(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 May 2003, journalist Roberto Giusti was confronted by a group of individuals when he arrived at the Radio Caracas Radio studio. Giusti hosts the station’s “Golpe a golpe” programme. The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. (local time). A group of about 10 people was at the building entrance, carrying placards […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 May 2003, journalist Roberto Giusti was confronted by a group of individuals when he arrived at the Radio Caracas Radio studio. Giusti hosts the station’s “Golpe a golpe” programme.
The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 a.m. (local time). A group of about 10 people was at the building entrance, carrying placards and shouting offensive slogans at the journalist.
Giusti told IPYS that although the demonstrators were very confrontational, they did not physically assault him. He tried to approach them to find out why they were protesting. The group responded with insults and shouts, calling him “murderer,” and the journalist was forced to quickly enter the building.
The protestors stayed at the site for several minutes, shouting insults at the workers who were standing near the building entrance and striking and kicking the door. They subsequently defaced the walls of the station and Giusti’s vehicle with derogatory comments about the journalist.
Giusti believes the incident was in response to his reports on the presence of Colombian guerrillas in Venezuela and the creation of the so-called Bolivarian Liberation Forces (Fuerzas Bolivarianas de Liberación), which operate on the Colombia-Venezuela border. Jorge Nieves, a former regional leader of the Patria Para Todos (PPT) party, which supports President Hugo Chávez’s government, may have been involved in the creation of the group. Nieves was recently assassinated.
After the protest, Giusti tried to communicate with PPT leaders but did not received a response.
In a separate incident, on 1 May, presumed supporters of President Chávez defaced the walls of the Radio Caracas Television studio in Caracas with offensive messages. They also shouted slogans at station employees, accusing the television station of supporting the overthrow of the government.
