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Venezuelan NGO denounces 36 violations of freedom of expression in October

La ONG Venezuelan Espacio Público denounced this Saturday that in October there were 36 violations of the freedom of expression in the country, with censorship, administrative restrictions and intimidation being the most frequent.

“Censorship was imposed in October as the most recurrent violation of freedom of expression, in the middle of the electoral campaign of mayors and governors. We registered 20 cases, which translate into 36 violations of this fundamental right, the most frequent being censorship, administrative restrictions and intimidation, ”the organization said in a statement posted on its website.

He added that the main victims in October were journalists (56%), the general public (22%) and private press workers (8%).

While those responsible for most of these violations were state institutions (45%), security forces (27%) and government officials (14%).

“So far this year, we have counted 185 cases, corresponding to 348 violations of freedom of expression,” said the NGO.

Espacio Público denounced that a “situational room” of the National Telecommunications Commission (Conatel) suspended the Despertó Amazonas program, under the threat of closing the Melquisidec 99.1 FM station if they continued transmitting this space of complaint.

Likewise, it pointed out that Conatel confiscated the transmitter, computers and microphones of the Genial 89.9 FM station in the Portuguese state, for which it was off the air.

“Five informational and opinion radio programs were taken off the air between October 15 and 19 in the states of Falcón and Zulia, also at the orders of Conatel,” the organization added.

Regarding censorship, Espacio Público documented the arrest warrant for the crime of “incitement to hatred” against journalist Roberto Deniz, who has published several investigative reports on the Colombian businessman Álex Saab, alleged front man of the president of Venezuela. Nicolás Maduro.

In addition, officials from the Criminal and Criminal Scientific Investigations Corps (Cicpc) raided his parents’ house in Caracas where his brother, sister-in-law and two nieces were.

“The criminal proceeding against Roberto Deniz is still open, which is why this judicial harassment against the exercise of freedom of expression continues, which translates into intimidation and persecution by the authorities of the Venezuelan State,” said the NGO.

On October 22, the Inter-American Press Association (IAPA) approved the resolutions of its 77th General Assembly on Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela in which it condemned “the police and judicial persecution” and the “imprisonment” of reporters, as well as the “Excessive attacks” against freedom of the press and expression in these countries.

The organization demanded that the Government of the Caribbean nation “respect the independent Venezuelan press” and “end the attacks and harassment” against the media and journalists.

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