CPJ denounces record number of journalists detained in Venezuela

The Committee to Protect Journalists warned that Venezuela records a record number of press workers arrested following the July 28 presidential election.

In a report posted on their website, they spoke of the attacks that media outlets and journalists have received for reporting on what is happening in the country.

In the publicationthey spoke about cases such as those of Ana Carolina Guaita, Paul Leon, Yousner Alvarado, Deysi Pena, Eleangel Navas and Gilberto Reina.

They also mentioned the arrest of Carmela Longo, who has already been released, but has been subject to criminal proceedings and has been prohibited from leaving the country.

“These journalists are among more than 2,000 anti-government protesters and opposition activists who have been detained following the July 28 election, a wave of repression that forced Edmundo González, who had defeated Maduro by a 2-1 margin according to opposition data, to flee to Spain, which has granted him political asylum,” CPJ reported on its website.

Situation of media and journalists in Venezuela

They also rejected Diosdado Cabello’s threats against several media outlets in the country, including Efecto Cocuyo, El Pitazo, Armando.Info, Tal Cual and El Estímulo.

This wave of threats has led journalists to take extreme measures. “They are censoring themselves, not appearing on camera in the videos they record, not signing their articles and avoiding opposition rallies. Some radio news programmes have gone off the air or have been converted into music programmes,” the organisation said.

In this regard, they added: “To protect themselves, many journalists are staying away from social media and are deleting photos, text messages and contacts from their phones in case they are arrested and their phones confiscated. Some have posed as protesters at opposition marches, instead of taking out their notebooks and recording devices and identifying themselves as journalists. On such reports, some must check in with their editors every 20 minutes to prove they are safe.”

They reject persecution of the press

Carlos Correa, director of the freedom of expression advocacy organization Espacio Público, condemned the fact that 14 press workers are in prison. “This government has gone crazy,” he said.

He added: “Hardline elements are now in control and are angry at having been rejected at the ballot box.”