This Saturday, former political prisoner Vasco Da Costa passed away, who had been in a coma since last August 7 following have a stroke. This was reported by Alfredo Romero, director of the Penal Forum.
“Today Vasco Da Costa passed away, who was a political prisoner twice. My deepest condolences to his brothers Ana and Tony. Peace to his soul,” he wrote on his Twitter account.
#13Ag Today Vasco Da Costa passed away, who was a political prisoner twice. My deepest condolences to his brothers Ana and Tony. Peace to his soul. pic.twitter.com/QU3ynO5xll
– Alfredo Romero (@alfredoromero) August 14, 2022
His remains will be veiled in the chapel of Father Machado in Montalbán, in Caracas, according to human rights defender Lisbeth Añez.
Vasco Da Costa will be veiled tomorrow Sunday in the Chapel of the nuns of Father Machado in Montalbán, his brothers Anita and Toni invite us to say goodbye to him. RIP pic.twitter.com/QfXXdqvKcA
— Lisbeth Añez/Mom Lis (@MomLisVzla) August 14, 2022
Vasco Da Costa served as a political scientist and activist for the Venezuelan Nationalist Movement. He was imprisoned twice, during the government of Hugo Chávez and, later, of Nicolás Maduro. But on September 1, 2020, he received the “pardon” decreed by Maduro.
However, following being released, Da Costa denounced the torture to which he was subjected while he was detained at the Ramo Verde National Center for Military Processed Persons, in Miranda state.
Politicians mourned the death of Vasco Da Costa
Through social networks, several personalities from Venezuelan politics, such as Leopoldo López, Delsa Solórzano, among others, lamented the death of the political scientist.
“We deeply regret the death of Vasco Da Costa, a former political prisoner of the Maduro dictatorship, following a stroke. Vasco was the victim of tireless torture and human rights violations. Our condolences to his sister, Ana, and his entire family. Peace to his soul”, expressed the leader of Voluntad Popular.
We deeply regret the death of @VascoDaCostaformer political prisoner of the Maduro dictatorship, following a stroke.
Vasco was the victim of tireless torture and human rights violations.
Our condolences to his sister Ana and the whole family.
Peace to your soul. pic.twitter.com/Uwas0xnTHQ
– Leopoldo López (@leopoldolopez) August 14, 2022
For her part, Tamara Sujú, a lawyer and human rights activist, recalled that Da Costa’s testimony at the International Criminal Court “attests to his persecution, courage and struggle.”
“Vasco leaves a great void in his nationalist movement, in the hearts of his fighting friends. In his family, Ana, Tony. And in those who met him in the streets fighting for the freedom of his country”, said Sujú.
#Venezuela. My dear friend Vasco Manuel Da Costa Morales (1959-2022) is gone. The Political Prisoner of Chavez and Maduro. Victim of the worst torture that can be committed once morest a human being. His testimony and his case in the @IntlCrimCourt attest to their Pursuit, Bravery and Struggle. pic.twitter.com/nhooxkeCNY
— Tamara Suju (@TAMARA_SUJU) August 14, 2022
Vasco Da Costa, fighter for democracy, political prisoner, brutally tortured by the dictatorship on several occasions, has died today following days of agony. Vasco leaves us, without seeing his dream of freedom crystallized. We will honor your memory, friend.
Video from 3/11/21 pic.twitter.com/81JW5Hdesz– Delsa Solorzano (@delsasolorzano) August 14, 2022
