Kervin García received a death threat from two individuals whom he identified as being affiliated with the mayor of the Municipality of Guacara.
(IPYS-Venezuela/IFEX) – On 22 February 2011, Kervin García, an intern at the “El Carabobeño” newspaper, received a death threat from two individuals whom he identified as being close to the mayor of the Municipality of Guacara, in the central Venezuelan state of Carabobo.
García was covering a story about a work stoppage at a factory owned by the Heinz food company. After approaching a group of workers in order to record their conversations, García noticed Gerardo Sánchez, the mayor of Guacara, taking two of the men aside and talking to them.
A few minutes later the same men approached García and told him they would kill him if he continued writing about the municipality.
García said municipal officials have expressed annoyance over his articles about the poor condition of the roads, parks and sports facilities in the municipality, as well as his reporting on community members’ complaints. He has received insulting and threatening messages. “We walk on the streets and we’ll meet you there,” he was told a few days earlier by Ángel Arjona, director of the municipality’s community projects department.
