21 Nation, against national independence, against the dignity of the Republic will be tolerated here” 51 […]” ; b) The statement by Minister William Lara on December 29, 2006, which was aired on the television program En Confianza and was drafted by his office to read as follows: “‘The decision not to renew [RCTV’s] concession is in keeping with the terms of the law [LOTEL]’, according to the minister [Lara]. ‘The law is clear. The concession the State grants for use of the radio spectrum is only good for 20 years and RCTV’s concession expires on May 27, 2007.’ […] Lara explained that the decision made by the Head of State was both legal and constitutional; however, he said, it also addresses other, equally important issues, such as, for example, the relentless, uninterrupted campaign of destabilization that RCTV has waged and that is its editorial line. ‘RCTV played a decisive role during the events of the 2002 coup d’état and engaged in media manipulation during that period […], that irresponsible attitude on the part of RCTV never changed; it never mended its ways’, Lara explained. He also mentioned that a committee determined that RCTV’s current programming is in constant violation of a number of provisions of the Law on Social 52 Responsibility in Radio and Television (Ley Resorte).” c) The statement made by President Chávez during a telephone interview conducted on the television program Contragolpe on January 3, 2007, in which he said the following: “Venezuela loses by having media outlets like Radio Caracas Television. And not just Venezuela, […] good journalism suffers as does freedom of expression. […] It did not pass the test to receive another concession from a State that is serious, […] responsible and […] committed to 53 its people and to its people’s respect, dignity [and] freedoms. The decision is irrevocable .” 51 Annex 26, Speech by President Chávez on December 28, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on March 1, 2010, Attachment B.5; Annex 35, Aporrea, article titled Presidente Chávez: ‘a RCTV que vayan apagando los equipos’ [President Chávez to RCTV: ‘Start packing your bags’], December 28, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.aporrea.org/medios/n88454.html. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 38; Annex 36, Globovisión, report titled Presidente Chávez anuncia que no renovará concesión de RCTV [President Chávez announces that RCTV’s concession will not be renewed], December 28, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=46142. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 38; El Mundo, news titled Chávez cancela la licencia a una televisión privada que tacha de 'golpista' [Chávez cancels license of private television station that he labels a ‘coup supporter’], December 28, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/12/28/comunicacion/1167326997.html; El Universal, news report titled Reporteros Sin Fronteras pide a Gobierno reconsiderar Decision of no renovar concesión a RCTV [Reporters Without Borders asks Government to reconsider decision not to renew RCTV’s concession], December 29, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/12/29/pol_ava_29A819703.shtml. 52 Annex 37, Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, news report titled William Lara: Decision of no renovar concesión a RCTV es legal y constitucional [William Lara: Decision not to renew RCTV’s concession is legal and constitutional], November 29, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 44; Annex 38 y 39, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, news report titled “Servicio Público de Televisión Nacional utilizará espectro que dejará Rctv” [National Public Television Service will use frequency that RCTV will vacate], available [in Spanish] at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=43149 and Estado actúa apegado al derecho en caso Rctv [The State’s action in the RCTV case is lawful], available [in Spanish] at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=&t=43138, both dated January 26, 2007. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 103. Concerning the statements made by Minister Chacón Escamillo, see also: Annex 40, El Universal, news report titled Gobierno considera entregar señal de RCTV al canal 8 [Government considers turning RCTV’s signal over to channel 8], December 30, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/12/30/pol_art_129283.shtml. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 45.; MINCI, communiqué titled Hasta el 27 de mayo operará señal abierta de RCTV [RCTV’s open signal will operate until May 27], available [in Spanish] at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=2&t=42181; Annex 41, December 29, 2006, and Analítica, news report titled “William Lara precisa que la medida contra RCTV se aplicará en marzo” [William Lara explains that the measure against RCTV will be enforced in March], December 29, 2006, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.analitica.com/va/sintesis/nacionales/4704007.asp. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 118. 53 Annex 26, Venezolana de Televisión, Contragolpe Program, telephone interview with President Chávez on January 3, 2006. Communication from the petitioners received on March 1, 2010, Attachment B.6; Annex 42, MINCI, Presidente Chávez: Decision sobre RCTV es irrevocable [President Chávez: decision on RCTV irreversible], January 4, 2007, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.minci.gob.ve/a_r_r/28/11554/presidente_chavezdecision_sobre.prnt. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Attachment 39; Radio Nacional de Venezuela, news report titled Presidente Chávez: Decision sobre RCTV es irrevocable [President Chávez: decision on RCTV irreversible], January 4, 2007, available [in Spanish] at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=&t=42329; cf. Globovisión, Presidente Chávez nombró a Jorge Rodríguez como vicepresidente y a Pedro Carreño como ministro de Interior y Justicia [President Chávez appointed Jorge Rodríguez as Vice President and Pedro Carreño as Minister of Interior and Justice], March 1, 2007. Available [in Spanish] at: http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=46514.