(IPYS/IFEX) – The government attorney’s office, guarantor of the rule of law according to the Venezuelan Constitution, will participate in an investigation into the fire at the daily “La Opinion” in Cojedes State, 300 kilometres southwest of Caracas, which occurred during the last week in May 2001. Similarly, the legislature represented by the National Assembly […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – The government attorney’s office, guarantor of the rule of law according to the Venezuelan Constitution, will participate in an investigation into the fire at the daily “La Opinion” in Cojedes State, 300 kilometres southwest of Caracas, which occurred during the last week in May 2001.
Similarly, the legislature represented by the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional, AN) designated a subcommittee to get to the bottom of this incident, in which the daily’s owners, who also own the most influential radio station in the area, the Oviedo family, and Governor Jhony Yánez Rangel, a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, have accused each other of the attack.
The AN’s Standing Commission on Science, Technology and Social Communication (Comision permanente de Ciencia, Tecnología y Comunicacion Social) has formed a committee made up of deputies Miguel Ángel Moyetones, William García, Lourdes García y Pedro Díaz.
Rafael Oviedo, representative for the newspaper and radio station’s owners, explicitly stated that Governor Yánez is “the mastermind behind the fire.” Yánez, on the other hand maintains that “the fire was self-provoked (by the owners).”
Despite the incident, the daily continues to operate, and its owners affirm that the bad times suffered, up till now, will not intimidate their editorial line or their journalistic work.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– calling on the government attorney’s office and the Venezuelan AN to investigate seriously the case of the daily “La Opinion” in order to identify and penalise those responsible
Appeals To
Dr. Isaías Rodríguez
Attorney General of Venezuela
Email: isaíasrodriguez@fiscalia.gov.ve, tecnología@fiscalia.gov.ve
Fax: +58 212 576 4429
Deputy William Lara<br.
Venezuelan National Assembly President
Email: wlara@gov.ve
Fax: +58 212 482 9516
Dr. Leopoldo Puchi
Venezuelan National Assembly First Vice-President
Email: puchi.an@platino.gov.ve
Fax: +58 212 483 2904
Dr. Gerardo Saer
Venezuelan National Assembly Second Vice-President
Email: saer.an@platino.gov.ve
Fax: +58 212 484 9598
Miguel Angel Mayetones
National Assembly Permanent Commission on Science, Tecnology and Social Communication
Email: ciencia.an@platino.gov.ve
Fax: +58 212 409 6550
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
