A human rights organization says detainees are being held for longer and in worse conditions.
By Arelis R. Hernández and Arelis R. Hernández Reporter covering politics and government in Prince George's County and Maryland Email Bio Follow Mariana Zuñiga April 12 at 1:11 PM The pace of politically motivated arrests in Nicolás Maduro’s Venezuela has reached a fever pitch, advocates say, putting 2019 on track to record the highest number of political prisoners in two decades and signaling rising repression in the oil-rich country.
Detainees are being held for longer, in worsening conditions and on increasingly flimsy charges, said Foro Penal Director Alfredo Romero. The group has documented torture by Venezuelan military counterintelligence forces that has become “systematic, planned and structural,” recording at least 50 cases, including sexual abuse, strangulation using plastic bags and the use of razor blades to cut detainees’ feet.
Maduro’s government has defended the arrests, saying intelligence officers are pursuing hardened criminals who bear ill intentions toward Venezuela as agents of imperial powers such as the United States. Juan Guillermo Requesens waited outside a Caracas courthouse Thursday in the hopes that the preliminary hearing for his son, an opposition lawmaker and his namesake, Juan Requesens, would take place.
Communications Minister Jorge Rodríguez said in a news conference Thursday that Guaidó’s chief of staff confessed to being part of a “fascist criminal organization” — including foreigners — planning “terror attacks” against Venezuela’s public institutions. The investigation uncovered information from Marrero’s phone that the group, Cocoon 2.0, has ties to at least 15 opposition leaders close to Guaidó.
“If you have a sound tech company, and Guaidó’s team calls to hire you to set up a sound stage for another rally, will you do it? Hell no!” Romero said.
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