(IPYS/IFEX) – On 19 September 2005, a team of journalists from the daily “El Guayanes” was not allowed to carry out its work after it was barred from entering La Ceiba stadium in Guayana City, northeastern Venezuela. The order to bar the team came from Nilson Meza, director of the Bolivar State Sports Institute (IDEBOL). […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 19 September 2005, a team of journalists from the daily “El Guayanes” was not allowed to carry out its work after it was barred from entering La Ceiba stadium in Guayana City, northeastern Venezuela. The order to bar the team came from Nilson Meza, director of the Bolivar State Sports Institute (IDEBOL).
Ines Maria Granado, a journalist with “El Guayanes”, explained to IPYS that when they tried to enter the stadium, a guard, acting under direct orders from Meza, forbade them to do so. Granado added that at a press conference the next day, Meza declared that he had taken the decision to bar the journalists because they always “do whatever they please.” The director said that in order to visit the stadium, journalists were required to seek written permission from director Ángel Lameda, who would supervise their work.
Several local media outlets have complained of difficulties carrying out their work in a normal fashion in IDEBOL. Other journalists confirmed to IPYS that Lameda has not processed requests efficiently and, on the contrary, has made access even more difficult by adding on to the list of requirements.
