The Penal Forum assured that the approved Amnesty Law is a «very small instrument» and “excessively discretionary” that leaves out hundreds of political prisoners. The NGO plans to deliver a document to the monitoring commission established by the National Assembly, once the law is promulgated in the Official Gazette, to review the cases of 232 people
Representatives of the Penal Forum affirmed this Friday that the Amnesty Law, approved on Thursday night and promulgated by Delcy Rodríguez, is a «very small instrument» and “overly discretionary”» which leaves out hundreds of political prisoners.
«The amnesty is a very small instrument, but it is an achievement»said Alfredo Romero, president of the Penal Forum, in a press conference.
Gonzalo Himiob, vice president of the NGO, highlighted that there are other measures that the Venezuelan State can take to release or release people detained for political reasons, whether for serving a sentence, excessive preventive detention, older adults, those with serious illnesses or some type of disability.
«The amnesty is a small step, but it is not the only step. We need to insist on the use of these tools beyond what the enacted amnesty says or does not say.»Himiob indicated.
Beyond the «obvious exclusions»Himiob said in reference to the more than 400 military and civilian prisoners linked to plotting military rebellions, «An important group of people is covered by the amnesty and they have the right to be declared ex officio at once or to request it.» immediately. He gave as examples the cases of workers and managers in the oil industry during 2002 and 2003 or of post-election prisoners in 2024 and 2025.
«It is no small thing because from July 29, 2024 to the end of 2025… 2,742 people were arrested, of which as of today there are still 2,186 under precautionary measures and 321 prisoners.»detailed the vice president of the Penal Forum.
*Read also: González hopes that an amnesty can be built that represents the entire country
Likewise, it was highlighted that although the amnesty covers 27 years in general, objectively and according to the limitations expressed in article 9, only 15 years are taken into account. However, from this period, only political events spanning 20 months are taken concretely.
Other «“big problem” for the Penal Forum is the lack of knowledge of the nature of victims of human rights violations, of political dissidence and of due process. «The law does not recognize that at the end of the day the repressive apparatus has not been dismantled. It remains in the hands of the same authorities who persecuted the people,” Himiob said.
«“If the due process established in the Constitution such as due defense is not respected, because not only are you not allowed to choose your lawyer but there are people whose whereabouts are unknown, even less can we have access,” explained Romero in reference to the forcibly disappeared.
The organization proposed four bases to continue with the demand for full restoration of freedom:
- Go immediately to court, once it is promulgated in the Official Gazette, for the corresponding procedures.
- Insist that the releases continue regardless of what the amnesty law says. «“The amnesty law fails to recognize the recipients’ character as victims of human rights violations.”
- Demand the adaptation of Venezuelan legislation, especially criminal legislation, so that it is in accordance with international human rights organizations.
- Full dismantling of the repressive apparatus and the restructuring of the Venezuelan penal system.
The Penal Forum plans to deliver a document to the monitoring commission established by the National Assembly, once the law is promulgated in the Official Gazette, to review the cases of 232 people. Among them are people with serious illnesses, 21 over 70 years of age, three with some disability, 208 who have exceeded the limits of preventive detention.
«These are cases in which there have been serious violations of human rights, violations of due process, violations of the right to defense. “Venezuelan laws perfectly allow all these people to be free immediately,” he noted.
«Here we are going to meet with whoever, we are going to continue insisting, but if civil society does not promote, freedom will not come from heaven. Freedom is fought for, pursued, and conquered through peaceful and legitimate means, but it is conquered. This Amnesty Law is a small piece, a small achievement on the part of the family members and the victims,” reaffirmed Alfredo Romero.
*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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