Un total de 84 periódicos de ciudades del interior de Venezuela pidieron una «reunión urgente» con el presidente del Parlamento, el oficialista Diosdado Cabello, para que los ayude a capear el desabastecimiento de papel.
En una resolución de esos diarios difundida hoy por la Cámara Venezolana de Periódicos, los dueños de esos 84 medios provinciales dicen en su texto que recurren a Cabello debido a que en el Gobierno se les cerraron las puertas.
«Agotadas como están las instancias ordinarias de la autoridad Ejecutiva», los diarios dicen que recurren a Cabello dentro de su «angustioso afán por resolver los agobiantes problemas de abastecimiento de papel, planchas de impresión y otros rubros imprescindibles».
El desabastecimiento de papel «amenaza» a estos miembros de la Cámara de Periódicos de Venezuela, «instalados y operando por años en el interior del país» y que «cubren toda la geografía nacional, llegando hasta el más recóndito pueblo» con un tiraje diario de «más de 2,500,000 ejemplares», sostiene el texto.
Estos 84 diarios emplean, según la Cámara, «más cantidad de personal que todos los periódicos de Caracas» y su venta diaria de ejemplares y cobertura aportan «muchísimo a la difusión de las informaciones, contribuyendo con ello, de manera determinante, a la formación de la opinión pública nacional».
La resolución pide a Cabello concederles «una personalísima entrevista para que, en conocimiento pleno de la situación», brinde «sus buenos oficios» para resolverla y puedan «trabajar en paz, sin desasosiego» por el futuro de sus trabajadores y sus empresas y, «por encima de todo», «seguir sirviendo a Venezuela, a la libertad y a la democracia».
El último clamor atendido al sector se remonta al pasado 14 de mayo, cuando el diario El Universal de Caracas informó de que el Gobierno le había autorizado la adquisición de divisas necesarias para pagar 600 toneladas de papel.
«El Universal recibió autorización (…) para adquirir las divisas requeridas a fin de nacionalizar las 600 toneladas de papel periódico, propiedad del diario, que habían llegado al país en enero pasado», indicó el diario en su edición de ese día.
En Venezuela existe desde 2003 un control de cambio que deja en manos del Estado el monopolio de la administración y comercialización de divisas.
El Universal anunció el 5 de mayo de que contaba con papel para «máximo» dos semanas, a pesar de que tenía bobinas de su propiedad en un puerto del país a la espera de poder pasar la aduana, situación que achacó al «insólito retardo» por parte del Gobierno en la entrega de divisas.
Para los dueños de los medios, los retrasos en la asignación de dólares obedecen a un intento gubernamental de «silenciar» las voces críticas, mientras que el oficialismo los ha acusado de realizar «chantaje político» con las denuncias de escasez de papel.
La Asociación Colombiana de Editores de Diarios y Medios Informativos envió 52 toneladas de papel el mes pasado para algunos diarios venezolanos, en solidaridad por la situación que atraviesan.
El Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa de Venezuela difundió esta semana una carta pública dirigida al presidente, Nicolás Maduro, en la que solicitaban que hiciera lo necesario para que los diarios normalicen su acceso al suministro de papel, cuyo desabastecimiento está condicionando su circulación.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Leopoldo Lopez has long been a threat to socialists in Venezuela
- In 2008, President Hugo Chavez’s government banned him from seeking public office
- Lopez turned him in this week after the government accused of him terrorism, murder
- Prosecutors formally charged him with arson and conspiracy; dropped more serious charges
Caracas, Venezuela (CNN) — When Leopoldo Lopez turned himself in to authorities this week, he did it on his terms — and not before climbing onto a statue of a Cuban national hero to deliver a passionate message to hordes of his supporters gathered at a square in the eastern Caracas neighborhood of Chacaito.
Lopez, 42, a former mayor and presidential candidate, had planned the event in advance, making extensive use of social media to summon his supporters to Brion Square.
He went into hiding last week after the government of President Nicolas Maduro accused him of terrorism and murder and blamed him for inciting anti-government protests throughout Venezuela. The protests have so far left several people dead and countless injured.
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After staying in a secret location for days, Lopez announced to Venezuelans, and the world, that after talking it over with his family,he would turn himself in. That announcement came via a YouTube video.
Photos: Protests in Venezuela
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Protest leader releases vid to supporters
At the square, Lopez used a megaphone. «The options I had were leave the country, and I will never leave Venezuela!» he said to loud cheers and widespread applause as he stood on the statue of Jose Marti.
Searching for truth in Venezuela
«The other option was to remain in hiding, but that option could’ve left doubt among some, including some who are here, and we don’t have anything to hide.»
What you need to know about Venezuela
Later that night, his wife, Lilian Tintori, told CNN that Lopez was in good spirits behind bars. «The last thing he told me was don’t forget why this is happening, don’t forget why he’s going to jail. He’s asking for the liberation of political prisoners and students and an end to repression and violence,» Tintori said.
Lopez, a fiery speaker and charismatic leader, has long been a threat to the socialists in power in Venezuela. Back in 2008, the government of then-President Hugo Chavez banned him from running for public office, accusing him of corruption and misuse of public funds. Lopez countered that it was all political retribution and that he had nothing to hide. He took his case all the way to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, where he was cleared three years later.
Political roots
Politics runs in Lopez’s veins. He’s the great-great-grandson of Venezuela’s first President and he also claims to be a descendant of Simon Bolivar, the South American liberator who, ironically, is revered by socialists in power, including Maduro.
Lopez was elected mayor of Chacao when he was only 29 years old and was reelected with 81% of the vote four years later. After being cleared of all corruption charges in September 2011, he launched his presidential candidacy. In January of the following year, he chose to forge an alliance to unify the opposition, instead of running. He threw his support behind Henrique Capriles, another popular opposition leader, who narrowly lost to Chavez in October 2012.
Lopez comes from a well-to-do family in Venezuela. He attendedThe Hun School of Princeton, a private boarding school, and graduated in 1989. He then attended Kenyon College in Ohio,where he graduated with honors, receiving a degree in sociology. Lopez completed his education at Harvard University’s School of Government and earned a master’s degree.
Upon his return to Venezuela, he worked as an economic consultant and an economics professor at the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello, before jumping into politics in 1999.
A magnetic personality
HLN Anchor Susan Hendricks, a close friend of Lopez’s in high school, says the opposition leader had the kind of personality that drew people to him. «He was a hit with the ladies, but he wouldn’t even know (it),» Hendricks said. «He was very modest.»
Hendricks says her heart broke when she learned he was in custody, but she is not surprised that he turned himself in. «I’ve been tweeting and texting with people that are very good friends with him up until this day, have spoken with him about a month ago, and he said, ‘I will not leave Venezuela,’ » Hendricks said.
In a late-night hearing Wednesday, Venezuelan prosecutors formally charged Lopez with arson and conspiracy but dropped more serious charges of murder and terrorism. Conspiracy charges in Venezuela are punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Now the good-looking, easygoing star student is in jail at the military complex known as Ramo Verde in the municipality of Los Teques, Miranda state. Lopez’s future seems uncertain at best. But family members say they’re standing behind his decision to turn himself in.
«Manuela, my daughter, who’s 4 years old, asked me about it,» said Tintori, Lopez’s wife. «I told her, ‘Manuela, he’s working for Venezuela.’ Because Leopoldo, wherever he is, in jail tonight, he’s going to be working for us and thinking of us. He’s going to keep on dreaming about a better Venezuela, as he always does.»
Leopoldo Lopez has been calling for a more active opposition to the government of Nicolas MaduroThere has been a wave of anti-government protests in Venezuela, culminating in a rally on 18 February during which opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, wanted on charges of inciting violence, handed himself in to police. The BBC’s Irene Caselli looks at the man who has been accused of trying to topple the government.
Considered a political maverick, the 42-year-old politician has long been a thorn in the side of the government.
Born into a well-off family with links to the business and oil sector, Mr Lopez was educated in the United States and has a master’s degree from Harvard University.
He came to prominence when he was elected mayor of Caracas’s Chacao district, a position he held from 2000 to 2008.
While he was barred from running for re-election in the 2008 polls for allegedly misusing public funds, he did not retire from public life.
Waving a flower, Leopoldo Lopez handed himself in to the security forces during a rally on 18 February
There had been an arrest warrant for Mr Lopez on charges of inciting violenceHis supporters say the charges were politically motivated as he was neither convicted nor put on trial over the allegations.
But Mr Lopez has long been seen as a «problem» – not only by the government but also by some outside observers.
In a 2009 classified cable published by Wikileaks, the political counsellor of the United States embassy in Caracas, Robin D Meyer, wrote that Mr Lopez had become a «divisive figure within the opposition».
«He is often described as arrogant, vindictive, and power-hungry – but party officials also concede his enduring popularity, charisma, and talent as an organiser,» the US diplomat wrote.
Internal divisions
Little seems to have changed since then, as the opposition coalition, made up of 30 often divided parties, continues to struggle to agree on a unified strategy.
Mr Capriles says he and Mr Lopez have «different views on how to propose solutions for this country»Led by Henrique Capriles, the coalition is trying to recover from its poor showing in December’s local election, when it fell well short of its goal of polling more votes than the government nationwide.
With no more elections in sight in the near future, Mr Capriles has opted to seek dialogue with Mr Maduro, shaking hands with his bitter rival in public.
Mr Capriles has since tried to gather support among those who voted for the government, a strategy which has put him at loggerheads with Mr Lopez, who is advocating tougher action against the administration.
Using social media, Mr Lopez has founded a movement using the hashtag #lasalida, which in Spanish means both «the exit» and «the solution».
‘Perfect excuse’
Carlos Romero, a political scientist at the Central University of Venezuela, who is close to the opposition, worries that «la salida» may be stirring up trouble.
Mr Lopez told his supporters his cause was worth going to jail for«He is giving the government the perfect excuse to accuse the opposition of destabilising the country,» Mr Romero argues.
Continue reading the main story
“Start Quote
He is visible, attractive and talks well”
David SmildeSenior fellow, Washington Office on Latin America
The government has indeed been quick in reminding citizens of the part Mr Lopez played in past unrest.
In 2002, parts of the opposition, backed by elite businessmen and some military leaders, briefly removed then President Hugo Chavez – Mr Maduro’s late predecessor – from power.
The coup came after street protests, in which Mr Lopez took an active role, prompting the government to label him a «coup leader».
But a large sector of Venezuela’s middle class identify with Mr Lopez and his strategy.
«If Leopoldo [Lopez] is attacked by the government, the people will defend him,» student leader Daniel Alvarez said during a recent march.
David Smilde, a Caracas-based senior fellow at the Washington Office on Latin America, says Mr Lopez is an appealing figure for people to rally around.
«He is visible, attractive and talks well,» he says.
Tuesday’s march and his dramatic arrest have given him even more visibility.
But even if anger at Mr Lopez’s detention manages to unify Venezuela’s middle class behind him, he will still be faced with the government’s wide base of popular support.
A change in government, which has denounced Mr Lopez as a «murderer», remains unlikely as long as the protests do not spread beyond the middle class.
Supporters of Mr Lopez turned out in force in Caracas on Tuesday
Anti-government protesters are angry about Venezuela’s homicide rate, one of the highest in the world
President Nicolas Maduro called on his supporters to join a rival rally
At the pro-government rally the president entertained the crowds playing the cuatro
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