"We condemn the threats and provocations of the supporters of the ruling party against the media. The incidents in the last few days confirm the low tolerance and lack of freedom of expression and of the press in Venezuela," stated IAPA President Andrés García.
García, director of the Mexican newspaper Novedades de Quintana Roo, mentioned that on two occasions this year, international IAPA delegations that visited the country had warned of this climate of intolerance and lack of respect for press freedom.
Threats against the media occurred once again last Monday night when government supporters surrounded the installations of Venevisión, Radio Caracas Televisión, Televen, Globovisión, as well as television stations and other media in Maracay, Mérida, Maracaibo, and Barquisimeto, and in some cases damages were caused.
These acts of intimidation began with verbal and physical attacks over the weekend in the interior of the country against journalists, cameramen, and reporters, according to complaints received by the IAPA from national journalist and media associations, such as Bloque de Prensa Venezolano.
Rafael Molina, Chairman of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, stated that, "We fear for the safety of journalists and workers of the media, since even the President blames the press for instigating the general strike, which is now in its second week, and in the name of defending democracy his supporters have given out the addresses of the news stations."
Molina, director of the Dominican magazine Ahora, repeated, "In light of the constant acts of intimidation and restrictions against freedom of expression and of the press, we urge the government to comply with the preventative measures adopted by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to protect the right to life and personal integrity, as well as the right to freedom of expression and of the press for editors, directors, and journalists of the different media in Venezuela, and we demand that they respect and guarantee those necessary rights for the exercise of a free press."
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