This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/world/europe/billy-six-jail-venezuela.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
German Reporter Is Said to Face Espionage Charges in Venezuela German Reporter Is Said to Face Espionage Charges in Venezuela
(about 2 hours later)
BERLIN — A German freelance reporter is being held in a Venezuelan prison on charges that include espionage, rebellion and violation of security zones, according to his family and a nongovernmental organization.BERLIN — A German freelance reporter is being held in a Venezuelan prison on charges that include espionage, rebellion and violation of security zones, according to his family and a nongovernmental organization.
The journalist, Billy Six, 31, has been held in the Helicoide, a former shopping mall in Caracas that houses a detention center for Venezuela’s intelligence police, known as Sebin, since shortly after he was apprehended on the Paraguaná Peninsula, in the north of the country, according to a report from Espace Publico, a Venezuelan group that promotes human rights and free expression.The journalist, Billy Six, 31, has been held in the Helicoide, a former shopping mall in Caracas that houses a detention center for Venezuela’s intelligence police, known as Sebin, since shortly after he was apprehended on the Paraguaná Peninsula, in the north of the country, according to a report from Espace Publico, a Venezuelan group that promotes human rights and free expression.
Mr. Six, who has been reporting on social unrest and the economic collapse of the country since last year, was apprehended shortly after doing reporting for a story about Venezuelans leaving for Colombia. He was accused in a hearing on Nov. 18 by a military court of talking to the rebel group FARC and of photographing inside a security zone close to President Nicolás Maduro, the country’s embattled leader, according to the report by Espace Publico.Mr. Six, who has been reporting on social unrest and the economic collapse of the country since last year, was apprehended shortly after doing reporting for a story about Venezuelans leaving for Colombia. He was accused in a hearing on Nov. 18 by a military court of talking to the rebel group FARC and of photographing inside a security zone close to President Nicolás Maduro, the country’s embattled leader, according to the report by Espace Publico.
“The outrageous allegations are a clear sign that Billy Six is in jail because of his journalistic activities,” said Christian Mihr, the head of the German chapter of Reporters Without Borders.“The outrageous allegations are a clear sign that Billy Six is in jail because of his journalistic activities,” said Christian Mihr, the head of the German chapter of Reporters Without Borders.
“He never touched a weapon, never joined in any demonstrations,” his father, Edward Six, said in a telephone interview.“He never touched a weapon, never joined in any demonstrations,” his father, Edward Six, said in a telephone interview.
“They don’t have any proof of anything and there hasn’t been a proper trial.”“They don’t have any proof of anything and there hasn’t been a proper trial.”
Venezuela is facing its worst economic crisis ever, with runaway inflation and shortages of food and medicine forcing millions to flee, according to the United Nations.Venezuela is facing its worst economic crisis ever, with runaway inflation and shortages of food and medicine forcing millions to flee, according to the United Nations.
Of the three journalists known to be imprisoned in Venezuela this year, Mr. Six is the only foreign reporter, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The organization also notes, however, that several foreign reporters have been detained, expelled, or barred from entering the country in recent years.Of the three journalists known to be imprisoned in Venezuela this year, Mr. Six is the only foreign reporter, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The organization also notes, however, that several foreign reporters have been detained, expelled, or barred from entering the country in recent years.
In a letter Mr. Six’s parents said he had been able to smuggle out of prison, and which they posted to Facebook, Mr. Six writes that he will start a hunger strike unless a number of demands, including access to a lawyer and the German consulate, are met.In a letter Mr. Six’s parents said he had been able to smuggle out of prison, and which they posted to Facebook, Mr. Six writes that he will start a hunger strike unless a number of demands, including access to a lawyer and the German consulate, are met.
Mr. Six has reported from Venezuela, Colombia, Egypt and Ukraine. But he is largely unknown in his native Germany in part because he writes for a relatively obscure far-right weekly, Junge Freiheit, and the ultraconservative Deutschland-Magazin.Mr. Six has reported from Venezuela, Colombia, Egypt and Ukraine. But he is largely unknown in his native Germany in part because he writes for a relatively obscure far-right weekly, Junge Freiheit, and the ultraconservative Deutschland-Magazin.
His personal website shows him as an enthusiastic traveler with a right-wing view of the world who has often engaged in conspiracy theories.His personal website shows him as an enthusiastic traveler with a right-wing view of the world who has often engaged in conspiracy theories.
While Mr. Mihr, the head of the German chapter of Reporters Without Borders, says that the organization does not approve of Mr. Six’s repeated use of the word “Lügenpresse,” a Nazi-era term used by far-right groups to delegitimize the mainstream news media, but that his rights as a journalist are still paramount.While Mr. Mihr, the head of the German chapter of Reporters Without Borders, says that the organization does not approve of Mr. Six’s repeated use of the word “Lügenpresse,” a Nazi-era term used by far-right groups to delegitimize the mainstream news media, but that his rights as a journalist are still paramount.
“Billy Six is a journalist and, like any journalist, has the right to speak freely and without fear of persecution and detention everywhere,” Mr. Mihr wrote in an email exchange.“Billy Six is a journalist and, like any journalist, has the right to speak freely and without fear of persecution and detention everywhere,” Mr. Mihr wrote in an email exchange.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently 251 journalists imprisoned around the world.According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, there are currently 251 journalists imprisoned around the world.
The German consulate in Venezuela is aware of the situation and has been following his case, according the German foreign ministry. The German consulate in Venezuela is aware of the situation and has been following his case, according to the German foreign ministry.
This is not the first time Mr. Six has been imprisoned by a foreign government during a reporting trip. In early 2013, he spent several months in a Syrian prison after being apprehended for illegally entering that country. He was ultimately released in the care of the Russian ambassador and returned to Berlin, his hometown, that March.This is not the first time Mr. Six has been imprisoned by a foreign government during a reporting trip. In early 2013, he spent several months in a Syrian prison after being apprehended for illegally entering that country. He was ultimately released in the care of the Russian ambassador and returned to Berlin, his hometown, that March.
At the time, German news media described Mr. Six as an adventurer and noted that he contributed to Junge Freiheit because it provided him a forum and would publish his reports largely unedited.At the time, German news media described Mr. Six as an adventurer and noted that he contributed to Junge Freiheit because it provided him a forum and would publish his reports largely unedited.