'Increasing censorship' in Venezuela, says fired cartoonist

MERY MOGOLLON AND CHRIS KRAUL

CARLOS GARCIA RAWLINS/Reuters

FIRED: "I was informed of my sacking from El Universal over this caricature and my awkward attitude over graphic satire, " veteran cartoonist Suprani said via Twitter.

The firing of a longtime editorial cartoonist at El Universal newspaper for drawings critical of Venezuela's government caused a protest Friday by former colleagues concerned about censorship of opposition viewpoints.

Cartoonist Rayma Suprani's firing this week reflects the country's "increasing censorship," according to a statement issued by staff at the newspaper.

Long an opposition voice in Venezuelan politics, the editorial page of the 105-year-old newspaper was often critical of Venezuela's socialist government, including President Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor, the late Hugo Chavez. The newspaper was acquired in July by interests aligned with the Chavista government. Since then, numerous columnists have left the publication.

"We're sorry that (Rayma) is no longer with us and we see (her firing) as one of the major costs that the new ownership is paying for trying to adapt to an editorial line favourable to the government," the staff's statement said.

Suprani sent a message over social media Wednesday saying she was let go because her cartoons made the Maduro government "uncomfortable." Her last sketch, published on Sept. 17, showed two fever charts one atop the other. One was labelled "Health" and tracked a patient's normal heart beat. The other was labelled "Venezuela's Health" and showed a flat line, or cardiac arrest.

Venezuela is suffering from a generally weak economy, inflation running at higher than 60 percent, a devaluing currency and scarcities of basic food and household items.

Under Chavez and Maduro, Venezuela's socialist government has vigorously attacked or neutralised critics in TV, radio and print media. The critical RCTV station lost its broadcast license in 2007, and TV owner Guillermo Zuloaga was jailed in 2010 on hoarding charges he said were designed to muzzle him. He later sold his interest in the station.

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'Increasing censorship' in Venezuela, says fired cartoonist