2023-06-03 19:03:38
Amnesty International (AI) called on the Minister for the Penitentiary ServiceCelsa Bautista Ontiveros, “immediate medical attention” for the political prisoner Guillermo Zarragaa 59-year-old trade unionist in the oil sector.
“William has endured inhuman prison conditions and the authorities in charge of his physical integrity have unjustifiably and repeatedly neglected his health and well-being. Since his imprisonment, according to his family, Guillermo has lost 20 kilos and has not yet received adequate medical care for the cardiac syncope and the associated injuries he suffered in March (2023),” said the NGO when calling for urgent action in favor of of the trade unionist
AI recalled that the engineer is “unfairly” imprisoned in the Yare II Capital Region Penitentiary Center, Miranda state, that his detention by the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim) was “arbitrary” and that since then he has faced “ to unfounded criminal charges.”
In addition to the release of the trade unionist from his “arbitrary detention”, the NGO urges that he be guaranteed immediate, adequate and trustworthy medical attention while he is in state custody.
“Guillermo’s life cannot continue to be in danger due to the refusal of the prison authorities to guarantee his right to decent prison conditions and physical integrity,” the NGO urges.
The human rights defense organization warned that the prison authorities do not provide inmates with adequate drinking water and food, which is why Zárraga does not have his nutritional needs covered. He denounced that on May 16, the court ordered his transfer to a medical center but the order has not yet been complied with.
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The PDVSA engineer had 37 years of service and was a leader of the Single Union of Workers of the Falcón state. At the time of his arrest, he was working as an operator technician at the Cardón refinery in the Paraguaná Catalytic Complex.
“Guillermo’s trial was riddled with defects in the guarantees of due process that violate your right to a fair trial. Guillermo was reportedly arrested and charged on the basis of false or non-existent evidence; In addition, they denied him access to trusted legal assistance, and even coerced him into admitting the alleged crimes of which he was accused,” the NGO said.
AI stressed that the oil trade unionist has been accused and tried for criminal association and for the alleged disclosure of national security information related to the oil industry, without any evidence to support these accusations.
“Guillermo’s health has suffered a serious deterioration as a result of the inhuman conditions of confinement and the lack of adequate nutrition. In March he suffered a cardiac syncope and blood tests revealed severe alterations that need urgent and reliable medical treatment, “the NGO stressed.
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