fourth Republic, Rangel, himself a journalist and TV presenter, accuses the SIP of not lifting a finger despite closures of magazines, media sources, arrests, tortures and expulsions of journalists. "The SIP kept quiet and therefore, has absolutely no moral authority to take about press freedom." 

Answering questions about the closure of the Police Detective Branch (CICPC) press room, Rangel says he understands that the CICPC director moved the press office from its current place in Parque Carabobo to the HQ in Avenida Urdaneta.

Meanwhile, www.aporrea.org  reports that the United Nations Committee for non-government organizations (NGOs)  has recommended suspending the Reporters Without Borders consultative statute for a year after Cuba complained that the organization had create disturbances at the opening session of the UN Human Rights Commission on March 17 in Geneva.

Venezuelan Infrastructure (Minfra) Minister Diosdado Cabello has told TV stations to tot up their tax accounts to avoid problems but admits that the law allows the channels time lapses to meet administrative requirements. "Some TV channels have not added up properly and it is up to us to take action ... if people get their balances wrong, then they tend to look for any excuse ... TV channels must balance their books properly to avoid problems with the taxman."