(IPYS/IFEX) – On 28 November 2005, Carlos Colmenárez, a National Guard general and area director for security and public order for the state of Lara, western Venezuela, confiscated “El Impulso” newspaper reporter Enmanuele Sorge’s camera, while the journalist was covering an impromptu meeting between Lara Governor Luis Reyes Reyes and a group of coffee growers. […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 28 November 2005, Carlos Colmenárez, a National Guard general and area director for security and public order for the state of Lara, western Venezuela, confiscated “El Impulso” newspaper reporter Enmanuele Sorge’s camera, while the journalist was covering an impromptu meeting between Lara Governor Luis Reyes Reyes and a group of coffee growers.
The incident took place when the farmers from El Tocuyo, Lara state, and the state of Mérida, who were protesting publicly about the price of coffee, entered the state government offices. Sorge took a photograph of the governor as he was arguing with one of the farmers. Colmenárez immediately snatched the camera away from the reporter and ordered it confiscated.
Nearly three hours later, Lara State press officer Carlos Jiménez returned the digital camera to the newspaper. It was in perfect condition, but the photographs had been erased.
