[NYTr] VHeadline's NY CorrespondentAssaulted iin Manhattan

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

[Sanchez's crime seems to have been carryhing a copy of Bart Jones's
bigraphy "Hugo!" -NY Trsansfer]

VHeadline.com - Oct 1, 2007
http://www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=76126

VHeadline's NY correspondent John Sanchez assaulted in Manhattan

VHeadline Venezuela correspondent and AVRN Newshour anchorman John
Sanchez has been assaulted during a fracas at the El Cocotero
Venezuelan restaurant at 228 West 18th Street in New York.  The
incident took place at the weekend after Sanchez visited the locale
which invites to "come join us for breakfast, lunch, brunch or dinner
in our warm, casual cafe," also claiming that "our friendly service,
warm d�cor and authentic specialties such as arepas, pabellon and many
others will transport you back to Venezuela."

Colleague Sanchez, however, quickly discovered that the service was
distinctly "unfriendly" when, instead of tucking into delicious arepas
he found himself transported, not to Venezuela, but to the sidewalk
outside the door.

A distraught John Sanchez said: "While I was attempting to have dinner
with a Venezuelan journalist friend, Joey Cano, at the El Cocotero on
Saturday night, I was subjected to a volley of insults from the owner
of the establishment, Luis Quintero who began to shout at me and call
me names after he saw that I was carrying a copy of Bart Jones' latest
book 'HUGO'."

It was apparent that he (Quintero) had no knowledge of the content of
Jones' book but was seemingly inflamed by the cover photograph of the
President of the Republic.  Just minutes later my fellow journalist and
I where kicked out of the restaurant by Quintero who yelled after us
that we were liars, thieves and other derogatory names.

"It's such a pity that some people are blinded by an intense hatred of
President Chavez to the extent that they will use violence to try to
enforce their particular point of view," says Sanchez.  "We at
VHeadline are totally committed to democracy, constitutionality and the
rule of law.  This is NOT the way to conduct a reasoned political
discussion."

VHeadline reporters have this morning attempted to contact Mr. Quintero
the proprietor of the El Cocotero (212) 206-8930 for comment on the
incident but were referred to voicemail.

Photo caption:
Scene of incident: El Cocotero, 228 W 18th St, New York, NY 10011,
Phone: (212) 206-8930