SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Learn more.

Date of Incident: June 09, 2014

Attack Types: Travel Restrictions

Institution(s):Mérida | University of Los Andes

Region & Country:Americas | Venezuela

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On June 9, 2014, student leader Gaby Arellano was reportedly prevented from boarding a flight from Caracas to Merida, on the Venezuelan state airline CONVIASA. According to Ms. Arellano, she had booked her ticket and checked in for the flight, and was in the boarding area when airline workers informed her that her name had appeared on a no-fly list, maintained by CONVIASA, that includes social leaders, journalists and students who have publicly expressed controversial political views.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about apparent restriction on a student’s mobility based on non-violent expressive activity or her status as a student leader. State authorities have a responsibility not to interfere with a student’s right to free expression, so long as that activity is undertaken peacefully and responsibly.
Sources:
http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/140610/venezuelan-flag-airline-conviasa-bans-dissident-from-flying
http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/protestas-en-venezuela/140609/arellano-denuncio-que-conviasa-le-prohibio-viajar-a-merida
http://www.venezuelaaldia.com/2014/06/gaby-arellano-denuncia-que-no-le-permiten-viajar-en-conviasa-tuits/