Hours before the arrival in Venezuela of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turkthe dictatorship of Nicolás Maduro unleashed a new wave of persecution once morest opponents and journalists.
On the one hand, the president of the newspaper The National, Miguel H Oterodenounced that the journalist José Gregorio Meza was detained by the Chavista security forces and that four other journalists from the outlet were summoned by the Justice.
Meanwhile, the Venezuelan opposition Dinorah Figueraexiled in Spain, denounced that the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim) raided her home in Caracas, two hours following alerting that the agents raided the house of the anti-Chavista Auristela Vasquez -which is also in the European nation-, both with arrest warrants once morest them.
“At this moment they are proceeding to search my home in Los Rosales, Caracas. Security officials of the regime, continuing with the strategy of State terrorism, adding another act to their long list of human rights violations,” the former deputy wrote on her Twitter account shortly before 6:00 p.m. local time (10:00 p.m. GMT).
Previously, Figuera had rejected, on the same social network, the “invasion” once morest the home of Vásquez, second vice president of Parliament elected in 2015, who maintains a group of former opposition deputies despite the fact that her term expired in January 2021, in rejection of the current legislature, controlled by chavismo.
In the opinion of Figuera -president of this parallel entity-, these facts show, ” once more, the cowardice and violence with which they continuously act”, in reference to the Venezuelan authorities.
“We hold Nicolás Maduro responsible for this new attack”, added the opponent, who asked the “international community and human rights defense organizations to be alert and register this action”.
On January 9, the Attorney General, Tarek William Saabreported the arrest warrants issued once morest Figuera, Vásquez and Marianela Fernández -first vice president of Parliament in 2015-, accused of the crimes of usurpation of functions, treason, money laundering and criminal association.
The official then assured that Venezuela made a request for red alert to Interpolfor which they expect the collaboration of Spain and the United States, where the former deputies reside.
The group of former parliamentarians elected in 2015 appointed last Thursday the five members that will make up the Council for the Administration and Protection of Assets of the country abroad, which were managed by Juan Guaidó since 2019, when he proclaimed himself interim president, a figure eliminated following At the end of December.
Besides, International Amnesty responded this Wednesday to Inspection, Regularization, Action and Financing of the Organization and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations project presented on the eve by the regime of Nicolas Madurofor which they seek persecute NGOs in the country. The body that advocates for human rights warned of this move and called for the immediate cessation of the initiative.
“On January 24, 2023, the Venezuelan National Assembly took its first step in approving a bill that seeks to control, restrict, and potentially criminalize and shut down NGOs operating in Venezuela. If this bill is approved, all Venezuelan NGOs will have to comply with abusive measures or face criminal proceedings,” the statement began.
Among these intrusive controls that AI points to are the disclosure of information regarding his financing, personal y governmentso the rights of association and privacy -among others- both these NGOs and their beneficiaries would be violated and would be at serious risk of criminalization and reprisals.
(With information from EFE)
Keep reading:
