CNP Denounces Judicial Restrictions on Six Journalists

The National College of Journalists (CNP) in Caracas has sounded the alarm, highlighting the continued judicial oppression faced by six independent media professionals in Venezuela. These journalists, despite not having been convicted of any crimes, remain under stringent court-imposed measures, including prohibitions on leaving the country and regular appearances before tribunals. The CNP unequivocally denounces this situation, labeling it as nothing short of censorship and demanding an immediate end to this judicial persecution.

This ongoing crackdown severely impacts the ability of journalists to perform their duties freely and undermines the fundamental Venezuelan constitutional rights to freedom of expression and access to information. The CNP expresses deep concern over the precarious institutional conditions under which reporters operate nationwide, emphasizing how these judicial mechanisms of intimidation inflict significant damage on the media landscape.

Among those affected is Rory Branker, an editor for the portal La Patilla, who, after being released from over eleven months of detention by the Sebin intelligence service, faces ongoing judicial persecution and restrictions on his movement and professional activities. Carlos Correa, director of the NGO Espacio Público, was subjected to what activists described as a temporary forced disappearance before being released under strict reporting conditions, measures that NGOs argue are designed to neutralize their monitoring of press freedom violations.

Furthermore, Carlos Julio Rojas, a journalist and community activist, has had his request for amnesty denied, with courts upholding charges and precautionary measures against him, prolonging restrictions on his civil rights. Gabriel González, a journalist closely associated with María Corina Machado's campaign, also remains under judicial control after his request for amnesty benefits was rejected by review courts. These cases collectively paint a grim picture of the challenges facing independent journalism in Venezuela, where legal processes are used to stifle dissent and control information.

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This is not freedom; it is censorship.