Venezuela: WPF Denounces Restrictions and Harassment by Local Authorities and Police Targeting Journalists Covering Floods
Journalists Ariana Ágreda, Andrea Fabbiani, and camerawoman María Marcano impeded and intimidated while trying to report emergency
Location: Venezuela, Sucre
Date: July 8, 2024
Local authorities harassed, attacked, and forcibly removed journalists reporting on the aftermath of devastating flooding in Sucre state. These actions by local officials and law enforcement violate the right to a free press and obstruct the sharing of essential information during emergencies. The targeted harassment of reporter Ariana Ágreda, including personal attacks on her medical condition by a local leader in Cantarrana, is particularly deplorable. We condemn the assaults and restrictions imposed on journalists Ariana Ágreda, Andrea Fabbiani, Víctor Federico González, José Luis Guerra, and camerawoman María Marcano. We demand that the relevant authorities investigate these attacks, which endanger their safety and hinder vital reporting during a disaster.
On July 2, 2024, Ariana Ágreda, a correspondent for Unión Radio, was reporting on the flooding caused by the overflow of the Manzanares River, influenced by Hurricane Beryl. While covering the emergency near the Bolivarian National Guard checkpoint in the Puerto de la Madera sector, Ágreda was confronted by Maricruz Vallejo, an alleged local leader of the Cantarrana sector. Vallejo accused Ágreda of spreading misinformation and labeled her reporting as politically biased. He also hurled offensive remarks about her vitiligo condition, a chronic skin condition characterized by the loss of pigment in patches of skin.
Following this confrontation, Vallejo continued to harass Ágreda through WhatsApp groups linked to the Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAP), spreading derogatory messages and instigating others to attack Ágreda on social media.
Andrea Fabbiani, director of Atarraya and correspondent for VPItv, and Víctor Federico González, a correspondent for La Patilla, were intimidated and forcibly removed while attempting to cover the aftermath of floods in Montes on July 8, 2024.
While reporting statements by Major General Nayade Lockiby Belmonte regarding the flooding, the journalists were expelled from Montes by armed men in civilian clothing. They were transported in vehicles marked with the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) insignia and later abandoned at a military checkpoint in Quebrada Seca before being taken to Cumaná. They were warned not to return to Montes to continue their reporting.
State security officials in Cumanacoa restricted the coverage of Atarraya reporter José Luis Guerra and camerawoman María Marcano on July 6, 2024. The journalists were invited by the Federation of Chinese Associations of Venezuela to document the delivery of humanitarian aid. Despite having official permission, Guerra and Marcano were expelled from the warehouse by Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and Bolivarian National Police (PNB) officers, separating them from their team and disrupting their reporting.
So far in 2024, Women Press Freedom has documented 24 violations against women journalists in Venezuela. The continued intimidation of press workers is a huge cause for concern in a country where journalists operate under severe pressure from state authorities. The attempts to silence journalists reporting an emergency of critical importance to the public are unacceptable. Women Press Freedom denounces the actions of local authorities in Montes, as well as the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) and Bolivarian National Police (PNB). We call for an urgent investigation into the behavior of these state officials and demand an immediate end to the targeted harassment and restrictions against journalists.
Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism
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.
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