Venezuela’s government is increasingly showing authoritarian signs and has recently taken steps to restrict free speech in the country by raiding the offices of an independent newspaper. On June 9th, 2021, Venezuelan security forces raided the offices of El Nacional, one of Venezuela’s oldest and most vocal independent newspapers, which has been a critic of the current government’s policies in the past. This is just one of the recent attempts by the government to restrict freedom of the press and critical voices in the country.
Background of Journalism and Free Speech in Venezuela
Venezuela has a long history of political repression and government control of media and independent voices. The major broadcast networks in Venezuela have been under government control since 2002, and any independent journalism often faces immense pressure and censorship. There have been reports of journalists being arrested, detained, and jailed, and even being subjected to “electronic torture”. Additionally, non-government media outlets have been harassed, threatened, and censured.
The Situation with El Nacional
El Nacional is one of the few remaining independent newspapers in Venezuela that is not beholden to the government’s policies. This paper has been a long-term critic of the government, and the government has had enough. On the 9th of June, security forces in full riot gear raided the newspaper without any kind of warrant. They confiscated computers and documents while searching the premises. According to a spokesperson for El Nacional, security forces spent around six hours at the newspaper offices claiming they were “working on an investigation”.
The international response
The international community has come out in strong condemnation of this attack on freedom of the press. Human Rights Watch said in a statement, “Venezuela’s authorities have suppressed independent journalism and threatened to undermine the right to freedom of expression in an opaque and arbitrary manner”. Several countries, including the United States, France, and the United Kingdom, have issued strong statements in support of press freedom in the country.
The Venezuelan Response
The Venezuelan government has yet to issue any kind of statement in response to the situation with El Nacional. It is possible that the government does not see this as a restriction of free speech, but rather as a security measure to investigate potential records and documentation that could be used against them.
Local protests
Local protests have broken out in response to the seizure of El Nacional’s offices. Protesters and journalists marched in the streets of northern Caracas, chanting “Freedom of expression cannot be silenced”. There have also been reports of protesters being detained by the police. At the same time, El Nacional has taken to social media to spread news of the raid and to encourage people to support the cause of press freedom.
The attack on El Nacional is yet another attempt by the Venezuelan government to control and limit the freedom of the press. This attack is indicative of the Venezuelan government’s direction towards more authoritarianism and suppression of any criticism of their policies. It is a clear violation of international human rights, as well as the long-standing tradition of freedom of the press that has been observed in Venezuela for many years. The international community, along with the local journalists and protesters, must stand up for press freedom and the right to free speech in Venezuela.
There is no room for authoritarianism or repression of independent journalism in any country, and it is up to all of us to take action and ensure that press freedom is respected in Venezuela and around the world.
