(IPYS/IFEX) – More than one month has passed since 8 February 2001, when the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) noted that due process had not been followed in the case of Venezuelan journalist Pablo Lopez Ulacio, editor of the weekly “La Razon”, and urged the Venezuelan government to ensure […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – More than one month has passed since 8 February 2001, when the Organization of American States’ (OAS) Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) noted that due process had not been followed in the case of Venezuelan journalist Pablo Lopez Ulacio, editor of the weekly “La Razon”, and urged the Venezuelan government to ensure that this is righted.
In November 1999, Venezuelan insurance company businessman Tobías Carrero Nacar launched legal proceedings against Lopez Ulacio after the weekly suggested that the businessman helped finance Hugo Chávez Frías’ presidential campaign and accused him of having benefitted from the allocation of state insurance contracts. Subsequently, Judge 25 of the Caracas court issued an order calling for the journalist’s detention and prohibiting the weekly from reporting on the businessman’s affairs.
A national debate has been sparked by the case. A number of individuals, ranging from the government’s second in command and head of the governing party, Luis Miquilena, to the judicial authorities, have spoken out against Lopez Ulacio. At the same time, representatives from civil society sectors and the journalistic field, including Manuel Isidro Molina, former president of the National Journalists’ College (Colegio Nacional de Periodistas), and the Asociacion Civil Venezuela Posible, have suggested that Lopez Ulacio is facing legal proceedings for having criticised the government.
On 18 July 2000, Manuel Quijada, president of the commission that presides over judges in Venezuela, remarked that “Lopez Ulacio is a criminal defamer.” That same month, Court Inspector General René Molina filed his resignation, noting that “I am leaving because I do not wish to succumb to the pressures to destroy Lopez Ulacio.” Prior to his resignation, Molina removed Judge Pérez Perera from his post, for violating due process in the Lopez Ulacio case.
One month after the OAS human rights body considered the case, the journalist’s attorney, Omar Estacio, sent a letter to President Chávez, in which he stated that Chávez was responsible for the fate of the journalist, who has had to flee to avoid facing an order for his arrest.
The journalist’s lawyer remarked that his client’s most basic rights have been violated and that the Venezuelan courts were guilty of committing irregularities, such as not taking into account the evidence submitted by the weekly.
On 20 February, Estacio filed a request with the 14th Caracas Court, urging it to “adhere to the precautionary measures prescribed by the IACHR”, as refers to the evidence which had not been admitted and the lapses of time which had impacted the proceedings. Nevertheless, the court did not respond to his request.
“For more than one year, journalist Lopez Ulacio has been harassed and his human rights have been seriously violated, solely for having reported on alleged acts of corruption, in which high-ranking government officials are implicated,” Estacio remarked.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– asking them to ensure that the journalist’s rights and those of the Venezuelan press are respected
– calling on them to ensure that international human rights agreements, which have been ratified by Venezuela, be adhered to
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Hugo Chávez Frías
President of the Republic
Fax: +58 212 806 3860
Central Operator: +58 2 806 3738
Dr. Isaías Rodríguez
Attorney General of the Republic (guarantor of the rule of law in Venezuela)
Tel: +58 212 577 2744 / 509 8041 / 509 8042 / 509 8133
William Lara
President of the National Assembly
Fax: +58 212 482 9516
E-mail: asamblea.nacional@platino.gov.ve
Iván Rincon Gutiérrez
President of the Supreme Court
E-mail: ivan.rincon@tsj.gov.ve
Dr. Germán Mundaraín
Ombudsman
Tel: +58 212 575 4239 (Office of the Ombudsman)
+58 212 762 7064 / 762 7062 (personal office)
+58 14 321 3290 (cellular)
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
