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.”
.
#Relatives #demand #freedom #political #prisoners #vigil #prison
What are the potential implications of the prisoner swap for the future of US-Venezuela relations, including the possibility of further engagement on issues like humanitarian aid and political reform?
Let’s bring in our Latin America correspondent, Maria Rodriguez, to discuss the recent prisoner release in Venezuela and the ongoing calls for the freedom of political prisoners. Maria, thanks for joining us.
**Maria:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, Maria, we recently saw a prisoner swap deal between the U.S. and Venezuela, with the release of 10 Americans. What is the reaction to this news in Venezuela, particularly among the families of political prisoners?
**Maria:** The reaction is deeply complex. While the release of the American prisoners is welcome news, it highlights the plight of many Venezuelans who remain detained, often under politically-motivated charges. Families of these individuals held a vigil outside a prison near Caracas recently, demanding their loved ones’ release in time for Christmas. [[1](https://www.npr.org/2023/12/20/1220615028/biden-venezuela-fat-leonard)]
**Host:** This prisoner swap is politically charged, to say the least. How do you see this impacting the broader US-Venezuela relationship?
**Maria:** It’s a delicate balancing act. This exchange shows a willingness to engage from both sides, but it doesn’t necessarily signal a major thaw in relations. The Biden administration granted clemency to a Maduro ally as part of the deal, which will likely be met with criticism from some quarters. It remains to be seen if this can lead to further progress on issues like humanitarian aid or political reform.
**Host:** And back to the families of political prisoners in Venezuela, what are their next steps?
**Maria:** They are determined to keep the spotlight on their loved ones’ cases. They are calling for international pressure on the Venezuelan government to release all political prisoners and for independent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses within the prison system.
**Host:** Maria Rodriguez, thank you for providing this insightful perspective on this complicated story.
