“In Venezuela, Repression Works” – DW – 08/21/2024

“Repression works in Venezuela, and people are very afraid. Within the structure Operation Tun Tun Government officials and public forces come to homes; Without a court order, people are taken away – in one form or another – for demonstrating against the current government's electoral victory. The entrances to the detention centers are full of relatives looking for their people, asking for proof of life,” Maria Pia Alvira, regional head of Latin America for the Civil Rights Defenders organization, told DW.

The international watchdog is one of 25 signatories calling on the international community to focus on and support victims of the severe human rights crisis that is compounding the political crisis in Venezuela.

Where and how are the detainees?

“It is difficult to specify where or how they are. The prisoners are kept in secret and cannot speak to their families or their trusted lawyers,” Gonzalo Himiob, director of the Foro Penal organization, told DW.

This human rights organization – provides legal aid Pro bono Arbitrarily Detained – As of July 28, 1,503 prisoners. These figures do not correspond to those circulated by Nicolás Maduro, who speak of more than two thousand people.

“In fact, they do not even correspond to those given by the Public Ministry. With these figures, Mr. Maduro tries to magnify what is already very extreme, of course, but does not reach that extreme. The desire to carry out threatening action. It neutralizes the people who want to protest,” explains Himeop. Statistics handled by the Foro Penal come from its investigations into detention centers and complaints.

“Since we have been able to investigate through relatives, we know that the prisoners have been transferred: a significant group of women are sent to INOF (National Women's Orientation Institute) and Crisalidas in Los Tex; adults are sent to national. prisons and juveniles to detention centers in different states,” says the director of the Foro Penal.

“But there is no official information or communication. A civil servant has been appointed to protect them,” insists Himeop, pointing to another grave abuse: the violation of the right to self-defense and due process. The basis of these arrests is lack of knowledge about the right to freedom of expression, movement and demonstration.

What are they accusing?

“It is very difficult to know what they are accused of. However, the same public ministry announced in the first days of the demonstrations that those who took part in the protests would be charged with terrorism, incitement to hatred, sedition and blocking public roads,” said Foro Penalin, an organization that works with a network of volunteer lawyers. The director points out.

“They also use another punitive tool: canceling passports without notice. For Venezuelans who have been exiled and for those still in the country,” says María Pia Alvira. The scope of this mechanism of social control over those who voiced or collaborated in elections representing opposition parties was enormous. “They cannot return, they cannot leave, they cannot circulate,” the order from civil rights defenders explains.

No documents, no security

In this situation of insecurity, the countries that host Venezuela must provide them with support. Note that security organizations are outlawed by the recently approved “Anti-NGO Law”. “This is a further obstacle to the protection of rights within the country,” warns Alvira, who, for example, needs a national registry if the country knows of a “severe crisis” in order to receive funds from the European Union. It will soon become impossible.

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“Our call is for the international community to take into account that the political crisis is accompanied by a serious human rights crisis; solidarity with Venezuelan civil society is needed,” he concludes.

(RML)