(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Euro Lobo, of the OMC television station, in the city of Mérida, capital of Mérida state, southwestern Venezuela, has complained to IPYS that he was assaulted by a demonstrator on the afternoon of 29 January 2004. The incident occurred during a day of citywide protests. The journalist told IPYS that he was […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Euro Lobo, of the OMC television station, in the city of Mérida, capital of Mérida state, southwestern Venezuela, has complained to IPYS that he was assaulted by a demonstrator on the afternoon of 29 January 2004.
The incident occurred during a day of citywide protests. The journalist told IPYS that he was also yelled at and threatened by alleged supporters of the Movimiento Quinta República (MVR) ruling party.
On 29 January, students from the Universidad de los Andes university and members of the opposition held a demonstration in support of 25 Mérida opposition figures. The politicians are accused of having supported the temporary removal from power of Mérida Governor Florencio Porras, of the MVR party, in April 2002. At the time, a coup forced President Hugo Chávez to step down for 48 hours.
Lobo said he wanted to question a group of Chávez supporters, whom members of the Acción Democrática (AD) opposition party accuse of having destroyed and burned down the AD’s main office in Mérida.
“Upon seeing the OMC news crew arrive, a group of about 20 young people withdrew inside the offices of the Mérida Youth Institute (Instituto Merideño de la Juventud, Imjuven). About seven persons stayed outside and started shouting insults at us,” explained Lobo.
According to the journalist, one of the demonstrators pounced on him and punched him in the face. “I persisted, trying to ask questions and get his group’s opinion about the accusations that they had destroyed the AD office. The man tried to attack me again but this time the police intervened.”
The OMC news crew was also comprised of camera operator Freddy Jáuregui, who was not injured in the incident. Lobo said the protesters threatened the news crew with further assault and harassment, but nevertheless, he decided not to file a complaint with police.
