(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 February 2006, Casa Militar (Military House) security personnel placed restrictions on private media journalists during the celebration of the VII anniversary of President Hugo Chávez’s government’s rise to power, held in Teresa Carreño Theatre in Caracas. The reporters for TV channels Globovisión, Venevisión, RCTV and Televén, radio stations Unión Radio and […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 February 2006, Casa Militar (Military House) security personnel placed restrictions on private media journalists during the celebration of the VII anniversary of President Hugo Chávez’s government’s rise to power, held in Teresa Carreño Theatre in Caracas. The reporters for TV channels Globovisión, Venevisión, RCTV and Televén, radio stations Unión Radio and RCR, and some regional newspapers, were forced to stay in a designated press area during the entire ceremony. Journalists working for state run media, in contrast, were granted permission to circulate freely and have access to all government officials present during the ceremony. Private TV channels therefore had to use footage emitted by the State channel.
Globovisión journalist Mayela León pointed out to IPYS that the imposed measure signified in practice that they could not even go to the toilet, as they were not allowed back into the press area if they left.
Similar incidents of discrimination have become commonplace during the last few weeks in different government institutions. For example, private media teams have been allowed into the National Assembly and the Supreme Court, but have not been permitted to move freely within the premises and have been denied access to government officials.
