CARACAS.- The NGO Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea) denounced that the government of Nicolás Maduro has broken the record of historical figures of repression in Venezuela in recent weeks, that surpass dictatorial regimes on the continent.
More than 2,400 people arbitrarily detained in 16 days, 150 arrests per day, far exceeding the records of the protests of 2014, 2017 and 2019; twice as many detained-disappeared people daily in Chile during the months of September and December 1973, after Augusto Pinochet’s coup d’état.
These figures are from a report by Provea The NGO said that the disproportionate use of force and coordination between security forces and paramilitary groups have left 24 people dead in just 4 days, figures not seen since 2019.
The CNE announced Maduro’s “victory” in the early hours of June 29, amid serious allegations of a lack of transparency and without full access to the voting records.
Witnesses report actions by armed groups and security agents, attacking citizens waiting for results at polling stations.
“In Caracas, Provea documented how at least 600 pro-government motorcyclists tried to force their way into the Andrés Bello High School to prevent the vote count.”the non-governmental organization said.
Violence spread to other regionswith murders in entities such as Aragua, where six people died from gunshot wounds.
Provea has recorded at least 50 cases of forced disappearancesin which victims were illegally detained by security forces and paramilitary groups, often without their families having any information about their whereabouts.
The government has intensified the Operation Tun-Tuna massive campaign of persecution directed against opponentssocial leaders and protesters: Warrantless raids, arbitrary arrests and acts of violence and looting by security forces have been reported, he explained.
Provea urges:
- Calls on the international community to make strong statements and take measures to ensure respect for human rights in Venezuela. In addition to an independent verification of the minuteswith effective international monitoring, crucial to protect the Venezuelan will.
- Citizens are urged to continue demanding the transparent publication of election results and to remain firm in defending their rights, documenting and denouncing every abuse.
- And alert the International Criminal Court and its Prosecutor @KarimKhanQC about this systematic policy of repression which has only been accentuated, are part of a pattern of violations that must be considered in the investigation at the ICC for crimes against humanity, Venezuela.
These facts must be incorporated to ensure justice for thousands of victims.since in Venezuela there is no separation of powers and the judicial system is part of the repressive body of the State, denounced by the UN Fact-Finding Mission, Provea pointed out.
The fight for democracy and respect for human dignity is more urgent than ever in Venezuela, concluded the NGO that has been denouncing the systematic violations of human rights in the country.
