The family of journalist Julio Balza, detained on January 9 at the exit of the opposition rally in Chacao, expressed that one day after the arrest they do not know his whereabouts, which is why they demanded that the authorities release him and that in the event of an investigation do without keeping him behind bars
The National Union of Press Workers (SNTP) shared this Friday, January 10, a video of the parents of Julio Balza, arrested on January 9 when he was leaving the concentration in Chacao, in which they demand to know the whereabouts of their son .
Rosa Marlene Maldonado, the journalist’s mother, reported that her son was arrested near Sambil de Chacao on Thursday, January 9. Since then their whereabouts have been unknown. «No one has told us anything. We don’t know where it is. “My son is a journalist, not a terrorist,” he said.
Julio Balza Altuve, also a journalist and father of the detainee, called on Nicolás Maduro, whom he said he knew, as well as the attorney general to release his son: “He was unjustly detained. He has not committed any crime… Investigate what you want but set him free,” he said.
*Read also: CNP Zulia reported the arrest of journalists Leandro Palmar and Salvador Belises
Rosa Marlene Maldonado reported that her two children had attended the rally and that when they were leaving they were intercepted by hooded individuals at the Sambil in Chacao. They released one, while Julio Balza was left in the hands of officials.
The family told SNTP that until January 10, one day after the arrest, no one has called them to inform them about their status. “I ask the person responsible for this to release my son.”“My son is a journalist, my son is not a terrorist, I did not raise any terrorist, I raised a good man, a man of principles,” he expressed.
Balza belongs to the communications team of Vente Venezuela, a political organization founded by María Corina Machado and one of the most persecuted after the presidential elections of July 28. Come registers dozens of detainees to his team in recent months.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content is being published taking into consideration the threats and limits that have consequently been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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