Death toll from protests in Venezuela rises to 24

Death toll from protests in Venezuela rises to 24
  • Given this situation, Provea warned of an escalation in the coming days of acts of reprisal and “exemplary punishment” | Photo: EFE

At least 24 people have died in Venezuela in protests against the official results of the July 28 presidential election, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Nicolás Maduro the winner, according to a report published Tuesday, August 6, by the NGO Provea.

“Provea’s records show that 24 people died between Sunday, July 28 and Monday, August 5 in events and protests related to the July 28 elections,” the organization said in the report published on its website.

He pointed out that the Directorate of Strategic and Tactical Actions (DAET) of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) is implicated in at least two cases of “murders” of protesters, in addition to other victims at the hands of armed civilians.

In at least nine of the murders of protesters reported (…) groups of pro-government armed civilians, or collectives, are indicated by eyewitnesses as possible perpetrators of the events,” he added.

The NGO indicated that the participation of these groups in “open coordination with law enforcement agents, in efforts to repress demonstrations, attacks on voting centers on election day, and acts of threats and harassment against opposition members” has been “widely documented.”

“Most of the protests have taken place in poor neighbourhoods and areas of Caracas and other cities in the country,” he added.

Warning of escalation of reprisals

Given this situation, Provea warned of an escalation in the coming days of acts of reprisal and “exemplary punishment” against the inhabitants of these sectors or public administration workers.

Penal Forum reported 46 arrests during protests on July 29
Photo: EFE/ Ronald Peña R.

He also said that he has already begun to receive complaints of harassment, dismissals and deterioration of working conditions of employees of state institutions.

“Denying people the human right to democracy and electoral truth and repressing those who claim these basic principles is a crime against human rights,” Provea added.

At least 91 teenagers are detained for the protests

On Monday, August 5, the NGO Foro Penal reported that at least 91 adolescents, out of a total of 1,010 arrested – which the Executive raises to 2,000 – have been detained in the nation in the context of these demonstrations against the announced result of the elections of July 28, which grant victory to Maduro, who is unrecognized by the opposition and part of the international community.

While the CNE has not published the minutes certifying Maduro’s victory, as required by law, the main anti-Chavez bloc released “83.5%” of these documents, which show, according to the opposition, that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.

With information from EFE

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2024-08-07 12:38:01

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