Assemblyman Barreto says Ibeyisse Pacheco has nothing to fear

www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, March 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Assemblyman Alberto Jordan Hernandez has asked the House Science, Technology and Media Committee to open an investigation to find out why top bracket opposition journalist, Ibeyisse Pacheco was harassed by security forces and threatened with arrest at her work place.

“There has been no explication whatsoever … they wanted to treat her as a common criminal … the intervention of the civil sector prevented her arrest.”

Committee president and Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) leader, Juan Barreto has apparently agreed to a subcommittee investigating abuses against journalists.

“My friend and colleague, Ibeyise Pacheco has 16 charges against her in several courts for alleged professional faults, libel, altering news items … there’s an arrest warrant on her because she has failed to turn up for a court hearing.”

Barreto contends that Pacheco has abused her profession by placing herself above the law and adds that he will hand the subcommittee a report alleging that an sound explosive device that went off last year at the entrance of El Nacional broadsheet where Pacheco works was thrown from the inside. “However, that does not incriminate Pacheco but if she has nothing to hide, she shouldn’t be afraid.”