The Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) described as an illegitimate act the arrest of two of its key figures: José Elías Torres, general secretary of the organization, and William Lizardo, president of the Federation of Construction Workers, which remain deprived of liberty since November.
In an official statement released by the agency EFECTV exposed an alarming panorama of the legal situation of the detainees. The organization denounces that both Torres like Lizardo are in a state of legal defenselessness, marking serious irregularities in its process
The text questions the legitimacy of the judicial actions taken against them and also reports the isolation of union members, who They have not had access to their trusted lawyers or contact with their families.
Given the seriousness of the situation, the union center not only demands the immediate release of its leaders, but also demands from the authorities a faith of life that guarantees the physical integrity of both.
The organization bases its claim on essential principles, emphasizing that. “Freedom of association It is an indispensable condition of a democratic system, freedom of union leaders is a guarantee of the rule of law, based on legal, constitutional and international”.
Weight of detainees
The relevance of this case lies in the profile of those involved. José Elías Torres is not only the general secretary of the CTV, but he is the voice of the central one in the Social Dialogue Forum, a crucial instance where the Executive, private entrepreneurs and the ILO. For his part, William Lizardo leads the federation of a strategic sector such as construction.
This case adds to the complex context of human rights in the country, where organizations such as the Penal Forum report the existence of more than 900 prisoners for political reasons.
