14. The Petitioners allege that there has been an ongoing pattern of acts of aggression against
the journalists, workers, and shareholders/directors of Globovisión. They report the following
specific incidents:
On November 22, 2001, journalist Gabriela Perozo, cameraman Efraín Henríquez, and
camera assistant Oscar Dávila were assaulted by supporters of President Hugo Chavez,
who threw rocks at their car and tried to knock the camera out of the cameraman's
hands while the team was covering a march.
On December 10, 2001, journalist Yesenia Balza, cameraman Carlos Quintero, and
assistant Felipe Lugo were attempting to cover a demonstration by a group of peasants
when they were surrounded by more than 20 people who yelled insults at them; took the
camera from the cameraman, pushed him on the ground, and kicked him; shoved Balza
and Lujo and threw liquid on Balza; and chased them to their car, which they also hit and
kicked. The team was unable to cover the event as a result.
On January 9, 2002, camera assistant Alfredo Peña Isaya, journalist Beatriz Adrián, and
cameraman Jorge Paz were assaulted as they were going to cover a story near the
Miraflores Palace. About 30 men surrounded their car, yelling threats and hitting and
kicking the car. The aggressors opened the door next to Peña Isaya and hit and kicked
him.
On January 11, 2002, cameraman Richard López and his assistant Félix Padilla were
verbally assaulted as they went to cover a meeting and were so intimidated by the
intensity of the assault that they left without covering the story.
On January 20, 2002, journalist Mayela León, cameraman Jorge Paz, and assistant Jhan
Bernal were attacked as they went to cover the broadcast of the President's weekly radio
and television program, Aló Presidente. This attack formed the basis of the original
precautionary measures issued by the Commission in favor of Globovisión on January 30,
2002. Around 50 people surrounded their car and a car belonging to RCTV, kicking and
hitting the vehicles and yelling insults. Many of the aggressors wore insignia of the
"Coordinadora Simón Bolívar," a group linked to the defense of President Chavez's
"Bolivarian revolution." The Globovisión team was unable to cover the story.
On February 8, 2002, a van belonging to Globovisión was attacked and its windows were
smashed when journalist Jhonny Ficarella, cameraman John Power, and assistant Miguel
Ángel Calzadilla went to cover a story.
On March 1, 2002, Oswaldo Cancino, a lawyer who serves as an advisor to the National
Assembly and as a consultant to government officials, made declarations to Venezuelan
communications media in which he named Globovisión journalist José Domingo Blanco as
a "political objective" of the "groups of Bolivarian defenders" because of his alleged
conduct against the revolution, and emphasized that, if necessary, violence would be
used against such political objectives and those who accompany them.
On March 11, 2002, journalist Jhonny Donato Ficarella Martín received telephoned death
threats against himself and his mother. Around the same time, threatening calls were
received at the offices of Globovisión; journalists José Domingo Blanco, Norberto Masa,
Gladys Rodríguez, and María Arenas were particularly singled out.
On April 3, 2002, journalist José Vicente Antonetti, cameraman Edgar Hernández, and
assistant Ericsson Alvis were assaulted by supposed members of Bolivarian Circles and
other government supporters, including the Personnel Manager of Social Security, as
they were trying to cover a protest at the Venezuelan Social Security Institute.
On June 13, 2002, a team from Globovisión, including journalist Beatriz Adrián,
cameraman Jorge Paz, and assistant Alfredo Peña, was at the Federal Legislative Palace,
covering a parliamentary session along with representatives of other media. As the
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