This Monday, June 26, the Sidorists have been detained for 15 days. However, their relatives have not been able to visit them due to the refusal by the directive of the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (Dgcim), which prevents access to relatives
Author: Francesca Diaz | Caroní Mail
Relatives of Leonardo Azócar and Daniel Romero, arrested on June 11, appeared at the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (dgcim) located in Boleíta Norte (Caracas), to visit the trade unionists detained there. However, the meeting was not possible due to the refusal on the part of the prison board, which prevents access to relatives.
After nine days of forced disappearance at the hands of the Dgcim, the place where the leaders of sider are deprived of liberty: the Center for Prosecuted, Convicted and Women’s Annex of the metropolitan area of Caracas II, maximum security area, located in Boleíta Norte.
However, this Saturday, June 24, when Romero’s wife, Angélica Serrano, and Azócar’s brothers, Euclides and José Azócar showed up at the prison to visit them, the director Mauro Bracho Suárez prevented them from entering, alleging that the Detainees are in an “adjustment process” that will last from 15 to 45 days. Only after this period will they be able to receive visits.
According to Provea, the case corresponds to a series of crimes against humanity that the State has been committing against the union leadership, which is why they affirmed Caroní Mail that will take action before international bodies
The families have not been able to communicate or see the unionists for more than 15 days, after they were arrested in Ciudad Guayana for organizing a labor strike at the Pellas Plant. It is known that the charges are: boycott, criminal association and incitement to hatred.
Eduardo Torres, Provea’s lawyer, assures that the process of deprivation of liberty has been plagued with irregularities and affirms that, more than an arrest, it has characteristics of being a forced disappearance at the hands of the State.
Likewise, the jurist highlighted that in the process article 44 of the Constitution of the Republic has been violated, which establishes the due procedure and safeguards the rights of those deprived of liberty.
It should be noted that the relatives spent more than nine days without knowing the place of detention of the workers, who were transferred from Guayana to Caracas without notifying their relatives.
“Every detained person has the right to communicate immediately with their relatives, lawyer, or person they trust; and these or these, in turn, have the right to be informed about the place where the arrested person is; to be notified immediately of the reasons for the arrest, and to leave a written record in the file on the physical and mental state of the detained person, either by themselves or by themselves, or with the help of specialists.” dictates the legislation.
Request to the Ombudsman
It was through the Ombudsman’s Office that Provea was able to find out where the Sidoristas were being held, since the Puerto Ordaz courts did not provide such information.
It is for this reason that after the refusal of visits by the penitentiary center, the relatives went to the instance in Caracas to submit a request for a visit to the Ombudsman. This Monday they hope to have some response from the agency.
“At the prison they confirmed that he was there and they received the things we brought him. However, we were denied contact with him. They say we must wait 20 days to see it. A supposed adaptation time that they call. We are a little calmer because we know where he is and that he is alive, but we will not stop the efforts until we can see him,” declared Euclides Azócar, brother of Leonardo Azócar to Caroní Mail.
Angélica Serrano, wife of the leader Daniel Romero, emphasized that her greatest concern is the state of health of her partner, who suffers from a stomach disease and must seek a strict diet.
«I have more than 15 days without seeing my husband. His parents are very sick and in delicate health, we have had to be careful to give them information. Everything has been complicated for me. He is the head of the home. The support of my house. He has four children. Also, he has a stomach problem, I have all his clinical history and I’m going to present it. After 4:00 p.m., he can’t eat. Everything vomits. I am very concerned about his health, he has a soft and liquid diet. He can’t eat rice or pasta. He needs special treatment,” he said.
international instances
According to Provea, the case corresponds to a series of crimes against humanity that the Venezuelan State has been committing against the union leadership, which is why they told this outlet that they will take action before international bodies.
«The director does not allow the detainees to be seen. Claiming a period of adaptation. In this regard, Article 44 of the Constitution refutes this order. Personal freedom is inviolable, consequently, every detained person has the right to communicate with his family. This detention has been arbitrary. Until now, the lawyers and relatives have not been able to see the Sidoristas,” said Torres, a spokesman for Provea.
Likewise, the specialist made a call through social networks to international organizations to remain on the lookout and monitor the case.
“We have already communicated with the officials of the high commissioner’s office, as well as with the Fact-Finding Mission, which has three renewed periods to observe the situation in Venezuela. The third instance is the office for attention to victims of the International Criminal Court,” Torres specified.
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