In the annual Amnesty International 2012 report presented in London on Wednesday, May 23, the group said that there "were new restrictions" to freedom of expression in Venezuela, with journalists facing fines and myriad accusations, reported the newspaper El Universal and the news agency EFE.
Although the Amnesty International report makes reference to the year 2011, conflicts between journalists and the Venezuelan government have continued in the country during 2012, specially during the period prior to the presidential elections, which will take place in October.
On Friday, May 18, the Inter American Press Association formally asked Venezuelan authorities to stop attacks against the newspaper Notitarde. Globovisión is one of the TV stations that most frequently accuses the Venezuelan government and its supporters of attacks against journalists, making death threats and, damaging transmission equipment.
Recently, the Venezuelan National System of Public Media (SNMP in Spanish) team was attacked by supporters of the presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, Chavez's opposition, reported the National Journalists Association of Venezuela. According to Venezuelan minister of communication and information, Andres Izarra, the SNMP reporters now cover the opposition equipped with safety helmets and shields, reported El Impulso.
