(RSF/IFEX) – At least four new attacks against journalists and media outlets have been reported since 2 March 2004. Pro-government media outlets were targeted in two of the incidents. “No matter who was responsible, these latest attacks are unacceptable,” said RSF. “It is time to put an end to this climate of intolerance against the […]
(RSF/IFEX) – At least four new attacks against journalists and media outlets have been reported since 2 March 2004. Pro-government media outlets were targeted in two of the incidents.
“No matter who was responsible, these latest attacks are unacceptable,” said RSF. “It is time to put an end to this climate of intolerance against the media and that also exists within the media.” The organisation once again urged authorities to open investigations into press freedom violations and ensure that those responsible are punished.
According to the Venezuelan journalists’ organisation “Los del Medio”, 25 journalists or media outlets have come under attack since 27 February, the first day of opposition-organised demonstrations.
On 3 March, Carlos Colmenares, a cameraman for the privately-owned station Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV), was shot in the ankle while covering opposition demonstrations against the government in Caracas. It is not known who fired the gunshot. Bystanders said the area was relatively calm just before the hot was fired.
Also on 3 March, soldiers forced Rafael Delgado, photoeditor for the daily “El Tiempo”, to erase photographs he had just taken of a military security operation. The officer who ordered Delgado to erase the photographs threatened to take him to the barracks if he refused to co-operate. “El Tiempo” is distributed in Puerto La Cruz, northeastern Venezuela.
On 2 March, opposition demonstrators attacked the main offices of the public television station Venezolana de Televisión (VTV). The following day, VTV Chairman Vladimir Villegas told a press conference that company premises and staff had been the target of repeated attacks and threats since 29 February. During the night of 2 to 3 March, demonstrators besieged the studios, hurling Molotov cocktails, stones and other objects at the building, and prevented staff from entering or exiting until late into the night. The assailants erected barricades at both ends of the street and several witnesses reported hearing gunshots, but could not identify their origin.
On 2 March, Adda Pérez and Victor Yépez, of community radio station Máxima FM, were attacked by around 30 opposition supporters as they arrived at one of the supporters’ home. Máxima FM
broadcasts in Ciudad Ojeda, Zulia state, northwestern Venezuela.
Yépez got out of the car to negotiate with the demonstrators who were blocking their path and was struck by one of them. The station’s vehicle was then stoned. Yépez said the attack was prompted by the fact that they were journalists working for community media and that the demonstrators accused them of being “pro-government.”
The Venezuelan opposition called on its supporters to take to the streets on 27 February after the National Electoral Council (CNE) questioned the validity of more than a million signatures it had collected to press for a referendum on President Hugo Chávez’s leadership.