* Correction: those not directly involved did not have to stand trial. The main participants (Carmona and a few others) fled to avoid trial.

I'd also like to add that despite the failed attempts by the opposition and the private media to overthrow the democratically elected Chavez government (again, extremely undemocratic move), Chavez DID NOT throw any of the opposition in jail for treason. They free to go back to their jobs as opposition. Chavez told them if they want to beat him then do it democratically. RCTV's license was not renewed which is completely LEGAL. If Fox News had done supported any kind of coup d'etat against an elected democratic party I can assure you they would be shut down immediately and possibly some imprisoned for treason.

You made a few claims that are unsubstantiated.

1. "How can it be that a leader who shuts down television stations and denies freedom of the press is lauded with such praise and given such accolades?"

Chavez hasn't shut down any television station. He did not renew the RCTV license. This is a media station that were involved in the failed 2002 coup against Chavez. THAT's undemocratic! Most of the media in Venezuela is private and heavily anti-Chavez despite the convincing wins in presidential elections. http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=3107

2. "Answer me this, if the slowly forming dictatorship in Venezuela is so good, how come news organizations such as Al Jazera ran this:"

What argument do you have to suggest Venezuela is a slowly forming dictatorship? Chavez has repeatedly won elections by a large margin. The elections were declared fair by international organizations. The constitution is a document voted by the people (not just by politicians). Despite the opposition failing to overthrow Chavez in an extremely undemocratic move (which the US supported), they got enough signatures for a recall referendum in 2004. This ability to recall the president if he is doing a poor job is a new right given to the people by the new constitution created by Chavez' government. Chavez won the recall vote by 59%. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_recall_referendum,_2004

In the 2006 Venezuelan elections Chavez won with 62.87% of the votes. Again, all elections were monitored by international organizations and declared fair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuelan_presidential_election,_2006

Chavez consistently wins elections with a much larger margin than George Bush (who would barely win by a 1% margin in the United States) did in the two elections he was involved in. Please tell me how Venezuela is becoming a dictatorship. It would seem to be more democratic than the United States given that the people get what they want. Despite Bush having a 62% disapproval rating he remains in power. If this was Venezuela, there would be a recall referendum and the people (not do-nothing Congress) would have the ability to vote him out of power, thanks to the new constitution introduced by the Chavez government and voted in by the people.

As for what Al Jazeera wrote, refer to the first FAIR link I posted.

As for the documentary you watched, they may have not talked about the licensing issues with RCTV because it was probably filmed before it happened.

Hello Everyone,

I was shocked and horrified at the one-sided coverage given Hugo Chavez in your program. How can it be that a leader who shuts down television stations and denies freedom of the press is lauded with such praise and given such accolades? If this is suppossed to be a "documentary" containing news, where were the hard hitting questions? Where was the other side of the story? Where was the real journalism and search for the truth? I just sat through one hour of propaganda, and now I feel absolutely sick. How can you call yourselves independent, authentic, newsworthy, realistic, or serious if you promote this kind of programming? I am used to news with a slant, every network leans one way or another, but this? This was not a slant, this program was a deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the producers. Oh wait, thats the definition of propaganda (check wikipedia) word for word. Gee, no coincidence there.

Answer me this, if the slowly forming dictatorship in Venezuela is so good, how come news organizations such as Al Jazera ran this:

"Tens of thousands of people have marched in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital, to protest against government plans to take Radio Caracas de Television (RCTV), a network critical of Hugo Chavez, the president, off-air.

Chavez's government has been criticised for its decision by press freedom groups, Amnesty International, the secretary-general of the Organization of American States and the Roman Catholic Church.

Chile's senate also condemned Venezuela's move in a nonbinding resolution last month."

Yet, LINK seems to think that things are just great in Venezuela. Despite what AI or the OAS seems to think... Call this alternative programming? Think Propaganda. Someone is trying to change your mind, I wonder who had a hand in paying for the "documentary"...