Venezuelan Journalists say " Top Prosecutor Must Resign"

Venezuelan Journalists Say "Top Prosecutor Must Resign"

Supporters of President Hugo Chavez protest outside the courts building demanding the release of fellow

story By RACHEL JONES, Associated Press Writer.

CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuela's journalist association urged the nation's top prosecutor to resign Wednesday for proposing legislation to punish yet-to-be defined "media crimes."

Lawmakers say the bill suggested by Attorney General Louisa Ortega has not yet been drafted. But Roger Santodomingo, the journalist association's secretary-general, warned "it could reappear at any moment with all its perverse intent to criminalize journalism."

"We're asking her to resign, because the person meant to defend the law can't propose a law that is fundamentally unconstitutional," Santodomingo told reporters.

Last week, Ortega called on lawmakers to punish media that cause "panic" or present a "false perception of the facts." She urged the National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Hugo Chavez, to take her suggestions into account as they consider a new law.

Pro-Chavez lawmaker Manuel Villalba denied Tuesday that the assembly is discussing the bill. He said nothing tangible even exists, aside from the "ideas" proposed by Ortega.

Chavez, who previously called on Ortega, the telecommunications chief and the Supreme Court to take action against "poisonous" media that he accuses of conspiring against him, said Wednesday he was unaware Ortega was proposing the law.

The president said the attorney general and the others are "autonomous" powers. "I'm not going to offer my opinion," he said. "Leave the powers to act."

Tensions are high between Chavez's leftist government and private media. On Friday, broadcast regulators announced they were pulling the licenses of at least 32 radio stations. More than 200 other stations are under investigations that could lead to their shutdown, including Globovision — the only fiercely anti-Chavez TV station on the open airwaves.

In addition to criminal investigations, Globovision's executives and journalists complain of harassment by government supporters and security forces.

On Monday, government supporters tossed tear gas canisters at Globovision's offices. Video broadcast by Globovision showed Lina Ron, leader of a far-left party that supports Chavez's socialist policies, accompanied by people on motorcycles waving her party's flag.

Venezuelan prosecutors said in a statement Tuesday that Ron had been detained and was being held by military police.

Chavez applauded her capture Tuesday. But he warned Wednesday that if anybody were to act against his government, "500 Lina Rons would appear" and the country would face "chaos, violence and death."

Dozens of Ron's supporters protested her detention outside a local court Wednesday, waving banners saying "Resist!"

Meanwhile, dozens of government opponents marched down a central Caracas avenue to proclaim support for a free press, chanting "freedom" and holding signs saying "They won't shut us up."