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Declaration in defense of freedom

The signatories, Deans of Faculties of Law and Political Science, member Academy of Political and Social Sciences and Directive of the Federation or Bar Associations Venezuela, we feel obliged to make public our strong condemnation against the latest measures contrary to freedom of expression adopted or announced by public bodies.

1 .- We reject that a high authority of the state, call the Constitution to ensure respect for human rights in judicial proceedings, propose to condition a right essential to democracy and freedom of expression . In times when the Constitution and human rights are being squeezed by the authorities are under, inter alia, the denial of political pluralism and the restriction of liberties abuse, the prosecution calls a legislative text that would represent , if approved, a permanent state of freedom of expression, despite the fact that under with the Constitution freedom of information even during a state of emergency may be suspended or restricted.

2 .- The so-called special bill against media crimes criminalize the exercise of freedom of expression and information, when disseminating messages that, among other assumptions, may be characterized as untrue and causing public unrest, anxiety or feeling of insecurity and impunity ", according to the organs of a State which does not leave room for legitimate public criticism nor disclosure of information corroborated that reveal shortcomings in fulfilling the responsibilities of the authorities.

3 .- The proposed project or freedom of expression makes the generic and indeterminate interests of the State, to the extent that this practice would be stripped of its status as a human right, as that its exercise would determine the non-involvement or interest group feelings freely interpreted by state agencies that would become censors. A purported peace or tranquility communications official censorship born absolutely opposes the free flow of ideas and information characteristic of a democracy.

4 .- The recent closure of over thirty radio stations in order of CONATEL, without observing the due process and disrespect for constitutional protection of legitimate expectations and legal certainty confirms the policy of occupation ideological spectrum conducted by the government. Invoking pseudo-legal fireworks, the national regulator has taken off the air at stations that had not bowed to government policy hegemony. CONATEL commits the mistake of placing his administrative powers in the field of telecommunications, which are being carried out at the wrong time, over freedom of expression, which openly violates Article 13.3 of the American Convention on Human Rights , which has constitutional status in Venezuela and prohibits the use of the powers of frequency control radio to restrict freedom of expression. The most serious is that CONATEL acts as if the radio spectrum was a good property of the current government or, worse, a political bias. The democratization of the radio spectrum can not be obtained docking pluralism.

5 .- It is expected the self-censorship or inhibitory effect of these decisions, as that would entail the approval of the 'special bill against media crimes. We call upon the various social sectors to respond civilly, within the constitutional and legal framework against these actions and proposals to further reduce the possibilities of enjoyment of civil rights, while we encourage State agencies to leave the path of the erosion of institutional and open the paths of plural dialogue focused on the highest principles and constitutional values.

Dr. Román Duque Corredor

President

Academy of Political and Social Sciences

Jesus M. Casal

UCAB Law School Dean

Ramón Crazut

Dean Faculty of Law and Political UCV

Diana Romero La Roche Dean

Faculty of Law and Policy

LIGHT

Juan José Ramos

Dean Faculty of Law and Political Sciences University of Carabobo

Rogelio Pérez Perdomo

Dean Faculty of Law and Political UNIMET

Eugenio Hernandez-Breton

University Law School Dean Monteávila

Marlene Robles

President Federation of Lawyers Venezuela

Jorge Rosell

Council Member

Federation of Bar Associations of Venezuela and Chairman of the State Bar of Lara

also support the statement:

Raul Arrieta (UCV)

Mirian Rodríguez Reyes (UNIMET )

Angelina Jaffe (UNIMET)

Liliana Fasciani (UCAB)

firms continue ...