The undersigned global justice activists* recognize the legitimacy of the decision of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, made public on 28 December 2006, not to renew the broadcasting license of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) which expired on 27 May.

In a democratic country, radio and television airwaves must not be owned by a few firms, but be considered as a public good whose management rests with public authorities.

The airwave freed by RCTV and granted to a public service television, TVES, will contribute to increase information pluralism in a country where the overwhelming majority of radio and television stations are privately owned.

* The signatories are members of the International Council of the World Social Forum which met in Berlin on 30-31 May 2007. This statement does not commit the international Council.

SIGNATAIRES

Carlos AGUILAR, ASC Centroamérica
Azril BACAL, Centro de estudio y trabajo sobre America latina, Uppsala, Suecia
Tawfik BEN ABADALLAH, African Social Forum Secretariat, Sénégal
Giovanni BARRUTA ORDONEZ, FMJD
Piero BERNOCCHI, COBAS, Italia
Gonzalo BENON, ASC, Brasil
Walter BRIER, OKG, Germany
Bernard CASSEN, Attac, France
Gustavo CODAS, CUT, Brasil
Sushovar DHAR, Vihas Adhyan Kendary, India
Rita FREIRE, Ciranda, Brasil
Paul-Emile DUPRET, GUE/ NGL, Parlement européen
Leo GABRIEL, European Marches, Austria
Judith HITCHMAN, Babels,
Beverly KEEL, Jubileo Sur, Argentina
Fahim KHAN , WSF-OC Pakistan
Antonio MARTINS, Attac, Brasil
Gilmar G. MAURO, MST, Brasil
PK MURTHY, CITU, India
Paul NICHOLSON , Via Campesina
Rodrigo NOBILE, CLACSO
Cesare OTTOLINI, International Alliance of inhabitants
Luis Guillermo Perez, CCAJAR, Colombia
Anamaria PRESTES, OCLAE
Sadaharu OYA, WSF Solidarity Network, Japan
Vinod RAINA, Jubilee South, India
Luciano REZENDE OCLAE/UNE, Brasil
Chen SELIG, GBJ, USA
Joel SUAREZ, Centro Memorial Dr Martin Luther King, Cuba
Eric TOUSSAINT, CADTM, Belgique