(IPYS/IFEX) – On 3 March 2004, photojournalist Ana Marchese was injured while covering a march organised by the opposition in Ciudad Bolívar, the capital of Bolívar state in southern Venezuela. Marchese, a photojournalist for “Correo del Caroní” newspaper with more than 32 years of professional experience, was hit in the back by a tear gas […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 3 March 2004, photojournalist Ana Marchese was injured while covering a march organised by the opposition in Ciudad Bolívar, the capital of Bolívar state in southern Venezuela.
Marchese, a photojournalist for “Correo del Caroní” newspaper with more than 32 years of professional experience, was hit in the back by a tear gas canister launched by officers of the state police (Instituto Policial del Estado Bolívar, IPOL-Bolívar). The police began to use tear gas when the demonstrators headed towards the National Electoral Council’s (CNE) main office in Ciudad Bolívar.
The march, which began peacefully, was planned with another destination in mind. However, a number of opposition leaders redirected it towards the CNE’s regional office.
Marchese told IPYS that the state police warned the demonstrators that the National Guard was protecting the CNE office and advised them not to go there. However, Arcadio Guzmán, a leader of the Alianza Bravo Pueblo opposition party, allegedly tried to break through the police line. The police responded by firing tear gas into the crowd.
“One of the police commissioners launched a tear gas canister to scare [the demonstrators] off and when I turned around I felt something hit me. It was the canister. It left a mark on my back,” Marchese said. Several demonstrators assisted the reporter, taking her to a hospital.
After the incident, IPOL-Bolívar’s high command decided to replace three of the force’s commanders and dismissed Commissioner Rivas Callones and a police inspector named Manzuer. The two officers had been in charge when the police fired the tear gas at the demonstrators.
The march was organised by opposition factions, including the Electores por Bolívar political party, which is affiliated with Bolívar’s governor, Antonio Rojas Suárez. The demonstrators were demanding that the CNE call a referendum on President Hugo Chávez’s leadership.
