Venezuela: Supporters of Ruling Party Attack Journalist Ronna Risquez Online
The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently condemns online attacks against Risquez, demands a thorough investigation into the matter
Location: Venezuela, Caracas
Date: September 21, 2023
Prominent investigative journalist Ronna Rísquez faces online harassment by supporters of the ruling party following her publication of a video analyzing the government's operation to regain control of the Tocorón Penitentiary Center in Aragua. The prison is notoriously run by inmates and serves as the headquarters for the country's most influential gang, El Tren de Aragua. The Coalition For Women In Journalism vehemently condemns the online attacks targeting Ronna Rísquez. We urge authorities to conduct a comprehensive investigation into this matter.
After Investigative journalist Ronna Rísquez, editor at InSight Crime, raised doubts about the motives and execution of an operation to dismantle organized crime operating from within the notorious Tocorón Penitentiary Center in Aragua state, Adelso Carvajal, a staunch supporter of the ruling party, launched a personal attack against Rísquez on social media.
🎥 🚨 🇻🇪 @ronnarisquez, periodista de investigación especializada en crimen organizado y bandas criminales, quien coordinada la Alianza Rebelde Investiga #ARI, conformada por #Runrunes, @DiarioTalCual y @ElPitazoTV nos trae 5 datos importantísimos sobre la denominada “Operación… pic.twitter.com/NX7QG2YYAt
— Runrunes (@RunRunesWeb) September 20, 2023
Carvajal claimed the journalist, who has made significant contributions to the Panama Papers investigative project, had lost her funding and labeled her as "the mafia journalist" and an "enlightened miscreant" as she had anticipated more deaths during the operation. Other supporters of the ruling party joined in, engaging in further insults and attacks, while accusing Rísquez of having connections to the organized crime group, El Tren de Aragua.
Rísquez has faced threats and harassment before. In January, she and her family were targeted on Instagram due to her book El Tren de Aragua, The Gang That Revolutionized Organized Crime in Latin America, which explores the origins and activities of the criminal mega-gang in Venezuela and beyond.
These acts of harassment by individuals associated with the ruling party are not isolated incidents but are part of a recurring pattern. Journalists, opposition figures, and civil society organizations are frequently targeted when they analyze or express opinions about public institutions and state officials. These deliberate actions aim to discredit and criminalize those exercising their legitimate right to freedom of expression and opinion.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Ronna Rísquez and all women journalists facing online attacks. We strongly condemn efforts to discredit journalists, which fuel self-censorship and harm their reputation. It is alarming that the Venezuelan State is complicit in promoting such intimidation. We urge media organizations, civil society, and government authorities to take decisive action to protect journalists from online abuse and create a safe working environment. We demand a thorough investigation to identify and hold accountable those responsible for these attacks.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.