Journalists Leticia Gaitán, of 100% Noticias, and Daliana Ocaña, of Channel 12, were held up at gunpoint by a group of hooded gunmen (parapoliciales), believed to be police officers linked to the government of Daniel Ortega, on Tuesday near the Ticuantepe rotonda, in Managua.
The journalists, cameramen and drivers were intercepted by nine police officers armed with AK-47, when they tried to film the dismantling of a tranque (barricade) of anti-government protesters at kilometer 14 of the Masaya highway.
Stolen were cameras worth at least US$10,000 each, cell phones, cash and personal documents.
“This is the one that disrespected the jefe (boss),” said one of the armed gunmen, while pointing his weapon at Leticia Gaitán. “Let’s see if now you are as ‘huevoncita’ (ballsy) when you’re interviewing.”
Gaitan said the ‘jefe’ was in reference to Chancellor Denis Moncada, whom she had interviewed on Saturday, related to the massacre of a family, burned alive by masked men lined to the government They set fire to a house in Managua.
“In Nicaragua, being a journalist cannot mean risk of death or that you will be treated as a criminal. Those who intercepted us were hooded men who followed the voice of a leader, were well armed, with bulletproof vests and the (police) organization was noticeable; this should not continue,” said Daliana Ocaña, of Canal 12.
Source (in Spanish): El Nuevo Diario
You must be logged in to post a comment.