Unfree speech

Via Tim Worstall, The Telegraph reports:

Venezuela's socialist president, Hugo Chavez, yesterday announced he was to close the country's oldest television channel for being critical of his regime.

Earlier this year, Ken Livingstone wrote:

When it comes to the social transformation taking place in Venezuela, the political qualifications often necessary in our imperfect world can be set aside. It is crystal clear on which side right and justice lies. For many years people have demanded that social progress and democracy go hand in hand, and that is exactly what is now taking place in Venezuela.

It therefore deserves the unequivocal support of not only every supporter of social progress but every genuine believer in democracy in the world.

Yet, whatever else he might be, Livingstone is not naive. He went on to foreshadow this more recent announcement when he added:

... Chávez and his supporters have won 10 elections in eight years. These victories were achieved despite a private media largely controlled by opponents of the government.