Globalvision Guillermo Zuloaga Flees Hugo Chavez: Chavez Seizes Bank: Reuters Unabashedly Supports Chavez

Hugo Chavez still had one opposition television station, Globalvision, until he issued a warrant for owner Guillermo Zuloago's arrest and seized Banco Federal, a bank founded by a Globalvision director. See a video below.

Guillermo Zuloaga

Reuters says Globalvision is "often shrill," its reporting "one-sided," and is simply a "soap box," for Chavez' opponents. Memo to Reuters: there are no other television stations opposing the banty-rooster dictator.

Globovision's news director quit in February, raising fears among government critics about its future as an independent voice. A month later, network boss Guillermo Zuloaga was briefly held on charges that included offending the president.

Zuloaga's son is also charged. The families have fled for their lives and their freedom.

Zuloaga told reporters that the charges against him and his son - which also include insulting the president and spreading false information - are meant to intimidate him.

Here is how it works in Venezuela, unfortunately for many, many citizens who fought hard to keep this from happening:

Hugo Chavez 

The authorities would soon turn the Globovision logo red in honor of Chavez's socialist revolution, with a red beret on top, the white-bearded Silva predicted, wearing an olive green shirt and military cap similar to those worn by the president.

Chavez says he will not tolerate illegal incitement in the media, and accuses opponents of a desperate propaganda campaign against him ahead of legislative elections due in September.

Another look at how a socialist becomes a dictator, March 2009:

Caracas, Venezuela – With the plummeting price of oil, so goes the economy of Venezuela. With prices at $40 a barrel and the budget calculated on a selling price of $60, the country’s very foundations are starting to unravel prompting President Hugo Chavez to enforce harsher restrictions on food producers and retailers. Chavez, long a foe of the United States, has been seen as a socialist dictator by many other countries and this tightening of control comes as absolutely no surprise to any of them.

Reuters points out two other television stations, Venevision and Televen TV were anti-Chavez during the "coup," but have since dropped their more extreme opinions, and became more balanced. Translated: Venevision and Televen caved, followed the government line, and have been allowed to keep their so-called programming on-air. Can Reuters get any more disgraceful?

January 2010:
Military Takes Control of Major Venezuelan Cities Amid Protests - January 2010

Thousands of University students take to the streets and chant "Reform, no - democracy, yes.!"

Venezuelans protest after Hugo Chavez takes TV channel off air

January 2010

Guillermo Zuloaga Flees (video)