Fifty days after the arrest without a court order of union leader José Elías Torres, his family denounces that there is no official information about his whereabouts or his state of health. They demand his immediate release along with that of all political prisoners
The family of José Elías Torres, president in charge of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), reported this January 21 that 50 days have passed since his detention without a court order, with no official information to date regarding his whereabouts, state of health or the charges against him, which they classify as a forced disappearance.
Mario Torres, son of the union leader, warned that since the moment of the arrest, on November 29 of last year, they have not received any formal notification from the authorities. «We do not know where he is, how he is or what he is accused of. This constitutes a serious violation of human rights,” he said in a public video.
According to the son’s testimony, they have received unofficial information that José Elías Torres would be held in Helicoide, headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin). “We have been told that he has been heard shouting his name when the door to his cell opens, but the authorities refuse to confirm any information,” he added.
Torres is 74 years old and, according to his relatives, requires daily medication due to various health conditions, which increases concern for his physical integrity. Furthermore, Mario Torres warned that there would be an order to “fabricate a case” to appear legal, charging him with common crimes with the aim of separating him from the group of political prisoners and prolonging his detention.
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In the coming days, the authorities have called meetings on social dialogue, within the framework of compliance with Convention 26 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), a process in which José Elías Torres was one of the main participants: “It is contradictory that there is talk of social dialogue while one of its key actors remains missing,” his son highlighted.
The family maintains that the arrest would be related to the international complaints made by Torres to the ILO, among them the alerts about the so-called union constituent, the violations of collective agreements and the arrest of union leaders in the country. For this reason, he made a special call to the ILO and international unions to maintain pressure on the Venezuelan State.
Mario Torres also questioned the official discourse on human rights: “Now that the regime talks about international law and human rights, I ask how they justify what they are doing with the political prisoners and especially with my father,” he expressed.
Those close to José Elías Torres demanded his immediate freedom, that of his companions and that of all political prisoners, to allow family reunion and put an end to what they consider systematic violations of human rights. They recalled that more than 600 people remain detained without clear information about their situation.
A process of releases has been underway in the country since last December and although the authorities say that precautionary measures have been granted to more than 400 people detained for political reasons, human rights NGOs have not been able to confirm that number, they have said that they have verified less than 200 cases.
Various organizations demand that all political prisoners be given full freedom.
*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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