TeleSUR promotional campaign causes controversy in Colombia
{{date|July 15, 2005}}

Four [[w:teleSUR|Telesur]] promotions have caused controversy in sectors of the Colombian government. The network, financed by the governments of [[w:Argentina|Argentina]], [[w:Cuba|Cuba]], [[w:Uruguay|Uruguay]] and [[w:Venezuela|Venezuela]], started its test broadcastings on May 24 from [[w:Caracas|Caracas]]. It is expected that the channel will begin its definitive programming on July 24.

The promos are:

* A Venezuelan woman is singing  in a shower. The refrain says " eta, eta, eta ". Although the word "eta" might a variant for the word "esta" ("this"), for some people it  is a clear allusion to the separatist Basque group [[w:ETA|ETA]]. The director of teleSUR, Aram Aharonian, said "it's a [[w:Caetano Veloso|Caetano Veloso]] theme, if there was a little more of musical culture we wouldn't have this misunderstandings". '''Video''': [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=1&tip=A  Cable] [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=1&tip=B  Modem]

* A promo of a documentary series called ''"Memories of fire"'', shows [[w:Manuel Marulanda Vélez|Manuel Marulanda Vélez]], ''aka'' Tirofijo, the main chief of the [[w:Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia|Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]]. '''Video''': [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=2&tip=A  Cable] [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=2&tip=B  Modem]

* A promo shows a protest in Plaza de Bolívar, in [[w:Bogotá|Bogotá]], against Plan Colombia.  '''Video''': [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=3&tip=A  Cable] [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=3&tip=B  Modem]

* A promo show a rural worker talking against the [[w:Free Trade Area of the Americas|Free Trade Area of the Americas]].  '''Video''': [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=4&tip=A  Cable] [http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/proy_2005/VIDEOS_DIA/2005-07-13/player.html?vid=4&tip=B  Modem]

Telesur says that its purpose is counterbalanceing to the giants of the news agency  in America, like  CNN or Univisión. Colombian organisms of intelligence declared to the newspaper El Tiempo that in the channel "there are subjects related to   the national and international terrorism"  and the channel "shows a negative image of Colombia".

TeleSur  already signed an agreement with two regional Colombian channels: the Channel Capital, from Bogota, and the Telepacífico, who transmits to  west of Colombia from [[w:Cali|Cali]].  According to the agreement the Colombian channels will transmit part of the Telesur programming.

The manager of the Channel Capital, Héctor Pinilla, said that the channel 's directive board will decide  the contents of the channel TelesUR which  will be transmitted by the regional station. As to the controversy, Pinilla said: " the government sometimes suffers of too much excitement of pursuit. Let it act freely, not on behalf of the extremist sectors, but yes on behalf of the press freedom ".

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://eltiempo.terra.com.co/tele/noticias/ARTICULO-WEB-_NOTA_INTERIOR-2144088.html
|title=Emisiones de prueba de Telesur incluyen imagenes de Tirofijo y una mujer que canta 'Eta, Eta, Eta'
|author=
|pub=El Tiempo (Colombia)
|date=July 14, 2005}} (includes video)

*{{source|url=http://www.caracolnoticias.com/nacional/noti_Nacional.asp?id_sw=62106
|title=Polémica por emisiones de prueba del canal Telesur
|author=
|pub=Caracol TV
|date=July 14, 2005}} 

*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4620411.stm
|title= Venezuela sets up 'CNN rival'
|author=Iain Bruce 
|pub=BBC
|date= June  28, 2005 }}

*{{source|url=http://www.radiobras.gov.br/materia_i_2004.php?materia=226664&editoria=
|title=Telesur inicia transmissões experimentais para toda a América
|author=Rodrigo Savazoni
|pub=Radiobras
|date= May 24, 2005 }}

*{{source|url=http://washingtontimes.com/world/20050504-091659-5235r.htm
|title=South America set for Al Jazeera-style Chavez-backed TV
|author= Kelly Hearn
|pub= Washington Times
|date= May 5, 2005 }}

{{publish}}

{{PD-Article}}
{{archive}}
[[Category:Argentina]]
[[Category:Cuba]]
[[Category:Uruguay]]
[[Category:Venezuela]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]

[[es:Polémica por promocionales del canal teleSUR]]
[[pt:Propagandas do canal Telesur causam polêmica]]
Four Telesur promotions have caused controversy in sectors of the Colombian government. The network, financed by the governments of Argentina, Cuba, Uruguay and Venezuela, started its test broadcastings on May 24 from Caracas. It is expected that the channel will begin its definitive programming on July 24.

The promos are:

* A Venezuelan woman is singing  in a shower. The refrain says " eta, eta, eta ". Although the word "eta" might a variant for the word "esta" ("this"), for some people it  is a clear allusion to the separatist Basque group ETA. The director of teleSUR, Aram Aharonian, said "it's a Caetano Veloso theme, if there was a little more of musical culture we wouldn't have this misunderstandings". 'Video':   Cable   Modem

* A promo of a documentary series called "Memories of fire", shows Manuel Marulanda Vélez, aka Tirofijo, the main chief of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. 'Video':   Cable   Modem

* A promo shows a protest in Plaza de Bolívar, in Bogotá, against Plan Colombia.  'Video':   Cable   Modem

* A promo show a rural worker talking against the Free Trade Area of the Americas.  'Video':   Cable   Modem

Telesur says that its purpose is counterbalanceing to the giants of the news agency  in America, like  CNN or Univisión. Colombian organisms of intelligence declared to the newspaper El Tiempo that in the channel "there are subjects related to   the national and international terrorism"  and the channel "shows a negative image of Colombia".

TeleSur  already signed an agreement with two regional Colombian channels: the Channel Capital, from Bogota, and the Telepacífico, who transmits to  west of Colombia from Cali.  According to the agreement the Colombian channels will transmit part of the Telesur programming.

The manager of the Channel Capital, Héctor Pinilla, said that the channel 's directive board will decide  the contents of the channel TelesUR which  will be transmitted by the regional station. As to the controversy, Pinilla said: " the government sometimes suffers of too much excitement of pursuit. Let it act freely, not on behalf of the extremist sectors, but yes on behalf of the press freedom ".

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es:Polémica por promocionales del canal teleSUR
Propagandas do canal Telesur causam polêmica
Argentina Cuba Uruguay Venezuela Politics and conflicts