(IPYS/IFEX) – On 10 May 2004, Darvin Romero Montiel, a reporter for the state television station Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), was stopped by police as he was driving down a street in the La Alameda area of Baruta municipality, in the eastern part of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas. Romero told IPYS that he showed the police […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 10 May 2004, Darvin Romero Montiel, a reporter for the state television station Venezolana de Televisión (VTV), was stopped by police as he was driving down a street in the La Alameda area of Baruta municipality, in the eastern part of Venezuela’s capital, Caracas.
Romero told IPYS that he showed the police officers his press card, which identified him as a VTV reporter. The officers confiscated the press card and told him that their actions were part of routine police operations. They detained the journalist for more than an hour. Romero was able to call VTV and the state radio station, Radio Nacional de Venezuela, to inform them of what was happening.
Subsequently, one the of the police officers was informed that VTV had broadcast information about Romero’s detention. The journalist was able to recover his press card and was later released.
On 9 May, Romero had reported on the detention of more than 50 alleged Colombian paramilitaries in the La Mata area, El Hatillo municipality, southeastern Caracas, which borders on the area where the journalist was stopped by police.
Romero had conducted an exclusive interview with the leader of the alleged paramilitary group, who told the reporter they were planning to attack military installations in Caracas. Romero believes that his detention could be linked to his reporting about the alleged paramilitary group.
The mayors of Baruta and El Hatillo municipalities both belong to groups that oppose President Hugo Chávez’s government.
