- The PUD welcomed the August 9 statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in which he called for the release of those who have been victims of “arbitrary detentions.” Main photo: EFE
The Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD) denounced on Saturday, August 10, that political persecution “at inhuman levels” has been unleashed in Venezuela, following the elections of July 28, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Nicolás Maduro the winner.
“In recent days, repression and political persecution have reached inhuman and critical levels, with dozens of teenagers and hundreds of women and men being kidnapped for expressing their desire for change and a better future,” the bloc warned through X.
The coalition was referring to the more than 2,400 arrests that, according to the Executive, have been made in the last 13 days in the context of post-election protests, as well as in police and military operations on public roads and searches for people in their homes.
The PUD, which maintains that Edmundo González won the elections by a wide margin, welcomed the August 9 statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), in which he called for the release of those who have been victims of “arbitrary detentions.”
After González Urrutia’s electoral victory, it is our duty to continue to raise our voices, and these types of statements are important contributions that help our democratic and peaceful cause,”
added the bloc, which published “83.5% of the electoral records” to support its claim of fraud in the elections.
Arrests and violence in post-election protests
According to the non-governmental organization (NGO) Foro Penal, which leads the defense of political prisoners in the country, until August 10 1,303 verified arrests remainproduced in the post-electoral situation, which includes 170 women, 116 adolescents, 14 indigenous people and 16 people with disabilities.
The protests were marked by acts of violence and vandalism, resulting in 24 civilian deaths – according to the NGO Provea – as well as two military personnel deaths and nearly a hundred security agents injured.
The CNE, which claims to have suffered a cyber attack on July 28, has yet to publish disaggregated results confirming Maduro’s victory. This silence has been questioned by numerous countries and organizations, including The Carter Centerwhich participated as an observer in the elections.
Venezuelans demand freedom for all political prisoners
Hundreds of Venezuelans demonstrated in Caracas on August 8 to demand the release of political prisoners and to reject the repression of post-election protests.
“Freedom and peace” was written in the center of the plaza in Los Palos Grandes, where the protesters gathered around the two words made of lit candles, in an activity organized by the Democratic Unitary Platform.
During the demonstration, Provea’s legal coordinator, Marino Alvarado, indicated that there are “2,500 political prisoners,” the vast majority detained since July 29, and noted that “absolutely all of them are being subjected to the anti-terrorism law” that provides for sentences of up to 30 years in prison, the maximum in the country.
Human rights activist Leida Brito told EFE during the demonstration that people were “tired” of having “experienced 25 years of cruel treatment, arrests and silence,” referring to the length of time Chavismo has been in power.
In this regard, he condemned the fact that the government “wants to take away” from Venezuelans “the right to political change” in the country. For his part, Sairam Rivas, an activist from the Committee of Relatives of Political Prisoners, explained to EFE that the objective of the activity was “to demonstrate that the fight is for freedom and peace” in Venezuela, where – he denounced – there is “a situation of terror and persecution” against “the opposition.”
In recent weeks, we have experienced the greatest state terrorism, which we have already described as such,” he added.
With information from EFE.
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2024-08-11 04:29:32
