Caracas, Nov 13 (EFE).- A group of relatives of detainees in a prison located in northern Venezuela held a vigil near the penitentiary center, which ended this Wednesday, to demand the freedom of those considered political prisoners and that -they maintain- can enjoy Christmas with their loved ones.
Through publications in relatives’ walk around the penitentiary center.
The protesters released white balloons, with the names of the detainees and “messages of freedom”, outside the San Francisco de Yare Prison, located in the state of Miranda, and also lit dozens of white candles with which they formed on the floor the word “justice.”
According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners, there are more than 300 detainees in that penitentiary center in the context of the post-electoral crisis, after the protests registered in rejection of the official result of the presidential elections of July 28, in which The National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed President Nicolás Maduro as the winner.
The largest opposition coalition in Venezuela – the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) – joined the petition of the relatives to demand the freedom of all “Venezuelans who are behind bars for dissenting from the regime of Nicolás Maduro, before and after 28 of July.
“May this Christmas be without political prisoners and may freedom be the beginning of the peaceful change that we Venezuelans decisively chose,” said the PUD in X.
According to the NGO Foro Penal, there are 1,963 “political prisoners” in Venezuela, of which 1,836 were detained after the presidential elections, in which the PUD claims that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.
Of the total, 69 are minors and are between 14 and 17 years old, according to the organization, which claims to register “the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in Venezuela, at least in the 21st century.”
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What are the hopes of Venezuelan families for holiday reunions?
## A glimmer of hope amidst uncertainty: Venezuelan families yearn for holiday reunions
**Interviewer:** Joining us tonight is Maria Garcia, a spokesperson for the group of families who recently held a vigil demanding the release of political prisoners in Venezuela. Maria, thank you for being here.
**Maria Garcia:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** This vigil near the prison was powerful. Can you tell us more about what led you and the other families to organize it?
**Maria Garcia:** We are tired of waiting. The holidays are approaching, a time for families to come together. We want our loved ones, who are unjustly detained, to be able to experience that joy, to celebrate Christmas with us.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned “political prisoners”. What makes you believe these detainees are being held for political reasons?
**Maria Garcia:** Many of these individuals were detained for peacefully expressing their political beliefs or participating in protests. They have been denied fair trials and are being held without proper justification. Their situation is a direct result of the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela.
**Interviewer:** The Venezuelan government recently released 10 American prisoners in exchange for a close ally of President Maduro. Does this give you any hope for the release of other detainees, perhaps even before Christmas?
**Maria Garcia:** We certainly hope so. This recent prisoner swap shows that negotiations and dialog are possible. We urge the Venezuelan government to consider the plight of these other prisoners, many of whom have been separated from their families for far too long. Their release would be a powerful gesture of goodwill and a step towards reconciliation.
**Interviewer:** What message do you have for the international community regarding the situation in Venezuela?
**Maria Garcia:** We need the world to pay attention to what’s happening here. We need your support in advocating for the release of these innocent individuals. We need to remind the Venezuelan government that the basic human rights of its citizens, including the right to freedom of expression and assembly, must be respected.
