Nicolás Maduro's government stops and expels journalists in order to maintain power

The Venezuelan government stepped up efforts to smother reports on the opposition's attempt to oust President Nicolás Maduro. arrest at least 10 journalists last weekin movements that generated protests from the European Union and Spain.

Then all were released or deported.

Two foreign journalists which covered the events for the Spanish press agency EFE, they were arrested Wednesday evening, at his hotel, by members of the internal security police carrying rifles. The crackdown occurs when Maduro faces the most important challenge he has faced up to now, namely his power.

Spanish reporter Gonzalo Domínguez and Colombian producer Maurén Barriga Vargas They were taken to Helicoide, a well-known prison where political prisoners are often held.

Another journalist from EFEColombian photographer Leonardo Muñoz, and his Venezuelan driverJosé Salas they were arrested on Wednesday early while covering a small meeting for the government.

After more than 12 hours of detention, the three journalists from EFE they were released Thursday and received permission to continue coverage, according to the website of the news agency. The Venezuelan press union had previously informed that the expulsion of the Spaniard and two Colombian women was scheduled.

Government intensified repression and intimidation of journalists in recent days, ordering newsrooms to avoid covering rallies and opposition speeches, shutting down radio stations, raiding TV station offices and blocking websites.

Of the 10 journalists arrested, six were released and four were deported. Salas, the pilot of the EFE photographer, Muñoz, was also released on Thursday.

Venezuela is going through a period of tension while the Maduro government faces the biggest challenge of its mandate since his arrival in power in 2013, after the death of his mentor, the radical left, Hugo Chávez.

The leader of the opposition, Juan Guaidó, supported by the Trump government and a large number of foreign governments, he was declared interim president and he was sworn in last week. He is pushing demonstrations against the government, even in the old bastions, in favor of this one.

By reporting a raid on Thursday, which has further increased tensions, Guaidó said that members of an anti-gang unit of the National Police, the Special Action Force (FAES), have come to his home. during his absence, they were looking for his wife, Fabiana. She said that her 20-month-old daughter was there at the time and that she would hold Maduro responsible if anything happened to her.

The Republican Senator from the state of Florida, Marco Rubio tweeted that Maduro's "shock troops" had arrived at the apartment when the girl was home with her grandmother. "Clearly, it was an effort to intimidate and oppose him," wrote Rubio.

After going to his wife's home to pick up his daughter, Guaidó told reporters that FAES members had arrived in a white pickup truck and two motorcycles and had asked questions about his wife. "The goal is very obvious," he said. "They are trying to intimidate us, they have murdered children and kidnapped children. Since they can not intimidate people, they will not intimidate this Venezuelan family. "

In a speech delivered at the Central University of Venezuela prior to the incident, Guaidó presented a plan to face the "humanitarian emergency" of the country and to "recover the oil industry"as a way to reactivate the economy.

"This plan is not about tightening your belt, but about recover, reactivate and search for new sources of revenue for the country"he said.

This week, The United States imposed tough sanctions on state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA), the jewel of the Venezuelan economy, blocking the bulk of public revenue.

"The Maduro government has the habit of activating censorship mechanisms whenever there is a political crisis or a threat to their government"said Carlos Correa, director of Espacio Público, a non-governmental organization that monitors violations of freedom of expression. "The crisis is so deep this time and the media have deteriorated so badly in the country that the shock of their persecution is more intense than ever."

He added that The imprisonment of foreign journalists could be directed to countries that have recognized Guaidó as interim president.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Twitter that Foreign reporters were arrested because they had entered the country without the necessary visas to practice the journalistic profession. But the experts said that the explanation was not supported by Venezuelan law or by the facts.

"The argument that they are making is that they have no references," said Nelida Fernández, head of Venezuelan EFE office. "But When they arrived at the airport, the intelligence police approached them and the reporters told them that they had come to work. They even had photography equipment with them. And the police allowed them to enter.

Monday evening Two Chilean journalists from TVN and two Venezuelans were captured near the presidential palace in the center of Caracas, and maintained for at least 10 hours. During the first five hours nobody knew where they were.

Rodrigo Pérez and Gonzalo Barahona were deported to Chile on Wednesday nightand Maiker Yriarte and Ana Rodríguez, both journalists, were released. They told the journalists' union in Venezuela that they were not physically abused but insulted and that their documents had been seized.

French journalists Pierre Caillet and Baptiste de Monstiers were arrested on Monday night while covering a small governmental gathering. Thursday morning, they were sent directly to the airport of Caracas to take a flight back to France, according to French Ambbadador Romain Nadal.

Venezuelan journalists also had to limit their coverage. The famous radio presenter, César Miguel Rondón, whose daily program has been broadcast for 30 years, was forced to finish it.

"Censorship has never been as tough as we see it this week," says Rondón to The Washington Post Wednesday, a few days after the cancellation of his radio show.

Rondón radio received a warning last Thursday Conatel, the government-related regulatory agency, said the station would be closed if Rondón continued broadcasting activities.

"After 30 years of shows every day, I've been silenced"commented Rondón.

The night following the swearing-in of President Guaidó on January 23 Global TV, a television station in Zulia, in northwestern Venezuela, he was searched and his equipment destroyed. Two other stations were also forced to close.

"Now we are in the air and we do not know what we are going to do"said Guido Briceño, owner of Global TV. "There was no legal procedure, we still do not know what will happen."

Traditional television channels follow specific guidelines to avoid being sanctioned or closed, the reporters said. Guaidó can not be questioned, described as "president in charge" or called "president of the National Assembly," said a journalist from the Venevision TV channel, who refused to give his name for fear of losing his job . "We can only call him Juan Guaidó."