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🇻🇪 Venezuela /Conflict & Security

Journalists covering union protest in Caracas face intimidation

From El Nacional · (1h ago) Spanish Critical tone

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Journalists covering a union protest outside Venezuela's Supreme Court in Caracas faced intimidation when a security official photographed their identification and faces.
  • The incident, which occurred in a public square, was condemned by press freedom organizations as an attempt to inhibit journalism.
  • The protest itself aimed to demand a living wage, highlighting that Venezuela has not seen a minimum wage increase in over four years, eroding purchasing power.

The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) has once again raised the alarm regarding the arbitrary surveillance and intimidation of journalists in Venezuela. This time, the target was the press covering a legitimate union protest outside the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) in Caracas. A security official from the TSJ itself was observed photographing the identification cards and faces of reporters from at least four media outlets.

A security official from the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) photographed the identification cards and faces of journalists from at least four media outlets during the protest on #15Apr outside that facility, convened by unions and union leaders.

— SNTPThe SNTP's tweet denouncing the security official's actions.

This act, occurring in a public space, is a clear attempt to intimidate and inhibit the free exercise of journalism in our country. It is unacceptable that those who are simply doing their jobs, reporting on the legitimate grievances of workers, are subjected to such harassment. The SNTP has documented this incident and is calling for an end to these practices.

This incident occurred despite the fact that the protest activity was taking place in the public square located in front of the building and not within the judicial precinct's facilities.

Highlighting the location of the incident relative to the TSJ building.

The protest itself, organized by various unions and public workers, was a desperate call for a "living wage" amidst a deepening economic crisis. It has been over four years since the minimum wage in Venezuela was last increased, a situation that has devastated the purchasing power of families. The workers are demanding that the judicial branch, specifically the Constitutional Chamber of the TSJ, address their petition for a salary that allows for a dignified life, as guaranteed by the constitution.

Organizations defending freedom of expression described the act as an act of intimidation that seeks to inhibit the free exercise of journalism in the country.

Reporting on the reaction of press freedom advocates.

This incident underscores the challenging environment for press freedom in Venezuela. While international coverage might focus on the political situation, for us on the ground, it's about the daily struggle for basic rights – the right to protest, the right to a living wage, and the right for journalists to report on these issues without fear of reprisal. The TSJ's silence on the workers' petition, coupled with the intimidation of the press, paints a grim picture of the state of justice and freedom in our nation.

Living wage now

— ProtestersThe main slogan of the demonstration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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