Chavez Strike Out

A popular Venezuelan television station declined to broadcast a recent Hugo Chavez speech in full. For this offense, Venezuelan broadcast authorities ordered them banned from cable systems and authorized satellite networks. But in a sign of the democracy movement's gathering strength, that action only prompted more protests Monday.

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On Saturday, pro-democracy Venezuelans rallied to mark the anniversary of the overthrow of dictator Marcos Perez Jimenez in 1958. The Chavez regime organized counter-demonstrations by government employees and other supporters.

The popular television station RCTV declined to broadcast Chavez's Jan. 23 speech to supporters in full. (That was not just a political statement - Chavez's speeches are verging upon Castro length, 2, 3 and on one occasion 8 hours.)

For this offense, Venezuelan broadcast authorities ordered RCTV banned from cable systems and authorized satellite networks. But in a sign of the democracy movement's gathering strength, that action only prompted more protests Monday. See these photos from Flickr of the latest round of protests against the TV closings. The phrase "Tas panchao" on same placards means "struck out" - a reference to the protesters' slogan that the crime wave is strike 1 against Chavez, the water shortages are strike 2, and now the electricity blackouts are strike 3.

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