(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 2 March 2004, Juan Carlos Aguirre, a journalist for CMT television station, was injured when he was assaulted by military personnel while on assignment in the eastern part of Caracas. CMT camera operator Alejandro Marcano’s equipment was also taken from him and one of his hands was slightly injured. […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 2 March 2004, Juan Carlos Aguirre, a journalist for CMT television station, was injured when he was assaulted by military personnel while on assignment in the eastern part of Caracas. CMT camera operator Alejandro Marcano’s equipment was also taken from him and one of his hands was slightly injured.
Aguirre and his television crew were near Francia de Altamira plaza, where a confrontation was taking place between opposition demonstrators and National Guard and Military Police officers, when they heard bursts of gunfire.
The officers began to insult the television crew, saying “tell the truth”, and subsequently threw tear gas canisters near them. The members of the television crew later heard a second burst of shots, at which point they threw themselves to the ground for protection. Aguirre was then attacked by three National Guard officers. Aguirre told IPYS that the officers dragged him about 20 metres, kicked him and shouted insults at him. Later, they hit him in the forehead with the butt of a gun, told him to take off his gas mask and hit him in the face. They repeatedly said, “tell the truth, not lies.”
The officers also took Marcano’s camera after a struggle in which the camera operator sprained one of his hands. The videotape of the events that took place in the area that night was still inside the camera.
Aguirre received medical treatment for his wounds. Although he continued to feel dizzy and experience pain in his knees, he said he would continue working.
One person was killed during the demonstration and several others were injured.
