- The US diplomatic office demanded respect for Venezuelans’ right to demonstrate
The United States Embassy in Venezuela published a message on its social media accounts to demand that the government of Nicolás Maduro stop the repression in the country.
“No more repression, arbitrary arrests and harassment against the right of the Venezuelan people to express themselves and demonstrate,” the diplomatic office said on August 18.
In addition, the US Embassy reaffirmed its support for citizens seeking “freedom and democracy” through demonstrations against the results offered by the National Electoral Council (CNE) that proclaimed Nicolás Maduro as re-elected president without showing the minutes that support them after the elections of July 28. While the Command with Venezuela defends the victory of Edmundo González based on the 84% of the electoral records which he claims to possess.
“The Venezuelan people deserve to live in a country where their human rights are respected and they can express themselves freely and peacefully,” said the account of the US mission operating in Colombia since January 2019.
Freedom of expression in Venezuela
The U.S. Embassy in Venezuela also stressed that freedom of expression is not a privilege, but a universal right.
“The international community must stand firm in their defense. We remain committed to supporting Venezuelans in their quest for freedom and democracy,” the U.S. delegation said.
The message came amid a post-election crisis with opposition protests that have left more than twenty people dead and repression by law enforcement that has left thousands of people arrested.
“No more repression, arbitrary arrests and harassment of the right to express oneself and to demonstrate, including the seizure of equipment belonging to the democratic opposition,” the US diplomatic message said.
According to the August 18 report of the non-governmental organization (NGO) Foro Penal, the number of detainees In the context of the protests, the number has risen to 1,503.
Among those deprived of liberty are 129 adolescents, 14 indigenous people, 18 people with disabilities and 200 women, he detailed in his X account.
International community calls for an end to repression in Venezuela
The United Nations (UN) Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela published a statement on August 12 to demand that the government of Nicolás Maduro “immediately stop the growing repression that is shaking the country” following the presidential elections.
The organization described that “the protests in the streets and on social media in the weeks following the elections gave way to fierce repression by the State machinery.” In the text, the Mission noted that these actions ordered “from its highest authorities” have “created a climate of widespread fear.”
The experts pointed out that the “vast majority” of arrests occurred when they “expressed their rejection of the result of the presidential election announced by the authorities” or “after participating in protests or expressing their opinions on social media.” The Mission stressed that arbitrary detentions represent “serious violations of due process.”
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, asked the Venezuelan government on July 31 end the arrests and other measures against opposition members in that country.
“The Venezuelan authorities must end the arrests, repression and violent rhetoric against members of the opposition. The threats against Edmundo González and María Corina Machado are unacceptable,” Borrell said on the social network X.
The head of European diplomacy added that “authorities and security forces must guarantee respect for human rights.”
Related news
#Embassy #calls #repression #arbitrary #arrests #Venezuela
2024-08-19 18:11:02
