Caracas, Nov 9 (EFE).- In Venezuela there are 1,963 “political prisoners”, according to the count of the non-governmental organization Foro Penal published this Saturday, when it registers five more compared to the balance of the previous week.
He indicated that, of the total, 1,836 were detained after the presidential elections on July 28, when a political crisis broke out after the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared President Nicolás Maduro the winner and the majority opposition denounced fraud.
According to figures published in X by the president of the NGO, Alfredo Romero, 69 of the “political prisoners” are minors and are between 14 and 17 years old.
Scale of #PoliticalPrisoners in Venezuela on 11/08/2024 by 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗼 𝗣𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹:
We have registered and qualified the largest number of prisoners for political purposes known in #Venezuelaat least in the 21st century. We continue to receive and register detainees.
𝗧𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘀… pic.twitter.com/CQ5czbGe06
— Penal Forum (@ForoPenal) November 10, 2024
On the other hand, 1,720 are men and 243 women, while 1,801 are civilians and 162 are military, always 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.”
This Friday, relatives of detainees concluded a prayer vigil near the Tocorón prison, in the state of Aragua (north), where they demanded the “full freedom” of the “political prisoners,” as reported at the time by the non-governmental organization Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners.
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Opposition leader María Corina Machado, who claims to be in hiding, expressed this Saturday her commitment to the freedom of “more than 3,500 political prisoners” in Latin America, including those – she claims – in Venezuela, which she trusts. also “will be free.”
#Penal #Forum #assures #political #prisoners #Venezuela
**Interview on Political Prisoners in Venezuela**
**Editor:** Today, we have Alfredo Romero, the president of Foro Penal, a leading NGO in Venezuela that monitors political imprisonment. Thank you for joining us, Alfredo.
**Alfredo Romero:** Thank you for having me.
**Editor:** Your recent report indicates there are now 1,963 political prisoners in Venezuela. Can you elaborate on how this number has changed recently?
**Alfredo Romero:** Yes, absolutely. This figure has increased by five since last week, highlighting the ongoing repression in the country, especially since the presidential elections held on July 28. The electoral process was met with widespread allegations of fraud by the opposition, which led to a significant spike in detentions.
**Editor:** According to your organization, a notable portion of these prisoners are minors. What can you tell us about that?
**Alfredo Romero:** Yes, tragically, 69 of the political prisoners are minors between the ages of 14 and 17. This is a deeply concerning development, as it reflects the regime’s disregard for youth and their rights in the context of political dissent.
**Editor:** You mentioned that the total includes both civilians and military personnel. What’s the breakdown of these figures?
**Alfredo Romero:** Sure. Out of the 1,963 prisoners, 1,801 are civilians and 162 are military. This suggests that the political repression is sweeping across all sectors of society, not just those traditionally seen as opposition figures.
**Editor:** Can you comment on the overall implications of this situation for human rights in Venezuela?
**Alfredo Romero:** The growing number of political prisoners indicates a systemic failure to uphold human rights in Venezuela. It is crucial for the international community to recognize this as a humanitarian crisis and to act accordingly to pressure the regime for reforms and the release of all political prisoners.
**Editor:** Thank you, Alfredo, for shedding light on this critical issue. We appreciate your insights and efforts in advocating for human rights in Venezuela.
**Alfredo Romero:** Thank you for giving me the opportunity to discuss this important topic.
