MEXICO, January 5 (RIA Novosti) – The Venezuelan National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has launched an investigation against three media outlets over their failure to join the obligatory simultaneous broadcast featuring the latest report on President Hugo Chávez’ health.
“A decision has been made to initiate an inquest against La Tele television, which completely ignored the statement by the Ministry of Communication and Information, and against Candela Pura and FM 96.9 radio stations, which broadcasted it with a delay,” Mexican media quoted Conatel director Pedro Maldonado.
The official said these outlets could face a fine in the amount of 3-4% of their annual income if they are found guilty of violating the law on telecommunications which stipulates mandatory broadcast of all official statements made by the government.
Minister of Communication and Information Ernesto Villegas on Thursday read an official statement to inform on the health status of Chávez, who is facing a respiratory failure following a severe lung infection after he underwent on December 11 his third operation for a cancer.
Chavez, who has ruled Venezuela for 13 years, also had four courses of chemotherapy in Cuba and Venezuela within a year.
Villegas said the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was confident that the medical team "has closely monitored the patient's clinical course and has acted with utmost accuracy to address all the difficulties that have emerged."
Chavez, 58, is scheduled to be inaugurated to a new six-year presidential term on January 10, 2013, but it could be postponed due to the president’s health problems.
