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.”
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What strategies are being used by Maria Rodriguez and her group to advocate for the release of Venezuelan political prisoners?
## Relishing the Moment but Hoping for More: A Conversation on Venezuelan Prisoner Release
**Guest:** Maria Rodriguez, Organizer of the Vigil
**Host:** Maria, thank you for joining us today. Recently, there was a significant prisoner exchange between Venezuela and the United States. While many celebrate this news, your group held a vigil for other prisoners still jailed in Venezuela. Can you tell us about the vigil and its purpose?
**Maria:** Absolutely. While we are relieved to see seven Americans released, our joy is tinged with sorrow for those still unjustly detained in Venezuela. Our vigil, held near a northern penitentiary, was a plea for their freedom. We want them to experience the joy of Christmas with their families. These individuals are often labeled “political prisoners,” and their continued detention is a source of deep pain for those of us who love them.
**Host:** What message do you hope to send by holding this vigil?
**Maria:** We want to shine a light on the plight of these prisoners, many of whom are being held without due process or fair trials. We hope to pressure the Venezuelan government to release them, allowing them to reunite with their families. This is not just about individual cases; it’s about the fundamental right to liberty and justice.
**Host:** The recent prisoner exchange sparked conversations about future negotiations. Are you hopeful that this could pave the way for the release of other Venezuelan detainees?
**Maria:** We certainly hope so. The exchange demonstrates that dialog and negotiation can lead to positive results. We urge both the Venezuelan and US governments to continue these negotiations and prioritize the release of all political prisoners as a matter of urgency.
**Host:** Thank you, Maria, for sharing your story and bringing attention to this critical issue.
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