Caracas, Nov 9 (EFE).- Several non-governmental organizations in Venezuela demanded this Saturday “justice and freedom” for the activist Rocío San Miguel, president of the NGO dedicated to military affairs Control Ciudadano, who was detained on February 9 of this year in an “arbitrary” manner.
The Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy denounced the “injustice committed against Rocío San Miguel”, whose fundamental rights – it assured – “have not been respected«.
“We demand justice and freedom for Rocío and all the political prisoners,” the NGO expressed through the social network X, where it shared a photograph of the activist.
For its part, Justicia, Encuentro y Perdón (JEP) assured that San Miguel is a “tireless defender of human rights who deserves justice,” which is why the organization, in a message on X, requested her release, as well as the cessation of “arbitrary detentions.”
The president of Control Ciudadano is one of the 243 women who, according to the NGO Foro Penal, are imprisoned for “political” reasons in the country, out of a total of 1,958, the vast majority arrested after the presidential elections on July 28.
San Miguel, accused by the Public Ministry (MP, Prosecutor’s Office) of having an alleged link with a conspiracy that included an assassination plan against President Nicolás Maduro, was detained at the Maiquetía international airport, which serves Caracas, when she was to travel in the company of his daughter.
Attorney General Tarek William Saab said in February that San Miguel “provided information” about military defense systems to a European Union (EU) ambassador and embassies of three other countries.
Last July, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated that his institution has documented an increase in “threats, harassment and assaults against civil society actors, journalists, trade unionists and other critical voices.” ».
Türk then denounced 38 cases of “arbitrary detention” in this sense, and mentioned the specific cases of San Miguel and Carlos Julio Rojas, “detained since February 9 and April 15, respectively, without access to a defense of their choice.” ».
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**Interview with a Representative of the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today. Can you provide us with an update on Rocío San Miguel and the situation surrounding her detention?
**Representative:** Thank you for having me. Rocío San Miguel, a well-known activist and president of Control Ciudadano, was detained in an arbitrary manner on February 9th of this year. Since then, there has been a growing concern among non-governmental organizations about her treatment and the violation of her fundamental rights.
**Editor:** What specific actions have the Coalition for Human Rights and Democracy taken in response to her detention?
**Representative:** We are actively advocating for her release and demanding justice not just for Rocío but for all political prisoners in Venezuela. Recently, we used social media platforms to raise awareness of her situation, sharing her story and emphasizing the need for justice and freedom. This is a moral obligation for us, as human rights defenders.
**Editor:** How has the public reacted to Rocío’s detention?
**Representative:** There has been significant public support for her. Many people in Venezuela and abroad are rallying together, demanding her release and condemning the actions of the government. The solidarity shown is critical, as it puts pressure on authorities to respect human rights.
**Editor:** Moving forward, what are the next steps for your organization concerning this situation?
**Representative:** Our focus is on international advocacy. We plan to engage with human rights organizations globally to shed light on Rocío’s case and the broader issue of political repression in Venezuela. Additionally, we will continue to mobilize local communities to keep this issue in public discourse.
**Editor:** Thank you for that update. It’s essential to continue advocating for those whose voices have been silenced.
**Representative:** Absolutely, and thank you for helping us bring more attention to this matter. We must ensure that Rocío and all political prisoners are not forgotten.
