Venezuela ? Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s decision not to renew the license of his nation’s largest and oldest television network, a frequent critic of his policies, drew criticism Friday by the Organization of American States.

OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza said in a statement that Chavez acted in an arbitrary manner in yanking the license of RCTV, which began operations in 1953 and has the largest viewership of any TV network in Venezuela.

Chavez announced the decision Dec. 28 while speaking at a military academy in Caracas, saying RCTV owners will have to “pack your bags, turn out the lights.”

He accused the station of promoting the abortive coup in April 2002 that briefly knocked him from power, and of committing unspecified ethical lapses. The ministry of communication and information later specified the station’s license would not be renewed when it expires in May.