Córdoba (Argentina), Oct 18 (EFE).- The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) warned that In Venezuela, attacks on journalists increased in the context of the presidential elections of July 28according to the organization’s most recent report, pending approval at its 80th Annual Assembly, which is being held these days in Argentina.
«The cases of journalists being attacked are countless. During the electoral period, attacks perpetrated by police forces and parapolice groups increased, instruments to keep a muzzle on critical voices in the face of claims of fraud and lack of transparency,” the letter says.
Likewise, the organization says that The Government “continues to overshadow the few remaining vestiges of freedom of the press and expression”which has turned journalism into “a high-risk profession” in the country, after the authorities detained a dozen press workers in the months before and after the elections.
“The persecution, harassment and judicialization of journalists have been constant in reports and complaints made by the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP),” the report highlights.
The IAPA highlighted that In Venezuela “there are almost no independent printed media”after the closure of dozens of newspapers in the last decade, while radio and television stations “are silenced, under the repressive instrument of Conatel (National Telecommunications Commission).”
«Independent journalism is present on the internet, but subject to a strict official blocking policy that the regime implements through telephone companies and service providers. The blockade also extends to social networks,” the letter continues.
In this regard, the text recalled that – in addition to the fact that the blockade, ordered by the Executive, of several digital media was maintained in August – President Nicolás Maduro asked citizens to uninstall the WhatsApp application.
Likewise, it blocked free access in Venezuela to network another country where the platform is not blocked.
In addition, the IAPA mentioned the cases of journalists who “were deported” or not admitted to the country in their attempt to cover the elections, the result of which is considered fraudulent by the largest opposition coalition – Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – and not recognized. by numerous countries.
The PUD assured that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won the Presidency by a wide margin, after which protests broke out in all regions of the country and the authorities carried out a wave of arrests that resulted in 2,400 arrests, according to the Executive. .
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