This Friday, officials of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) prevented journalist María Arraez, from the media The Truth of Vargasaccess the Caraballeda golf course, in the state of La Guaira, to record and chat with nearly 400 families affected that remain in place.
The complaint was spread by the National Union of Press Workers (SNTP), which warned about the restriction on journalistic work a day after those affected protested the decrease in aid and the conditions in which they find themselves.
During the incident, an official put his hand on the journalist’s camera and stated that the place “is at the command of the Armed Forces, not at the command of the press.” He also questioned the media’s coverage by stating: “You start saying that here nothing is given to the people who are here.”
The protest of the victims occurred on Thursday night, when they demanded a reduction in the assistance they receive and the conditions of the place where they remain after the earthquakes of June 24.
The SNTP demanded the cessation of these actions and asked for guarantees so that journalists can document the conditions of the site and collect testimonies from the affected people.
Intimidation and censorship among the main violations of freedom of expression
The complaints occur at a time of persistent restrictions on freedom of expression in Venezuela. The Espacio Público organization documented 89 cases that grouped 170 complaints of violations of this right between January and August 2026.
In its assessment, the NGO identified intimidation as the main form of violation, with 81 records, followed by censorship, with 43. It also noted that the State security forces concentrated a significant part of those responsible identified in the incidents recorded during that period.
Espacio Público warned about the restrictions that journalists have faced when covering the emergency caused by the earthquakes, including limitations on access to hospitals and rescue zones, as well as harassment while documenting the consequences of the tragedy.
The complaints against security officials in Caraballeda coincide with political conversations that include issues related to freedom of expression. On September 26, the SNTP indicated that the agreements reached at the dialogue table should be translated into verifiable progress, including the lifting of restrictions against media outlets and websites.
However, recent reports of impediments to journalistic coverage once again put the guarantees to seek, receive and disseminate information on the table.
