The Venezuelan government has started the close down the first of 34 radio stations. Stations employees are protesting what they say is a move designed to strengthen the power of the countrys socialist president, Hugo Chavez.
The Venezuelan government has come up with a list of 34 radios stations it claims have failed to comply with regulations.

The first of 34 radio stations ordered shut down by the government went off the air on Saturday (August 01).

But station employees say they will continue transmitting.

Government broadcasting watchdog Conatel delivered an order to CNB radio in Caracas before dawn to stop transmitting by 8 a.m.

[Diosdado Cabello, Public Works Minister]:
"We are satisfied they are the first 34 stations when we the national government, the revolutionary government - made the decision to democratize the radio spectrum, to end the media estate. What we are saying seriously is that we are not playing.

But critics contend the crackdown is arbitrary and the owners were not given the right to a proper defense.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and his supporters say they are waging a "media war" against private news companies that discredit Venezuela.

Hundreds of surprised CNB employees and government critics gathered at the companys CNB's headquarters in downtown Caracas on Saturday to protest the shutdown.

[JJ Bartolomeo, CNB Public Relations Vice-President]:
"We don't expect anything from this measure. It is an illegal measure, it is a measure that attacks liberty. It is not a legal measure, but a political measure and we are here on fighting feet. We are going to continue arriving with our voices to the homes of all the Venezuelans that have followed CNB all these years."

As part of his drive to remake Venezuela as a socialist country, Chavezhas vastly expanded the number of publicly owned television and radio stationssince he took office in 1999.

In 2007, Chavez did not renew the license for a widely watched privateTV station, RCTV, that was a persistent critic of the government.