The Latinamerican Federation for Workers of Culture and Social Communication (Federación Latinoamericana de Trabajadores de la Cultura y la Comunicación Social – FELATRACCS condemns the arrests, deportations, threats, attacks and all kinds of censorship imposed on the local and foreign press in Venezuela. It implements a culture of secrecy that seriously damages the fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people.
In the last 72 hours FELATRACCS has recorded of over 11 arrests of journalists, among them local reporters, foreign correspondents and especially sent correspondents, who are prevented by force to comply with their reporting.
FELATRACCS recalls that freedom of expression is not a concession of States, but a fundamental right. Therefore when through direct or indirect ways the free debate of ideas and opinions is impeded the effective development of the democratic process is limited.
FELATRACCS – further than the release of foreign correspondents of the TVN-Chile, the Spanish agency EFE and the French chain TMC – demands the immediate release of all journalists and collaborators detained in the month of January. The Venezuelans and the world now need plural information more than never. And this is only possible if there is access to information and freedom for your search without any kind of legal or administrative fence.
In times of such high complexity for the Venezuelan people FELATRACCS is convinced that solidarity and brotherhood among the workers of the world press is essential to defend our colleagues.
Without freedom of expression there is no democracy.
Executive committee FELATRACCS
