- Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the European External Action Service, said that Venezuela requires a “peaceful and democratic” solution | Main photo: EFE
The spokesperson for the European External Action Service, Nabila Massrali, told the EFE news agency on July 26 that the European Union (EU) described as “worrying” the continued arrests and intimidation of Venezuelan opposition leaders by the Venezuelan state.
“Political repression and calls for violence are unacceptable and have no place in an electoral process,” said Massrali, two days before the presidential elections on July 28.
According to the official, Venezuela needs a “peaceful and democratic solution” led by the country’s political sectors in order to restore political stability, economic growth and social well-being.
He reiterated that the EU “remains committed to supporting all efforts towards peaceful, competitive and transparent elections.”
The statements by spokeswoman Massrali came a day after the non-governmental organization (NGO) Amnesty International issued a warning in a statement denouncing the violation of human rights in Venezuela during the electoral campaign.
Amnesty International’s call
On July 25, Amnesty International’s Americas director, Ana Piquer, denounced that Nicolás Maduro’s government has committed “serious and massive human rights violations” in the midst of the electoral campaign for the elections on Sunday, July 28.
“The months leading up to these elections have been marked by incessant attacks on civic space, dozens of arbitrary arrests, forced disappearances, torture, reprisals against merchants and service providers to opposition members, and arbitrary and abusive administrative measures,” Piquer said.
The NGO requested that the arrests of people linked to the Venezuelan opposition cease “immediately” and demanded that the Venezuelan State “unequivocally” respect the rights of all people during and after the electoral process.
“In a context of threatening speeches, censorship and persecution, we demand that the authorities unequivocally guarantee and respect the rights of all people in Venezuela during and after this July 28,” he added.
The Americas director of Amnesty International recalled that, in her opinion, the International Criminal Court (ICC) would have jurisdiction to investigate the perpetrators of possible arbitrary detentions, torture, gender-based violence and political persecution.
Ana Piquer also urged the international community to monitor the human rights violations that she believes are being committed in Venezuela in order to help the victims.
“The international community must maintain an unrestricted commitment to human rights defenders who carry out a titanic task to protect the most vulnerable people in Venezuela. (…) We hope that they continue to pay attention and call for action to the Venezuelan authorities, in support of the efforts of the victims,” the NGO concluded.
With information from EFE
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2024-07-27 13:41:57
