The organization says that since 2014, there have been 15,751 political arrests in the country
The NGO Foro Penal estimated the number of detainees in Venezuela at 243 on Wednesday whom it considers political prisoners, the same figure as in its latest report, published on January 4.
Among those who consider political prisoners, there are 230 men and 13 women, as detailed on its Twitter account by the organization dedicated to the defense of human rights.
Of the 243 detainees, 111 are civilians and 132 are military, while, if age is considered, 242 are adults and one is an adolescent.
The organization clarified that, “since 2014, there have been 15,751 political arrests in Venezuela,” while they have assisted “more than 12,000” prisoners who are released today and “other victims of human rights violations.”
Finally, they added that, “in addition to political prisoners,” there are “more than 9,000 people who continue to be arbitrarily subjected to measures that restrict their freedom.”
Among those considered political prisoners, several organizations have expressed concern about the health of the director of the NGO Fundaredes, Javier Tarazona, considered the main voice of denunciation in the conflict unleashed in March last year between the Armed Forces and a dissident group of the FARC, and arrested in July 2021.
Amnesty International classified Tarazona last December as a “prisoner of conscience” and demanded his release.
Meanwhile, several days ago, the NGO Control Ciudadano also reported that 51 citizens were “killed” by officials of the State security bodies and the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB), last December.
“In December, Social Watch counted 51 ‘killed’ in the hands of state security bodies and the FANB, in operations that took place in 11 federal entities in the country,” the NGO said in a press release.
Likewise, it pointed out that these deaths were justified by the Venezuelan State, because they are alleged “confrontations with criminals”, but in the opinion of Social Watch, they could be called in most cases as “extrajudicial executions, violating the right to life, personal integrity and due process ”.
The organization explained that this registry is based on a monthly monitoring of the media that account for those “killed” in the hands of the police and military throughout the country.
“It went from 73 people killed in November to 51 in December 2021. No woman appears as killed in the registry,” he added.
He indicated that the deaths were registered in Miranda and Carabobo with 11, Zulia with 8, Trujillo with 7, Bolívar with 4, Aragua with 3, Anzoátegui with 2, Portuguesa, Nueva Esparta and Monagas with 1.
He added that the main security organs involved in this type of “executions” were the Corps of Scientific Criminal and Criminal Investigations (Cicpc) with 16, the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB, militarized Police) with 8, mixed commissions of police with 8 and the Carabobo Police with 7.
“The analysis of the data is showing how the state police and municipal police are becoming increasingly involved in this practice that seems to be a state policy,” added the NGO.
Likewise, for Social Watch it is striking that in most of the procedures where “killed” are reported, mixed commissions of police and military participate, without determining the line of command or officer responsible for the operation, “which makes it difficult to determine of responsibilities, in case of human rights violations ”.
The organization called on the Attorney General’s Office of the Caribbean country so that in all cases of “killed” in procedures carried out by State security organs and components of the Armed Forces, “the corresponding investigations be carried out, which allow determining responsibilities of being the case”. (I)
Paul is a talented author and journalist with a passion for entertainment and general news. He currently works as a writer at the 247 News Agency, where he has established herself as a respected voice in the industry.
