Reply #115: Human Rights Watch is doing its job.

[EFerrari]

This is an explanation of that change:

Among the more controversial of the reforms put forth by the National Assembly on October 15th, Article 337 calls for the suspension of some political liberties during a national emergency, including due process and the right to information. Similar limitations on civil and political rights were in force in Venezuela in the past, most recently in the 1961 Constitution. This reform has been hotly debated by lawmakers and across Venezuelan society. Progressives and supporters of President Chavez have also raised concerns, hoping to elevate the debate.<6> However, it is fully consistent with international law, which recognizes the right of governments to limit certain rights in extreme circumstances. Article 4 of the UN International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Venezuela on August 10, 1978, notes, “In time of public emergency which threatens the life of the nation and the existence of which is officially proclaimed, the States Parties to the present Covenant may take measures derogating from their obligations under the present Covenant."<7> Certain rights, however, would still be guaranteed such as the right to life, freedom from torture, disappearances, and going incommunicado.



Similar laws outlining the imposition of a state of exception or a state of emergency are in place in many of the world's prominent democracies, including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Spain and the UK. In the U.S., the 1976 National Emergencies Act allows the president to invoke a state of emergency and limit certain rights – including the right of habeas corpus – for up to two years. There were 32 declared national emergencies between 1976 and 2001 in the United States.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=405x393

And as far as RCTV, that has been gone over on this board a brazillion times. This is what FAIR said:
Coup Co-Conspirators as Free-Speech Martyrs
Distorting the Venezuelan media story
http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3107

/oops it's->its