RCTV shut down, Chavez demands "absolute loyalty"

On a day when Venezuela celebrates the end of a dictatorship from decades ago the present dictatorship made a statement by shutting down RCTV. RCTV is one of the oldest and most respected television networks in "Latin America", having been around more than 50 years.
In 2007 its broadcast license was pulled and RCTV reverted to cable where it had operated RCTV International.

Venezuelan bloggers are now saying they fear the last independent media voice Globovision might also be shut down, at least until after elections in September. The link there is to one of the best reports you will ever see on the subject.

Another Venezuela blogger reports here.

"I am the people"

"I demand absolute loyalty to my leadership... anything else is betrayal.

"I am not an individual, I am the people" Chavez told his supporters.

Opposition leader Julio Borges told the larger anti-Chavez marchers "2010 is the year of change for all Venezuela.... when hatred will be overcome by unity".