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Alert

Media headquarters in Maracay fired upon, journalists threatened with death

(IPYS/IFEX) - During the early hours of 15 August 2008, two men on a motorbike fired shots against the headquarters of the Corporación RR business group, in which radio station Auténtica 107.5 FM, television station TRV and the digital portal Enfoque Regional all operate, in the city of Maracay, State of Aragua, central Venezuela.

Auténtica 107.5's general manager, Francisco Javier Martínez, told IPYS that two persons fired eight times on the media's headquarters, hitting the building's front wall five times.

He also reported that the journalists who participate in the programme "Primera Hora", which is broadcast simultaneously by Auténtica 107.5 FM and TRV, have received death threats via text messages. Martínez assumes that these are probably in response to the accusations and criticisms made in the programme about the state of insecurity faced by the citizens of Aragua and the local authorities' indifference when it comes to solving the problem.

This is IPYS's second alert about attacks against the media in Aragua. On 30 July, unidentified persons threw stones and metal objects against Radio Color 99.5 FM's broadcasting cabin.