PSUV supporters turned against the journalists when they realised they were being filmed.
(IPYS-Venezuela/IFEX) – Several reporters were attacked on 17 October 2010 by supporters of the mayor of Valencia, Edgardo Parra, who is a member of Venezuela’s United Socialist Party (PSUV). Valencia is in the State of Carabobo, in northern Venezuela.
The journalists were reporting on a campaign to collect signatures with the aim of preventing the transfer of some of Valencia Aquarium’s animals to South Korea, when PSUV supporters, who were attempting to stop the campaign by using violence, turned against the journalists when they realized they were being filmed.
Nohanna Morillo, of the newspaper “El Siglo”, was hit several times by a PSUV militant, while reporters Raúl Galindo and Katherine Ledo, of the newspaper “Notitarde”, were also hit and accused by their assailants of publishing “lies” about the situation.
Dhamelys Díaz, of the newspaper “El Carabobeño”, and Teresa Moran, of the University of Carabobo TV station, were insulted and pushed around. The journalists had to leave in order to avoid further attacks.
IPYS-Venezuela condemns these attacks against the journalists who were legitimately exercising their profession.
