Washington: The United States has expressed concern over the suspension of television stations by the ruling Chavez government in Venezuela.
"We have raised this issue with Venezuela," Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs PJ Crowley said in response to a question in this regard.
"We think that a free and independent media is a vital element of any democracy, and any time the government shuts down an independent network, that is an area of concern. We will continue to voice those concerns to any government, including the Government of Venezuela," he said.
Crowley said that the US valued the existence of a free and vibrant press and also did the same in other countries.
The State Department reaction came after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez`s government ordered cable providers to stop showing the popular television station RCTV, which apparently violated the regulations requiring broadcasters to televise the socialist leader`s long speeches in entirety.
"This is done without a judge`s order, without any administrative hearing," Marcel Granier, director of RCTV told The Washington Post.
"In no democracy does this happen. Those in the government simply do not tolerate any medium that tells people how things really are," he added.
PTI
