July 7: Respect for Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a statement today calling for for “an end to attacks against journalists in Venezuela”, and urged the Maduro government to ensure that new print media does not go out of circulation.

In a communique titled “IFJ Demands Respect for Journalists in Venezuela”, the organization noted that there have been 205 against journalists in Venezuela so far this year, and that a number of print media outlets have been forced to stop operations or reduce the number of pages they print on as a result of the scarcity of printing paper.

The IFJ demands an immediate end to the intimidation and violence towards journalists in the country, as well as the “effective action of the Venezuelan government” to resolve the printing crisis.

Delta Reduces Operations in Venezuela

Delta Airlines has become the latest international carrier to reduce its operations in Venezuela. Delta announced today that starting on August 1, weekly flights from Caracas to Atlanta will be reduced from seven to one. 

Venezuela has become increasingly isolated in the last several months. Delta joins American Airlines, Air Canada, Lufthansa, and several other international airlines to have reduced operations in the country since the start of the year.

Two Killed During Highway Shooting

Two people were killed and two others injured during a shootout on the Francisco Fajardo highway in Caracas early this morning. According to investigators, the two deceased were a man and a women who were riding together in the same car. The man died at the scene, while the woman appears to have died in hospital.

The highway was closed while the investigation was taking place. The situation almost escalated out of control when a group of men on motorcycles forced the officers on the scene to re-open the highway to let traffic through, even though the crime scene was still active. Apparently, the officers complied with the request by the men, and traffic was allowed to flow through the scene.

Below is a picture from the scene taken earlier today (courtesy of El Universal):

This latest fatal shootout is the second as many days in Caracas, as four people were killed during a shootout in the Catia barrio early on Sunday morning.

Finally, some images from around the country today:

A lone tire burns on a road somewhere in Ciudad Guayana, Bolivar state. Two cars and a tree branch complete the barricade:

The image below is apparently also from Ciudad Guayana, taken today. It shows empty shelves in a pharmacy, victims of the scarcity crisis:

Neighbours in Maracaibo blocking a local road: