Protests in Venezuela after election results: death toll rises to 24

At least 24 people have died in Venezuela in the context of the protests unleashed in rejection of the official result of the presidential elections of July 28, in which the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed the president as the winner Nicolas Maduroaccording to a report published this Tuesday by the NGO Provea.

“Provea records show that 24 people died between Sunday, July 28 and Monday, August 5 in events and protests related to the July 28 elections”the organization said in the report published on its website, a fact that the Government did not confirm.

He noted that the Directorate of Strategic and Tactical Actions (DAET) of the Bolivarian National Police (GNP) is implicated in at least two cases of “murders” of protesters, as well as other victims at the hands of armed civilians.

“In at least nine of the murders of protesters recorded (…) groups of armed civilians, pro-government, or collectives, are indicated by eyewitnesses as possible perpetrators of the events,” he added.

The NGO He indicated that it has been documented “widely” the participation of these groups in “open coordination with law enforcement agents, in efforts to repress demonstrations, attacks on voting centers on election day, and acts of threats and harassment against opposition members.”

“Most of the protests have taken place in poor neighborhoods and areas of Caracas and other cities in the country,” he added.

Escalation in retaliation

Given this situation, Provea warned of an escalation, in the coming days, of acts of retaliation and “exemplary punishments”, against the inhabitants of these sectors or public administration workers.

He also said that he has already begun to receive complaints of harassment, dismissals and deterioration of working conditions of employees of state institutions.

“Denying people the human right to democracy, to electoral truth and repressing those who claim these basic principles is a crime against human rights,” Provea added.

On Monday, the NGO Penal Forum The government reported that at least 91 teenagers, out of a total of 1,010 arrested – which the Executive raises to 2,000 – have been detained in the Caribbean nation in the context of these protests against the announced result of the July 28 elections, which gave victory to Maduro, who is unrecognized by the opposition and part of the international community.

While the CNE has not published the minutes certifying Maduro’s victory, as required by law, the main anti-Chavez bloc disclosed “83.5%” of these papers, which show, according to the opposition, that its candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, won by a wide margin.