The Special Commission for Consultation on the Amnesty and Democratic Coexistence Bill received this Tuesday relatives of the detainees who could benefit from the legal instrument. The meeting lasted five hours and was carried out in a framework of mutual respect.
As will be recalled, the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence was already approved in the first discussion and the public consultation process is currently underway for its second debate and final approval.
The president of this commission, deputy Jorge Arreaza, and the vice president, parliamentarian Nora Bracho, listened to the proposals and observations of this sector, in order to evaluate the ideas that could be incorporated into the Amnesty Bill for Democratic Coexistence.
He noted that they listened to each case and now have sufficient “inputs.” Likewise, he highlighted that the victims of the so-called guarimbas of 2014 and 2017 will also be heard.
“We have to listen to everyone to have the elements and we are going to be aware of all cases,” he stressed.
Arreaza detailed with respect to the Public Consultation that they have already received “many proposals from legal experts, jurists, from people who have suffered the impacts of the political confrontation of recent years, and we have to listen to them and listen to them (the families of the detainees), so that we can reflect their perceptions in the law.” He ratified that the object of the law is national reconciliation. In this regard, he indicated that article 2 of this legal instrument speaks of the purposes of the law, among them, promoting peace, the harmonious development of national life, democratic participation and political pluralism.
“We are doing everything possible to reach consensus and resolve, through constitutional means, any differences we may have,” he said.
Arreaza called for the collaboration of all sectors so that “events like these” do not occur again. Furthermore, he added that not only the law is enough, but also the work of everyone. «We do not want to be in a state of war, but in a State of peace; The law is not enough, we need a great effort. Thank you for the courage you have had.”
Promote union
The vice president of the commission, Nora Bracho, highlighted that there will always be differences between Venezuelans, but stated that the Amnesty Law is a tool to promote the unity of the country. He described this path taken as one of brave people and citizens who want peace in Venezuela. Meanwhile, the first vice president of the National Assembly, Pedro Infante, asked the relatives to send the proposals for the bill in writing, case by case, with the name of the detainee and the pertinent data. “We are really working here,” added Infante.
Villegas: everyone will be attended to
For his part, the coordinator of the Program for Peace and Democratic Coexistence, Ernesto Villegas, assured that all the relatives of the detainees will be treated this Wednesday at the Rómulo Gallegos Center for Latin American Studies. He said that they were invited by the president of the parliamentary commission, Jorge Arreaza, in order to participate in the meeting with the relatives of the detainees.
«I want, first of all, to value the fact that it has been a very respectful day among all those present. I think that all the testimonies that were expressed there touched our hearts. I believe that all Venezuelans are in a time to listen and let our hearts open to share the pain of all our fellow human beings,” he expressed.
Villegas warned that many wounds and pain have accumulated. «We have also had too much time in bubbles with exclusive narratives that have difficulty incorporating the narrative of the other. So, then, we are in a moment of sensitivity and we highly value this step,” he indicated.
The coordinator said that it has been proposed that those who have not been able to exercise the right to speak during the day held at the AN can participate in a session with “one method”, since it requires organization. «This team is put to order, not to usurp the functions of public powers; “We are here to accompany and to facilitate the agreement that Venezuela needs and for which the majority of Venezuelans who want peace are clamoring,” he stated.
