7
approximately three times and now, for reasons of security, not even her
parents know where she is living.
k)
Following the Court’s adoption of provisional measures, no official of
the State of Venezuela’s police force has granted her protection. No official of
the DISIP, of the Municipal Police of the Libertador Capital District, or of any
other police unit, has invited her to any meeting to plan her personal
protection in accordance with the provisional measures.
l)
She received a telephone call from the Assistant of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, who told her that the Minister wished to speak to her, but
they did not agree on anything and, following this, she has not received any
more telephone calls.
m)
She has never been called by the Office of the Public Prosecutor or the
Prosecutor to any working meeting to make a statement or to receive
information about progress in the investigations into the complaints she had
filed, and for which there is documentary evidence of the attacks and the
attackers.
17.
The Commission’s oral arguments, presented during the above mentioned
public hearing, which are summarized below:
a)
“In Venezuela, the Commission has verified with profound concern that
during 2002, there has been a progressive and significant increase in threats
and attacks against journalists and, in particular against those who cover
political rallies. Investigations into such acts by the public authorities have
not produced positive results as to the identification of the perpetrators of the
acts.”
b)
The “harassment, physical attacks and threats have a serious
multiplier effect on the violations of the human rights of journalists,
converting them into a particularly vulnerable group in the context of the
permanent campaigning and massive demonstrations that Venezuela is
experiencing currently.” “The five media employees for whom the provisional
measures [were] requested provide an example of the violence against
journalists, carried out, initiated or tolerated by the public authorities.”
c)
On the occasion of the Commission’s visit to Venezuela in May 2002,
the Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression expressed its
concern about the situation of journalists. “On his arrival [in Venezuela], the
OAS Secretary General emphasized publicly his concern […] about the threats,
intimidation and attacks on Venezuelan journalists.” Moreover, the OAS
Permanent Council adopted Resolution 833 of December 16, 2002, in which,
among other matters, it urged the Government of Venezuela to safeguard the
full enjoyment of freedom of expression and of the press.
d)
The State of Venezuela has not adopted any measure to protect the
lives and safety of the journalists protected by the provisional measures. In
the reports it has presented to the Court, it “has restricted itself to explaining
that it has issued instructions to one prosecutor or another, but without even
verifying whether those investigations were bearing fruit or making progress.”
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