- Of the total number of reported arrests, half occurred in Táchira state, according to the NGO Laboratorio de Paz | Photo: José Daniel Ramos / Referencial
A total of 76 arbitrary arrests in Venezuela were recorded by the NGO Laboratorio de Paz —in 15 days of the electoral campaign for the presidential elections on July 28— according to a report published on Saturday, July 20 by said organization, without specifying whether any of those people have been released.
Through X, the NGO warned of an “increase in state political violence,” “arrests” and the “judicialization of the right to political participation,” as well as the “blocking and attacks on media and organizations that defend freedom of opinion and expression.”
Of the total number of arrests recorded between July 4 and 19, 38 were in Táchira state, according to Laboratorio de Paz, which also collects data from other organizations.
The NGO also indicated that, in the first 15 days of the campaign, it recorded 28 cases of “harassment” – a dozen of them, it said, by agents of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) -, six “physical or psychological attacks”, 20 cases of “retaliation for providing goods and services to candidate campaigns” and four “cases of attempted retention of property”.
On the other hand, there were 13 cases of “violation of freedom of expression and information” and five “blockages of information verification sites and websites”, while “proselytizing propaganda in favor of the official candidate (President Nicolás Maduro)” was observed on portals and “social networks of public institutions”.
They demand guarantees for political participation
The Peace Laboratory recalled that competitive and legitimate political participation “requires the cessation of practices that threaten the full exercise of freedoms that guarantee that people can peacefully express, assemble and manifest their preferences and future options in electoral campaigns.”
He therefore called for “allowing a campaign with real guarantees of competitiveness” and for “the cessation of arbitrary arrests,” as well as “respecting and guaranteeing full conditions for political expression and participation.”
As of Wednesday, July 17, the main opposition coalition – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – had recorded more than 70 arrests, including that of the head of security for opposition leader María Corina Machado, Milciades Ávila, who was released on Thursday, July 18, on precautionary measures, following more than 36 hours in detention.
Politically motivated arrests increased
On July 16, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Foro Penal warned regarding an increase in political prisoners in Venezuela. Alfredo Romero, president of the organization, counted at that time 301 people detained for political reasons in the country.
He also said that at least 102 of the arrests were related to the team of leader María Corina Machado or were collaborators or opposition leaders in the interior of the country.
This week, 11 people were arrested, which is a significant number and it seems that the arrests will continue,” Romero said at a press conference that same day.
Of the 301 political prisoners, 93 have not completed their judicial proceedings and are awaiting possible preventive measures for release.
Ten candidates will compete in these upcoming elections, including the head of state, who is seeking a third consecutive six-year term in power, and the candidate of the PUD, Edmundo González Urrutia.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-22 01:18:58
