(IPYS/IFEX) – In a press release, the Caracas press has expressed its support for Venezuelan journalist Adriana Cortés. The Colombian television programme Noticias RCN Television had reported that Colombian security forces had reason to believe that Cortés was acting in complicity with a member of a guerrilla group, detained during the second week of March […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – In a press release, the Caracas press has expressed its support for Venezuelan journalist Adriana Cortés. The Colombian television programme Noticias RCN Television had reported that Colombian security forces had reason to believe that Cortés was acting in complicity with a member of a guerrilla group, detained during the second week of March 2001 in Venezuela.
Cortés graduated from Caracas Andrés Bello Catholic University in 1988 and is currently a member of the department of investigation for the daily “El Nacional”. Cortés was on assignment for the newspaper and “looking for evidence of the detention and possible deportation of José María Ballestas, a member of the Colombian guerrilla group National Liberation Army (Ejército de Liberacion Nacional, ELN). However, her journalistic investigation was discredited by Colombian security forces and media, who suggested that she was implicated with the detained individual,” notes the press release of the Venezuelan journalists, members of the National Press Workers’ Union (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Prensa, SNTP).
Caracas television stations also reported on allegations that the journalist was somehow linked with the guerrilla Ballestas. As a result, in the press release that was published in all national newspapers, Cortés’ colleagues stated: “we publicly reject all false accusations and we support our colleague Adriana Cortés, who will continue to exercise her profession.” They also urged President Chávez’s government to provide guarantees for the journalist’s personal safety.
More than 150 journalists signed the press release that concludes by calling “on all international press associations to speak out on behalf of journalist Adriana Cortés and the free and safe exercise of journalism.” Nevertheless, neither the Venezuelan nor the Colombian authorities have issued any official statement regarding Cortés.
