(IPYS/IFEX) – On the morning of 29 May 2004, reporters for Globovisión television station and “Notitarde” newspaper were assaulted while covering an event involving the registration of signatures collected in order to demand a recall referendum against President Hugo Chávez. The incident took place in the La Lucha de Horizonte area of the Petare parish, […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On the morning of 29 May 2004, reporters for Globovisión television station and “Notitarde” newspaper were assaulted while covering an event involving the registration of signatures collected in order to demand a recall referendum against President Hugo Chávez. The incident took place in the La Lucha de Horizonte area of the Petare parish, in the eastern part of the capital, Caracas.
Reporters Sandra Sierra Núñez and Marta Palma Troconis, of “Notitarde” and Globovisión, respectively, were assaulted by individuals believed to be Chávez supporters. “Notitarde” photojournalist Pedro Rey and Globovisión camera operator Josua Torres were also attacked.
Sierra told IPYS that she and Rey were assaulted when Rey began to photograph a group of demonstrators who were speaking to Primero Justicia opposition party supporters. A woman approached Rey and demanded that he hand over his digital camera. When Sierra attempted to help her colleague, she was struck several times by individuals who tried to grab the camera.
Military officers from the branch responsible for security during electoral processes intervened to take control of the situation. Two people then told the officers that they would kill the reporters in they failed to hand over the camera. Finally, one of the demonstrators managed to seize the camera from Rey.
Subsequently, Globovisión reporters arrived to cover the registration of the signatures, which were collected in November 2003. A group of people wearing clothing with the Sucre Municipality Mayor’s Office logo surrounded the Globovisión vehicle and assaulted the reporters as they got out of their vehicle. They seized Torres’s camera and threw Palma to the ground, kicking her all over her body. Torres’s camera was later returned to him by the owner of a business located close to where the incident took place. Sucre’s mayor is a supporter of the ruling party.
On the same day, reporter Nhajla Isaacs and camera operator Jonathan Fernández, of the local television station TVS, were also assaulted while covering the registration of signatures in San Diego, Carabobo state, located approximately 150 kilometres from Caracas. Individuals presumed to be Chávez supporters hurled insults at Isaacs and Fernández and later physically attacked them.
