(IPYS/IFEX) – Víctor Serra, a news reporter for the daily “Cambio de Siglo”, was assaulted by eight anti-riot police officers. The incident occurred during a student protest in the Andean city of Mérida, Mérida state, southwestern Venezuela. On 12 February 2004, students from a number of universities staged a demonstration to urge the National Electoral […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Víctor Serra, a news reporter for the daily “Cambio de Siglo”, was assaulted by eight anti-riot police officers. The incident occurred during a student protest in the Andean city of Mérida, Mérida state, southwestern Venezuela.
On 12 February 2004, students from a number of universities staged a demonstration to urge the National Electoral Council (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE) to accept the opposition’s call for a referendum on President Hugo Chávez’s leadership.
Serra told IPYS that he was attacked at 11:00 a.m. (local time) on 12 February while he was covering a confrontation between students and police near the Universidad de los Andes university.
“I was standing near where the demonstrations were taking place. There was a lot of tear gas in the area. Suddenly, a group of Mérida police officers approached me and shoved me against a fence. About eight of them began to hit me with clubs,” said the journalist.
Serra explained that he was not near the students and so could not have been mistaken for a demonstrator. “I was alone and I was wearing my ‘Cambio de Siglo’ identification card around my neck. I shouted my name and that I was a journalist and tried to show the officers my press card,” he added.
As a result of the incident, which lasted no more than a minute, Serra suffered bruises to the stomach, arms and legs. Later that day, Serra reported the attack to Mérida Police Director José Ernesto Ibarra. Ibarra promised to launch an investigation to ascertain who was responsible for the attack. In addition, Serra was scheduled to be examined by forensic doctors on 13 February, with a view to filing a complaint with the Mérida Public Prosecutor’s Office.
