The Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth asked Minister Zerpa to allow the entry of letters and photographs of family members and loved ones, as a measure to support the mental health of the inmates, as well as the entry of a greater amount of food for the detainees.
The Committee of Mothers in Defense of the Truth went to the Ministry of Penitentiary this Wednesday, October 29, to request, in writing, improvements in the conditions of confinement and respect for the rights of their relatives detained in the Aragua Penitentiary Center, better known as Tocorón.
In the communication delivered to Minister Julio García Zerpa, the mothers acknowledged that in recent weeks “a partial improvement has been achieved in access to sports and recreational activities, as well as in the amount of food that we are allowed to bring to them.” However, they warned that the food ration remains insufficient, which “increases the risks of malnutrition, especially for those whose families do not have the possibility of visiting them or providing them with other food.”
The document also emphasizes the urgency of carrying out fumigation in the prison facilities “to prevent the spread of dengue and the presence of rodents.” The relatives reported that “in recent weeks the presence of rats has been observed in some cells, which constitutes a great health risk, specifically due to leptospirosis, a disease that is transmitted through rat urine.”
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They also described that “next to the penitentiary center, sewage is exposed on the street, generating bad odors and the proliferation of mosquitoes and flies,” noting that this situation has caused infections and skin abscesses in several detainees.
The members of the Mothers’ Committee also requested that letters and photographs from family members and loved ones be allowed to enter, as a measure to support the mental health of inmates. «Many boys are depressed and several have tried to take their lives. Not everyone’s family can visit them, so having photos and messages could alleviate their isolation and give them hope for justice and freedom,” they expressed.
According to the Committee, there are nearly 400 people deprived of liberty in the post-election context of July 2024. They say that the majority are young people from popular sectors without political militancy, who are charged with crimes such as terrorism or inciting hatred. “None of the children of our families are responsible for the serious crimes attributed to them or for acts of violence against people,” they stressed.
The mothers reiterated that they will continue their journey through government institutions to demand justice, amnesty and the freedom of their relatives. “We will continue to insist so that our children can spend Christmas at home,” they stated.
*Journalism in Venezuela is carried out in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments in place to punish the word, especially the laws “against hate”, “against fascism” and “against the blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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