20 48 78. These statements were echoed by other state officials and by President Chávez himself on a number of occasions, one of which was the opening of an extension of the Caracas metro on November 3, 2006: To the communications media that continue to rebel and disrupt, […] I would simply remind you […] that next year your concessions will expire. On March 27, don’t be surprised if I tell you “mmm, mmm [waving his index finger in a gesture signaling ‘no’] some television channels will not be 49 getting any more concessions. 79. On December 1, 2006, in an interview with journalist Carlos Croes, President Chávez said the following: President Chávez: Of course, a channel or station that hasn’t changed, whose owners have declared themselves to be enemies of the Government. Croes: And don’t they have a right? President Chávez: To declare themselves to be enemies of a government? Croes: Well, if they don’t agree [with the government]? President Chávez: Oh, well, then the government has a right to either grant them a concession or not grant it. It is a question of liberties; as Head of State, I’m not required to grant them the concession. […] The government will evaluate the situation and make a decision when the time 50 comes. 80. Starting in December 2006, State officials went on to announce the government’s decision not to renew RCTV’s concession: a) President Chávez’ December 28, 2006 statement, on the occasion of his yearend salute to the Armed Forces, where he said the following: “Your television concession is up in March […] So you’d best be packing your bags and start thinking about what you’ll be doing after March. There’ll be no new concession for that coup-supporting television channel that calls itself Radio Caracas Televisión. […] The order is already drafted. So go ahead […] start packing the bags. No media outlet that supports government overthrow, that is against the people, against the …continuación http://www.vive.gob.ve/imprimir.php?id_not=1825. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 32; Annex 30, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, report titled Hay televisoras y emisoras de radio que violentan derechos de usuarios [Some radio and television stations violate listeners’ rights], June 14, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.rnv.gob.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=34518. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 120; Venezuela de Televisión, report titled Lara: Hay televisoras y emisoras de radio que violentan los derechos de los usuarios [Lara: some television and radio stations violate the rights of the audience], June 13, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.vtv.gov.ve/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6077:Lara:%20Hay%20televisoras%20y%20emisoras%20d e%20radio%20que%20violentan%20los%20derechos%20de%20los%20usuarios&catid=49:nacionales&Itemid=102. 48 Among the public officials present was the President of the National Assembly, Nicolás Maduro. Annex 31, El Universal, report titled Presidente de la AN apoya revisión de las concesiones a los medios [President of National Assembly in favor of review of media concessions], June 15, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/06/15/pol_ava_15A723975.shtml. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 33; Annex 32, El Nacional, report titled Willian Lara: Se acabó la impunidad [William Lara: Impunity is finished], June 16, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 29; Annex 33, Aporrea, article titled Nicolás Maduro: “En Venezuela el uso del espectro radioeléctrico es feudal” [Nicolás Maduro: In Venezuela, the use of the radio broadcast spectrum is a feudal system], June 18, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.aporrea.org/medios/n79421.html. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 34; Ministry of the People’s Power for Communications and Information, communiqué titled No renovar la concesión a Rctv, una Decision soberana [Not to renew RCTV’s concession is a sovereign decision of the Venezuelan State], May 31, 2007, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias-nacionales/1/14091/no_renovar_la.html. 49 Annex 26, Statement made by President Chávez on November 3, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on March 1, 2010, Attachment B.3, video recording. See also, Aporrea, article titled, Serán revisadas concesiones a televisoras [Television concessions will be revised], November 3, 2006, available at: http://www.aporrea.org/medios/n86035.html 50 Annex 26, December 1, 2006 interview with President Chávez. Communication from the petitioners received on March 1, 2010, Attachment B.4, video recording; Annex 34, Ministry of Communication and Information, Special Program, Interview with the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías, Office of the President, Miraflores Palace, November 30, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 37.