SAN LUIS POTOSÍ, Mexico.- Edwin Santos, leader of the opposition party Venezuelan Voluntad Popular, would have been murdered just 12 hours after being kidnapped by State Security officials, according to the organization’s complaint in a statement issued this Friday.
The diary The World He stated that Santos’ body was found this Thursday at the foot of a bridge in the border state of Apure and showed signs of torture.
According to the Voluntad Popular note, the leader 36-year-old had disappeared Wednesday afternoon. Several witnesses from the area stated that he had been detained by “State security officials” and later transferred to a headquarters of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM). The facts were confirmed by Voluntad Popular, according to what they claim.
“Edwin Santos was a fundamental actor in the victory of the democratic forces on July 28 in Apure,” wrote Voluntad Popular.
Voluntad Popular responsibly and with deep pain denounces before the country and the international community the murder of Edwin Santos at the hands of the Maduro regime. pic.twitter.com/HitV6qePCZ
— Popular Will (@PopularVoluntad) October 25, 2024
The party blames “the regime of Nicolás Maduro”, the DGCIM, the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) and other local officials for the death of the opponent.
“We will fight for an independent investigation, which begins with an independent autopsy, to clarify the causes of his murder and determine those responsible for the incident,” they detailed.
The opposition leader Maria Corina Machadofor its part, repudiated the alleged murder of Santos and emphasized: “This has escalated to another level of violence and evil. “A citizen is kidnapped for political reasons, murdered while under the power of security forces and his body is left in the street.”
WORLDWIDE ALERT
This is heartbreaking.
They murdered Edwin.
A young political leader and Catholic volunteer, father of two small children. Popular Will Activist and our Director of the Con Vzla Command in the San Camilo parish in Nula, Apure state.
A good man and… pic.twitter.com/Dtwa0FP7WV— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) October 25, 2024
“Venezuelans, we have already defeated this regime, and we have to put an end to this barbarism. For Edwin we have to enforce the Constitution, respect for human rights and National Sovereignty. This has to stop! Neither one dead nor one more prisoner! he exclaimed.
When socializing the complaint about his disappearance, Voluntad Popular had stated on the social network
The last communication with Santos occurred on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 23, at approximately 4:00 pm, when he was heading on his motorcycle towards the community of El Piñal.
