(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 August 2003, 15 police officers from Lara state, in the central-western region of Venezuela, pulled over the vehicle in which Miguel Henrique Otero, the director and editor of “El Nacional” newspaper, was travelling. Otero had just held a press conference at the Príncipe Hotel in Barquisimeto, Lara’s capital city, to promote […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 August 2003, 15 police officers from Lara state, in the central-western region of Venezuela, pulled over the vehicle in which Miguel Henrique Otero, the director and editor of “El Nacional” newspaper, was travelling. Otero had just held a press conference at the Príncipe Hotel in Barquisimeto, Lara’s capital city, to promote a forum on “A Democracy of Parties or an Anti-Party Society”.
In an untimely manner, without a legal warrant or any explanation, the police officers blocked the vehicle’s way. Otero’s two daughters, journalist Patricia Rodriguez and a representative of the Lara Lawyers’ Association were also in the vehicle.
“At first, we were followed by a police motorcycle unit, but then, at the intersection of 18th Avenue and 14th Street, 15 heavily-armed police officers pulled over our vehicle and ordered us to get out. The only argument they gave was that the vehicle had been reported to police,” Otero explained. According to the editor, it was an illegal procedure since the police cannot act in such a manner without a warrant.
“Inexplicably, they took out their weapons and checked out every single briefcase carried by the passengers,” Otero said. He stated that the government was trying to intimidate him in response to the position his newspaper has taken in the struggle for freedom of expression. Half an hour after the incident began, the police officers left the scene.
Otero said he would not file a formal complaint to the authorities. “It is a waste of time,” he stated. “It is quite clear that this incident is part of the government’s intimidation strategy aimed at creating fear through violence to prevent people from voting during the upcoming national referendum.”
This August, President Hugo Chavez’s mandate will reach its mid-point. Many organisations opposing the current administration are campaigning to demand that the Venezuelan Electoral Council call a national referendum to revoke the president’s mandate.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Send appeals to the Lara State Police Chief:
– asking him to explain the incident and to take measures to avoid such incidents in the future
APPEALS TO:
Commander Jesus Rodriguez Figueras
Chief of Lara State Police
Fax: +58 251 231 01 11
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
