The Venezuelan Journalists' Association (CNP) condemned verbal and physical attacks against journalist Hernán Lugo García, of daily newspaper El Nacional, and cameraman Larry Arévalo, of news TV channel Globovisión, by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and the Caracas Metropolitan Police (PM), respectively.

In a press release, the CNP asserted that such "attitudes run counter freedom of expression, information and undermine the right to work, and they are at odds with the provisions of the Bolivarian Constitution of the Republic of Venezuela."

In connection with Lugo García, CNP chair Levy Benshimol said the reporter "met his duties as a journalist by reporting on the events that, according to his sources, were taking place during the electoral process (in last December 2 referendum)." "If any information he disclosed was false, the President of the Republic could use other means to deny the reporter's version, rather than labeling his work with improper and little edifying adjectives."

Benshimol added that both Chávez's verbal attacks against Lugo García and the PM's physical attack against Arévalo not only threaten freedom of information and expression, but also violate the people's right to be informed, the right to work, and the reporters' human rights.