- Title: Venezuelan opposition protest for freedom of expression at state tv offices
- Date: 2nd June 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF PROTESTERS OUTSIDE VENEZUELAN STATE TELEVISION NETWORK GUARDS IN FLAK JACKETS OVERLOOKING PROTEST VENEZUELA TELEVISION LOGO ON SIDE OF WALL PROTESTERS LISTENING TO LEADER SPEAKING THROUGH MEGAPHONE CLOSE-UP OF PROTESTER SITTING AND LISTENING PROTESTERS SITTING AND LISTENING STUDENT LEADER, ALFREDO GARCIA, SPEAKING THROUGH MEGAPHONE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) STUDENT LEADER, ALFREDO GARCIA, SAYING: "This channel does not show the reality that the Venezuelan people are living, this channel only shows lies ridiculing millions of us Venezuelans who are out in the streets. That is why we came here today in a peaceful manner, as we have always done but sometimes in more forceful ways; today we came with a clear objective and we managed to get to the network of Venezuelan Television." PROTESTERS HOLDING A BANNER ON TOP OF BUILDING PROTESTER CHANTING (IN SPANISH): "WHAT DO WE WANT? THAT THEY TELL THE TRUTH" PROTESTERS CLAPPING AND CHANTING CLOSE-UP OF PROTESTER CLAPPING AND CHANTING PROTESTERS GATHERED AT GATE PROTESTERS IN FRONT OF ANTI-RIOT VEHICLES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION PROTESTER, MARIA AUXILIADORA, CALDERON, SAYING: "Venezuelan Television is a government channel, I respect them but I think that there is a lot of disrespect inside, the truth is changed a lot, and I think that there are a lot of journalists that want to tell the truth and that is what we have come to demand because they are very polarised." CROWD OF PROTESTERS MARCHING PROTESTERS MARCHING PEACEFULLY ON HIGHWAY AERIAL OF MARCH AERIAL OF SECURITY GUARDS AT NETWORK GATE AERIAL OF PROTESTERS BY ANTI-RIOT VEHICLES AERIAL OF CROWDS OF PROTESTERS
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 22:37
- Keywords: protests crisis freedom of speech Venezuela Nicolas Maduro
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016JL6O1Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Opposition protesters rallied peacefully outside Venezuelan state TV on Friday (June 2) demanding freedom of expression after two months of anti-government unrest which has killed at least 62, coverage of which has been limited on the channel.
Protesters gathered outside the channel, met by a significant police presence and armoured vehicles creating barricades, though the event remained peaceful.
Government officials recently said the 24-hour Venezuelan news station receives regular warnings from state telecom regulator Conatel against showing live footage of clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces, or broadcasting terms such as "dictatorship" and "repression."
In contrast to past waves of unrest in Venezuela, particularly during Hugo Chavez's 1999-2013 rule, the nation's three main private television stations have provided minimal live coverage of the latest anti-government demonstrations.
They rarely show more than a few minutes of real-time images of protests, which range from peaceful marches to violent melees that have left 57 people dead amid anger against President Nicolas Maduro and frustration over the crumbling economy.
Student leader, Alfredo Garcia, said the censorship of material was ridiculing millions of Venezuelans out in the streets and did not represent the realities the country is facing.
Ruling Socialist Party officials scoff at the idea of any censorship, insisting the government is the victim of a U.S.-supported campaign by private local and international media to depict it as a repressive regime and thus justify a coup. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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