The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) denounced this Tuesday, October 14, a new episode of systematic censorship against journalists and radio programs in Venezuela, following the order to prohibit any mention of the attack perpetrated in Bogotá against two exiled Venezuelan activists.

According to the union, several national radio stations received instructions to prevent them from discussing the armed attack that took place this Monday in the Colombian capital against human rights defenders Yendri Velásquez and Luis Pech. The measure included direct warnings to communicators and the temporary suspension of some journalists who attempted to address the issue on their programs.

The SNTP also recalled that, days ago, similar reprisals were imposed against press workers who mentioned the recent Nobel Peace Prize awarded to María Corina Machado, another topic banned from the news agenda by political orders.

"These actions represent a clear violation of freedom of expression and citizens' right to be informed," the union warned, calling the censorship a form of"violence against journalism."

The union rejected what it describes as a strategy to "erase from public conversation issues that bother those in power" and reaffirmed its support for the affected journalists, insisting on defending the free and dignified practice of journalism in Venezuela.