JUAN FRANCISCO ALONSO
EL UNIVERSAL

The Inter-American Court on Human Rights upheld a lawsuit the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights filed last April 20 against the Venezuelan State for alleged violation of the fundamental rights of reporters, workers and officers with private television station RCTV.

The hemispheric court made the decision at its 75th ordinary period of sessions, which started last May 7th and ends next May 12th.

Arturo Monge, spokesman for the San José, Costa Rica-based Court, told AFP: "Between today (May 9th) and tomorrow (May 10th), the Court is forwarding to the Venezuelan State a notice of the lawsuit, its contents and the terms set for reply."

Sources with the regional legal body reported that, together with the notice, a copy of the lawsuit filed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights would be forwarded to the Venezuelan State for purposes of notification and preparation of defense allegations. The Commission argues that the Venezuelan States violated the rights to freedom of speech, personal integrity, judicial guarantees y and judicial protection of a group of RCTV workers. 

The sources explained that following notice, the Venezuelan authorities have a four-month deadline to reply to Luisiana Ríos, Luis Contreras, Eduardo Sapene, Javier García, Isnardo Bravo, David Pérez Hansen, Wilmer Marcano, Winston Gutiérrez and Isabel Mavárez, who five years ago filed a complaint claiming they are the target of attacks by pro-government activists while they covered official events, and that they were denied protection and the perpetrators were left unpunished.

"If they (Venezuelan authorities) fail to reply, then it is understood that they are admitting the claims brought in the lawsuit. However, this does not happen usually. Defendants usually acknowledge their responsibilities in a hearing," said the source, who added that public and oral proceedings could be celebrated in September this year.

Translated by Maryflor Suárez R.
msuarez@eluniversal.com