(IPYS/IFEX) – On the afternoon of 3 June 2004, individuals believed to be supporters of President Hugo Chávez attacked the offices of the company that publishes the “El Nacional” and “Así es la Noticia” newspapers, in Caracas. Journalists from the two newspapers told IPYS that the facade of one of the buildings and nine vehicles, […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On the afternoon of 3 June 2004, individuals believed to be supporters of President Hugo Chávez attacked the offices of the company that publishes the “El Nacional” and “Así es la Noticia” newspapers, in Caracas.
Journalists from the two newspapers told IPYS that the facade of one of the buildings and nine vehicles, some of which belonged to the journalists, were destroyed. Two transport vehicles were burned in front of the publishing company’s offices.
The atmosphere in Venezuela has been very tense recently as citizens await the National Electoral Council’s (Consejo Nacional Electoral, CNE) verdict regarding the validity and number of signatures that were collected in order to demand a referendum on President Chávez’s leadership.
The newspaper’s 4 June edition could be affected both by the attack on the publishing company and by the general atmosphere of instability and insecurity in the area surrounding the company’s offices, which is impacting the ability of employees to come and go.
In January 2002, “El Nacional”‘s offices were attacked by Chávez sympathizers (see IFEX alerts of 14 and 9 January 2002). The incident was strongly criticised and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights subsequently called for precautionary measures.
