The Penal Forum confirmed that 95 people have been arrested since July 29 in Caracas

• Several people detained in the interior of the country are being tried by courts with jurisdiction over terrorism, according to the non-governmental organization | Main photo: EFE

The Penal Forum reported that it was able to verify that 95 people were arrested only in the city of Caracas since July 29, when protests began in rejection of the presidential election results issued by the National Electoral Council (CNE).

Alfredo Romero, president of the Penal Forum, offered this update during the night of Tuesday, July 30. He added that the detainees were being held at the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) station, Zone 7 of Boleíta,

At approximately 8:00 pm, the spokesperson for the non-governmental organization (NGO) assured that the State security agencies arrested 15 people after the Citizen assembly held in front of the headquarters of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Altamira (Chacao municipality) and the subsequent mobilization that was dissolved by police and military officials.

As of 7:00 pm on July 30, the NGO had documented 278 arrests across the country since July 28 in political or protest contexts. The Criminal Investigation Unit is expected to present an update on the figure on Wednesday, July 31.

The Penal Forum explained that it has activated a team of defenders to provide assistance to families and victims. It also published again the telephone numbers 0412 556 8211 and 0412 556 8212 to receive reports of arbitrary detentions.

Alfredo Romero | Photo: EFE/Manuel Diaz

Arrested in protests in the interior of the country

The Foro Penal team of defenders has progressively reported on the situation of those detained in different states. Some have denounced obstacles to receiving information and irregularities in judicial proceedings.

Arelys Ayala, coordinator of the Penal Forum in Anzoátegui, reported on Tuesday, July 30 at 11:37 pm that those detained in the context of the protests were assigned public defenders by order of the assigned court.

Ayala also explained that the Anzoátegui court declined jurisdiction and referred the case to a terrorism court. He added that 16 people were arrested in the state between July 28 and 29.

Laura Valbuena, coordinator of the NGO in Zulia, also reported that the cases of the citizens detained in Maracaibo and Villa del Rosario were changed to a court with jurisdiction over terrorism in the city of Caracas.

In the early hours of Wednesday, July 31, Valbuena reported that several detainees in different states of the country were given remote hearings without private defenders. He later confirmed that 9 of the detainees in Zulia were deprived of their liberty on charges of alleged terrorism. He also indicated that 3 people were released without a presentation hearing.

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