By RACHEL JONES – 44 minutes ago

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's tax agency ordered an anti-government television channel to pay $2.3 million in back taxes on Friday, only a day after the station's owner was charged by prosecutors in a separate investigation and troops raided his home.

The channel Globovision said the fine and lawsuit were intended to intimidate government opponents and silence the station's strident criticism of President Hugo Chavez.

Venezuela's tax agency said in a statement that it is imposing the fine because Globovision failed to pay taxes on advertising during a 2002-2003 oil strike that was aimed at trying to oust Chavez.

Globovision lawyer Ana Cristina Nunez said the airtime was provided as a donation to non-governmental organizations during the strike, when many advertising agencies had closed their offices. Tax officials arrived at Globovision's studios to notify its executives of the fine — a tense exchange that Globovision broadcast live.

Nunez said it's "practically an economic shutdown."

Tax agency official Fanny Marquez said the channel owes 5 million bolivars, or $2.3 million, including unpaid taxes, a fine and interest.

The all-news network has been the only anti-Chavez channel on the open airwaves since 2007, when the Chavez refused to renew the broadcast license of another opposition channel, Radio Caracas Television, or RCTV.

Marquez said RCTV — which moved to cable and now reaches fewer viewers — also has yet to pay tax authorities for unpaid taxes during the strike.

Chavez has long accused Globovision and other private media of conspiring against him. The tax agency began its case against Globovision in 2004.

Yet tensions between Chavez and the TV channel have recently been heating up. State television has been running short ads with slogans flashing across the screen labeling Globovision "sick" and concluding: "turn off the illness."

Chavez last week urged his attorney general and telecommunications chief to take action against such private media — or resign. He gave no details and named no specific news organizations, but he previously has called for sanctions against Globovision and other private media.

The station's director, Alberto Federico Ravell, called the tax agency's fine the latest chapter in "judicial, fiscal and governmental terrorism against Globovision."

Venezuelan prosecutors on Thursday also charged Globovision president and owner Guillermo Zuloaga with usury, alleging excessive, unlawful markups at two Toyota dealerships he jointly owns.

This week, prosecutors also opened a second investigation saying Zuloaga is suspected of an "environmental crime" related to wild animals he has hunted and mounted in his Caracas home.

Prosecutors and dozens of National Guard troops arrived at Zuloaga's house on Thursday to gather evidence. Perla Jaimes, a lawyer for Globovision, said they took the hunting trophies.

Broadcast regulators are also investigating Globovision for inciting "panic and anxiety" during its coverage of a minor earthquake last month, when Ravell criticized the government on the air for its slow response.

Press freedom groups such as the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists say they're concerned about a recent intensification of government moves against the channel.

Associated Press Writer Fabiola Sanchez contributed to this report.