Dear Sir: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to request an immediate and thorough investigation into the murder of Venezuelan journalist Mauro Marcano, who was killed by unidentified attackers while he was leaving his home on September 1 in the city of Maturín, the capital of eastern Monagas State.
New York, June 4, 2004—Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frías angered that he could face a recall vote yesterday attacked two media outlets yesterday. At around 1 p.m. yesterday, dozens of government supporters threw stones and other objects at the offices of the Caracas-based television channel Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV). The attackers took a…
While violence and repression against the press continued unabated and even increased in some countries, public trust in journalists and the press suffered in much of the Americas, jeopardizing support for reforms of archaic press laws and opening the door for governments to take a more confrontational approach with the media.
The conflict between President Hugo Chávez Frías and the private media showed no signs of subsiding in 2003. In his weekly radio and TV call-in program “Aló, Presidente” (Hello, President) and in frequent speeches, Chávez continued to lambaste the private press and accuse media owners of being “coup-plotters” and “fascists.” Chávez continued to use cadenas–nationwide…
New York, March 1, 2004—Three journalists were injured over the weekend while covering violent street clashes in Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, in the wake of a four-day antigovernment protest. The protesters were demanding a referendum to recall President Hugo Chávez Frías. On Friday, February 27, Venezuelan National Guard troops fired rubber bullets and threw tear gas…
New York, October 7, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned that Venezuela’s National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) has opened administrative proceedings against the 24-hour news channel Globovisión to determine whether Globovisión is violating telecommunications regulations. Globovisión has 15 business days to present its defense to Conatel. The TV station has vigorously opposed President Hugo…