Public Space warned about a wave of persecution against journalists

• The NGO indicated that President Nicolás Maduro harassed and threatened several journalists Mari Montes, Orlando Avendaño and Emmanuel Rincón

On Wednesday, July 3, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Espacio Público warned of a wave of persecution once morest journalists and people opposed to the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

Through its Web pageThe NGO stated that Maduro “verbally harassed and threatened” journalists Mari Montes, Orlando Avendaño and Emmanuel Rincón, following publishing some comments on the social network X (formerly Twitter) following the accident of Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, which occurred on July 2, 2024.

The official was in a car with the mayor of the Montes municipality (Sucre state), Tomás Bello, when a tree fell on the vehicle and caused some injuries. Rodriguez traveled to the state following the damage caused by the overflow of the Manzanares River.

Espacio Publico reported that, following the accident, several users on social media expressed their opinions regarding the incident and Maduro took some of the messages to show them on screen.

“I have to show you what fascism and the right wing hate are up to. I have to show it because hatred is outrageous, the comments made by fascists on the right are outrageous, it outrages a people because we are already serving the people in need,” Maduro said during a television broadcast.

Accusations once morest journalists

Espacio Público reported that Maduro accused Montes, Avendaño and Rincón of being “fascists,” “Nazis” and of committing “hate crimes.” It also showed the messages that the journalists published on the aforementioned social network.

“These comments made by right-wing fascists are outrageous, they outrage the people because we are already caring for those in need, and these people who make these comments, what are they doing? Where are they?” Maduro said during a speech.

The NGO indicated that Maduro said that the aforementioned journalists “have violence inside them, they are vengeful and envious.” “You will remember me. You will have bad news,” he specifically told journalist Emmanuel Rincón.

“These are threats that cannot be taken lightly”

In response to the accusations, journalist Mari Montes told Espacio Público that her tweet was a few verses regarding the Hymn to the Tree. “They are the ones who are giving it a dimension and intention that it doesn’t have. It’s not even linked to any news. Since the threat was made, I have received some messages, some of them, of hate,” she explained.

Journalist Orlando Avendaño also told Espacio Público his position regarding the harassment carried out by Maduro on television.

“The serious thing is that we are talking regarding the head of state intimidating and threatening three journalists for some tweets that they may see as regrettable, but they do not fit into what they want to accuse us of (hate crimes),” he said.

Avendaño added that there is no standard as such for what constitutes a hate crime and said that the Venezuelan government uses this pattern to “persecute everything that makes them uncomfortable.”

“We do not have any sympathy for the person who had the accident, but it is striking because it is disturbing and dangerous due to the threats,” he said. The journalist highlighted that the Venezuelan government raided his parents’ residence a few months ago. At that time, it also accused him of “inciting hatred.”

“These are threats that cannot be taken lightly. It is clearly people who act, people who cause harm and it is very dangerous because in the end what we did was write something and we are not even encouraging or calling for anything. That is not a crime, much less a hate crime,” Avendaño pointed out.

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Emmanuel Rincón commented that the threats once morest him were clear and direct. “I am not the first person to experience this. There are thousands of political prisoners in Venezuela and millions of us who in one way or another have been persecuted for simply saying whatever the regime does not like,” he told Espacio Público.

Courtesy / EFE

Alert to the international community

Through his account on the social network X, the journalist alerted the international community and held the government of Nicolás Maduro responsible for his physical integrity, as well as that of his family and close friends.

I alert the international community that Nicolás Maduro has issued severe threats once morest me through Venezuelan national television. From this moment on, I hold the Venezuelan regime responsible for the physical integrity of my family, those close to me, and of course, my family and friends. pic.twitter.com/7kLehKbLow

— Emmanuel Rincón (@EmmaRincon) July 3, 2024

Espacio Público demanded an end to the acts of intimidation and harassment. It reiterated that expressing an opinion is not a crime.

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