Miami (July 31, 2024) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) strongly condemned press freedom violations in Venezuela, where in recent days journalists have been attacked, intimidated, and detained, and the work of the media has been obstructed. The organization considered it imperative to ensure their safety and respect media coverage of a matter of great public interest.
The controversial electoral process in Venezuela, which concluded on July 28 with Nicolás Maduro declared as the winner, has sparked protests in different parts of the country and clashes between security forces and protesters, resulting in at least 11 deaths, according to Reuters.
Journalistic personnel, witnessing the tense situation on the streets, have been exposed to numerous risks during the coverage of the political crisis. According to the organization Espacio Público, protests were suppressed, some with arbitrary detentions, acts of intimidation, and attacks on press workers.
Roberto Rock, president of IAPA and director of the Mexican news portal La Silla Rota, considered it "crucial that the public can remain informed about these events of such importance for Venezuelan democracy." He added that "this is why it is vital for journalists and media outlets to be able to fulfill their work without interference and without fear of reprisals."
The president of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, Carlos Jornet, editor of the Argentine newspaper La Voz del Interior, urged authorities "to guarantee the safety of journalists and respect the coverage of an issue of vast public interest." Jornet called on the international community to "condemn violence against the press."
Among other acts of violence, the National Union of Press Workers of Venezuela (SNTP, in Spanish) reported, through its social media networks, that cameraman and sports journalist Paul León of VPItv was detained on July 30 during a joint operation by the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and the Trujillo state police. His whereabouts are currently unknown. In the same incident, journalist Yuliana Palmar from QPEV and Sucesos Trujillo had her cell phone confiscated.
That same day, Yousner Alvarado, a cameraman for Noticia Digital, was also detained in Barinas state, and Joaquín de Ponte in San Juan de los Morros, Guárico state, was released last night.
In Zulia state, the SNTP alerted that plainclothes officials recorded and photographed five journalists: Nataly Angulo from El Pitazo TV; Madelyn Palmar from Unionradionet; Edwin Prieto from QPEV; María Carolina Quintero from VPItv, and Gerard Torres from Es Con Usted.
The organization also noted that during coverage of the protests on July 29, journalist Jesús Romero from Código Urbe was shot in Maracay. He underwent surgery and remains hospitalized.
Also on that day, in Carabobo, police snatched the camera from photojournalist José Ángel Rodríguez while he was photographing the protests in that area of the country; the equipment was later returned to him. In Anzoátegui, journalist Gabriel Rodríguez's vehicle from Noticias Neverí was set on fire by protesters.
According to LatAM Journalism Review, from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, which compiled information from press organizations, journalists, and media outlets, "at least 41 violations against information freedoms were recorded in 13 states of the country" during the electoral day until July 29."
IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
