Venezuelan newscaster Alexander Mireles has said that his radio programme "Hablando Claro y Raspao", broadcast by radio station Class 98.7 FM, was taken off the air on July 6 because Teodoro Bolívar, governor of the State of Cojedes in central Venezuela, bought all of the station's air time, according to delayed reports.
Mireles, who is critical of Bolívar's administration, told Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela (IPYS-Venezuela) that his was one of the first programmes to be taken off the air and that the station has now become "the official media outlet of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela in Cojedes", thanks also to investments made by the regional government. Mireles has attempted to broadcast his programme through other stations but has not been successful.
The radio station has previously been targeted by the authorities. On April 17, the mayor of the municipality of Ricaurte, Hylcris Martínez, threatened to close down the station and sue Mireles because of comments he made on his programme. Also in May 2009, the station announced that Bolívar attempted to seize the plot of land where it has its broadcasting center.
IPYS-Venezuela condemned the abusive actions of Governor Bolívar and believes they constitute an attack against freedom of expression.
