50
158.
The IACHR therefore reaffirms that there is sufficient evidence of the political motive
behind the decision not to renew the RCTV franchise and the resulting differential treatment applied to
two similarly situated television stations based on their political opinions.
159.
Notwithstanding the above, the Inter-American Court has noted that “not all differences in
treatment are in themselves offensive” but, rather, only such distinction as “lacks objective and
215
reasonable justification.”
The Court has established the difference between “distinctions” and
“discrimination”; the former are differences compatible with the American Convention, because they are
216
reasonable and objective; the latter are arbitrary distinctions that are detrimental to human rights.
160.
The Commission therefore must determine whether the differential treatment given by the
Venezuelan State in not renewing RCTV’s franchise was objective and reasonable. The IACHR recalls in
that regard that Article 1.1 of the Convention stipulates specifically that the rights enshrined in that treaty
…continuación
usuarios [Lara: there are broacasters that violate the rights of the audience], June 14, 2006, available [in Spanish] at:
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.
214
Annex 37, Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, article titled William Lara: Decisión de no renovar concesión a RCTV es
legal y constitucional [William Lara: Decision not to renew the RCTV concesión is legal and constitucional], December 29, 2006.
Communication of the petitioners received February 18, 2010, Annex 44; Annex 38, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, article titled
“Servicio Público de Televisión Nacional utilizará espectro que dejará Rctv” [National Television Public Service will use the
spectrum left by RCTV], available at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=43149 and Estado actúa apegado al
derecho en caso Rctv [State obeys the law in the RCTV case], available at: http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=&t=43138,
both from January 26, 2007. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18,2010, Annex 103.
With respect to the statements of Minister Chacón Escamillo, see also, Annex 40, El Universal, article titled Gobierno
considera entregar señal de RCTV al canal 8 [Government considers transferring RCTV signal to channel 8], December 30, 2006,
available at: http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/12/30/pol_art_129283.shtml. Communication from the petitioners received on
February 18, 2010, Annex 45; Ministry of the People’s Power for Communication and Information (MINCI), article titled Hasta el 27
de mayo operará señal abierta de RCTV [RCTV’s open signal will operate until May 27], available at:
http://www.rnv.gov.ve/noticias/?act=ST&f=2&t=42181, December 29, 2006, and Annex 41, Analítica, article titled “William Lara
precisa que la medida contra RCTV se aplicará en marzo” [William Lara clarifies that the measure against RCTV will be applied in
March], December 29, 2006, available at: http://www.analitica.com/va/sintesis/nacionales/4704007.asp. Communication of the
petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Annex 118. Annex 26, Speech by President Chávez, December 28, 2006.
Communication from the petitioners received on March 1, 2010, Annex B.5; Annex 35, Aporrea, article titled Presidente Chávez: ‘a
RCTV que vayan apagando los equipos’ [President Chávez: ‘RCTV should start turning off its equipment’], December 28, 2006,
available at: http://www.aporrea.org/medios/n88454.html. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010,
Annex 38; Annex 36, Globovisión, article titled Presidente Chávez anuncia que no renovará concesión de RCTV [President
announces
that
RCTV
concession
will
not
be
renewed],
December
28,
2006,
available
at:
http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=46142. Communication from the petitioners received on February 18, 2010, Annex 38; El
Mundo, article titled Chávez cancela la licencia a una televisión privada que tacha de 'golpista' [Chávez cancels the license of a
private
television
station
deemed
‘subversive’],
December
28,
2006,
available
at:
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/12/28/comunicacion/1167326997.html; El Universal, article titled Reporteros Sin Fronteras
pide a Gobierno reconsiderar decisión de no renovar concesión a RCTV [Reporters without Borders asks Government to reconsider
the
decision
not
to
renew
RCTV’s
concesión],
December
29,
2006,
available
at:
http://www.eluniversal.com/2006/12/29/pol_ava_29A819703.shtml; MINCI, communication titled Presidente Chávez anunció que no
será renovada concesión de Radio Caracas Televisión [President Chavez announces that RCTV concession will not be renewed],
December 28, 2006, available at: http://www.minci.gob.ve/noticias_-_prensa/28/11513/presidente_chez_anuncique.html.
215
I.A. Court H.R.. “Juridical Condition and Human Rights of the Child.” Advisory Opinion OC-17/02, August 28, 2002.
Series A, No. 17, para. 46.
216
I.A. Court H.R., Case of Castañeda Gutman v. Mexico. Preliminary Exceptions, Merits, Reparations, and Costs.
Judgment of August 6, 2008. Series C, No. 184, para. 211, citing I.A. Court H.R., “Juridical Condition and Rights of Undocumented
Migrants.” Advisory Opinion OC-18/03, September 17, 2003, Series A, No. 18, para. 84.