Juan Pablo Guanipa’s son denounces that the opposition leader has been detained for five months in isolation conditions and without access to his trusted lawyer. He says that the family can barely bring him food and describes the situation as “psychological torture” that, despite everything, his father faces firmly.
Five months after the arrest of Juan Pablo Guanipa, his son Ramón assures that the former vice president of the National Assembly remains incommunicado, with restricted visits and without the possibility of swearing in his trusted lawyer. «It is isolated. “That in itself is psychological torture,” he said, denouncing that the process is “totally stalled.” and that the family is only allowed to bring food and belongings.
Ramón recounted in Night D that the opposition leader is at a headquarters of the Bolivarian National Police in Maripérez and that the initial judicial presentation was electronic, with a public defender imposed. “His private lawyer was not allowed to be sworn in… a public defender was imposed on him,” he stated. He added that the habeas corpus introduced by the defense “was not admitted” and that, despite the 45 days of investigation having been completed, there is no proceeding to a hearing.
The statements were offered by Ramón Guanipa during an interview in the program Night D of SuchWhichwhere he also described the only visit he has been allowed in these months: «I saw him only once for 20 minutes… I did not see signs of physical torture, but he is totally isolated». He said that, even in those conditions, his father transmitted determination to him: “He told me that he was going to stay strong… that nothing and no one was going to break him.”
Regarding the family impact, Ramón stressed that they have faced a double shock—the recent death of their mother and the subsequent arrest of their father—and that the younger brothers have shown fortitude. “Our dynamic is restricted to bringing you food and things you need,” he said. Daily support falls on the second family ring: “They are the ones in charge of bringing all of my dad’s meals every day… the support has been unrestricted.”
He also described obstacles and institutional disdain: “I brought a document designating Joel García as a private attorney… and to my face they flat out told me no.” Even so, he says that they have gone to international bodies: “We have made our arrangements with organizations such as the IACHR and the UN… we are hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst.”
Ramón also reconstructed the moments of the capture and how, despite constant moves in hiding, they were able to locate his father. «My dad was able to move more than 14 times… he had just cut his hair. So that says to me, Maybe they found the barber or someone who was a friend of the barber and found his location.«he stated. Before, they had another hypothesis: that the tracking reached people who brought him food and medicine while he was hidden. In any case, he assured that the family did not know his whereabouts: “We never knew anywhere… I found out that he was in La Guaira when he was arrested.”
Regarding treatment in confinement, he said that, although there are no reports of physical abuse, the solitary confinement is severe: “He does not even have a cellmate… he barely knows the date of the day because he is given a newspaper.” And about prison logistics, He pointed out that they have not received undue demands for food or clothing, something they know happens in other centers.: “They have never asked us for anything… they have always received things from us.”
Ramón sent a message to the judicial authorities: «If you represent an investiture, comply with due process. What intimidates you that you do not allow my father to defend himself through lawyer Joel García? My invitation is to get rid of your fear and dare to have a fair trial.
Politically, Ramón Guanipa recalled his father’s link with the opposition leadership and thanked the solidarity with his family: “María Corina called us when they arrested my father and she has been keeping an eye on us.” He closed with an intimate definition: “We hope to get out of this soon, but we know that our father is a hero.”
*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.
Post Views: 419
