Following the results of the July 28 elections, political persecution against parties linked to the Unitary Platform and the candidacy of Edmundo González Urrutia intensified. On average, seven opposition activists were harassed or detained every day.
Political persecution in the country intensified following the results of the presidential elections on July 28, when the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared the president Nicolás Maduro the winner. The discontent led to protests throughout the country, with more than 2,000 people arrested and 24 dead according to the authorities.
Political parties linked to the Unitary Platform and the candidacy of Edmundo González were not exempt from harassment, raids or arbitrary arrests. 51 activists and leaders, according to a review carried out by SuchWhichhave been victims of these actions between July 29 and August 5.
This means that, on average, seven party activists were harassed, arrested or their homes were raided by the security forces. In most of the actions (15), the officials were hooded and without visible insignia.
🚨 URGENT: Freddy Superlano (@freddysuperlano), National leader of the political party @Popular willwas arrested minutes ago by officials in the Sebucan Urbanization in Caracas, the orange party reported.
📹 @misle#30Jul pic.twitter.com/gxAx7cdDOx
— 800 News (@800Noticias_) July 30, 2024
The Bolivarian National Police (PNB) and the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) were involved in eight situations of harassment or detention each, followed by the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim), which was identified on six occasions, and the National Guard (four).
Of the group of 51 people, 25 are currently in custody. The places of detention or the crimes for which they are accused are unknown in most cases. Two other people were arrested without knowing the charges, but were released days later. Such is the case of Mayor of the municipality of Lagunillas (Zulia state), José Cheo Mosquera.
Mayor of Lagunillas (Zulia), José “Cheo” Mosquera, released
He was arrested on July 31, at the headquarters of the Polilagunillas Police Academy by the State
Mosquera was released in Caracas. He was accused of alleged writings against Chavismo that had already been denied. pic.twitter.com/6tsopV9jeg
— Jhorman Cruz (@Jhormancruz1) August 6, 2024
The mayor, who belongs to Un Nuevo Tiempo, was arrested by DGCIM officials on July 31, after going to the PoliLagunillas headquarters for an “interrogation” for some publications that he denounced as false. He was transferred to the city of Caracas, although it is unknown where he was detained or if he was brought to court.
Two other mayors remain under arrest. They are Jordan Sifuentes (Mejía municipality, Sucre state) and Fernando Feo (mayor of Tinaquillo, Cojedes state). The crimes they are accused of are also unknown.
23 people have also been victims of harassment and persecution by security forces, while four have had their homes raided, as happened with the regional political secretary of Vente Venezuela in the state of Carabobo, Albany Colmenares.
Alleged SEBIN officers broke into the residence of the political secretary in Carabobo de Vente, Albany Colmenares, located in the Naguanagua municipality, early this morning. Colmenares reported that they broke down the door, tied up and threw her father to the floor, and took phones and cameras. pic.twitter.com/rJAP2w193v
— Fran®️eporta🌏 (@Fran_Reporta) July 30, 2024
Most of those affected have been members of the Primero Justicia, Vente Venezuela and Voluntad Popular parties, although the scope of the persecution was extended, unlike in previous months, to organizations such as the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Guayana Libre, Avanzada Progresista or Cuentas Claras.
The latter, of a regional nature, is led by former mayor Enzo Scarano, who has been missing since the night of August 2. His son was arrested that day. Vicentegeneral coordinator of the San Diego Mayor’s Office and a member of the same party. Two days later he was presented in court and was not allowed to swear in his private defense.
Only in the cases of Yalbert Rafael Sivira (La Causa R) and Nelson Merino (Encuentro Ciudadano) are the alleged crimes alleged by the Prosecutor’s Office formally known. In the case of the youth coordinator of the Labor Party, he was accused of terrorism and criminal association. He is currently detained in the Yare III Judicial Internment Center.
Five days have passed since the forced disappearance of LGBTIQ activist and political leader Nelson Eduardo Merino.
We demand that the Venezuelan State release him and guarantee his human rights. https://t.co/ASAzPrGHuR
— Visibles Venezuela 🌈 (@VisiblesVzla) August 3, 2024
While the coordinator of LGBTI affairs of Encuentro Ciudadano in Carabobo, who was in a situation of forced disappearance for several days, was prosecuted by the 4th Control Court of that entity for four alleged crimes: obstruction of public roads, terrorism, incitement to hatred and resistance to authority.
Arrests do not stop
Since January of this year until August 5, at least 53 people directly linked to political parties have been detained, most of them linked to alleged acts of terrorism or incitement to hatred. In the last 24 hours, the arrests of María Oropeza, state coordinator of Vente Venezuela in Portuguesa, the former mayor of Sifontes (Bolívar state) Carlos Chancellor and the councilor of the Freites municipality (Anzoátegui) Beatriz Andrade were also recorded.
.🚨 #Urgent | DGCIM officials arrested María Oropeza, head of the ConVzla campaign command in Portuguesa.
They entered by force and without a court order.
We alert the international community to this situation. The regime is responsible for his physical integrity. pic.twitter.com/lIi0pwSlyg
— Human Rights Sale Venezuela (@VenteDDHH) August 7, 2024
In addition, the mayor of the Carora municipality (Lara state), Javier Oropeza, denounced the raid on his home, that of his mother and the newspaper El Caroreño by officials of the National Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Command (Conas), one of the branches of the National Guard.
Agents of the regime are reported to have kidnapped opposition councilwoman Beatriz Andrade on Wednesday, who was forcibly removed during a session of the Municipal Chamber of Freites, Cantaura, Anzoátegui state. pic.twitter.com/binHV6BXXO
— Gabriel Bastidas (@Gbastidas) August 7, 2024
#7August| I have always acted in accordance with the law, everyone knows my attachment to it, that is why I am surprised by the excessive police presence in front of my house and that of my mother at this time.#Carora #Towers pic.twitter.com/X3Zot2mGAp
— Javier Oropeza (@Javieroropeza) August 7, 2024
Several United Nations Rapporteurs have described the use of Venezuelan anti-terrorist legislation as “chronic abuse.” Regarding the use of the so-called “Law against Hate,” the organization Espacio Público recalled in its statement: latest annual report that this regulation “has a series of flaws in both form and substance as well as in origin that make it unconstitutional and a violation of human rights” by contravening international standards regarding freedom of expression.
The NGO said that this law has broad and diffuse concepts about what is considered a hate crime, so there is a wide discretion in its application. In addition, sanctions of between 10 and 20 years in prison or fines exceeding 10,000 dollars are foreseen. In three years of application, 162 complaints have been registered. 73 of these have been judicial harassment and 62 harassments that have turned into arbitrary arrests.
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