Neighbors retained a reporter crew in protest

On August 29, 2013, close to 200 neighbors of Pinto Salinas sector, in the city of Maturín, Monagas state, retained a reporter crew of the Periódico de Monagas -a private local newspaper- and radio station Tú Preferida 104.5 FM for 4 hours, to exert pressure and demand the presence of the local authorities, as a result of the flooding of their homes due to the heavy rainfalls in that city. The affected persons during that protest were reporters Rafael Fersaca and Jenifer Zerpa, Luis Zerpa (reporter) and Antonio Mota, driver of the newspaper´s car.

Romel Badel, head of information of the Periódico de Monagas, informed IPYS Venezuela that the reporters had gone to the place to cover the news on the flooding in that sector of Maturín, after the intense rains which were registered in those days in that city. The reporter crew got information on the situation and when they were going to leave the sector, the media´s vehicle was surrounded by close to 200 neighbors, who decided to retain them and prevent them from leaving that community as a way to exert pressure and demand the presence of executive authorities of the jurisdiction. They demanded that the problems with their houses and all basic services be solved.

Simultaneously, the reporter crew was covering the news for the newspaper as well as the radio station, owned by the same media company.

Through radio info advances, the reporters broadcasted the situation and opened a space for the citizens to air their demands to the local government authorities.

Badel stated that no aggressions or assaults against the newspaper´s staff took place. The crew had to wait for 4 hours until Ernestina Herrera, the director of the newspaper, and police officers of the Government office of Monagas, arrived to mediate with the protesters. The neighbors agreed to permit the reporters to leave the premises.

Label: intimidation