Maduro breaks figures of repression in Venezuela

The Venezuelan Program for Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea) denounced the increase in repression by the Nicolás Maduro regime. A fact that they say had never reached such levels in the history of Venezuela.

In a post they made on X they explained that the level of persecution exceeds that of dictatorships such as that of Augusto Pinochet in Chile.

“More than 2,400 people arbitrarily detained in 16 days, 150 arrests per day, far exceeding records from the protests of 2014, 2017 and 2019; twice as many people were detained and disappeared every day in Chile during the months of September and December 1973, after Augusto Pinochet’s coup d’état.” This is what they wrote in their message.

Nicolás Maduro breaks historic figures of repression in #Venezuelasurpassing dictatorships like Pinochet’s in Chile.

We have recorded an accelerated increase in serious human rights violations committed after the June 28 elections:

More than 2,400 people arrested… pic.twitter.com/VGnTcknqyR

— PROVEA (@_Provea) August 23, 2024

They also criticized the disproportionate use of force and the coordination between security forces and paramilitary groups, which has left 24 people dead in just four days, figures not seen since 2019.

They also recalled incidents of violence against witnesses and at polling stations, which represented another irregularity in the presidential elections of July 28.

“Provea has recorded at least 50 cases of forced disappearances, in which the victims were illegally detained by security forces and paramilitary groups, often without their families having any information about their whereabouts,” they added.

They also spoke of Operation Tun Tun, “a massive campaign of persecution directed against opponents, social leaders and protesters: raids without a court order, arbitrary arrests and acts of violence and looting by security forces have been reported.”

What does Provea demand from the Maduro regime?

In the statement, they called on the international community to make strong statements and take measures to guarantee respect for human rights in Venezuela.

The NGO demanded that an independent verification of the records be carried out, with effective international monitoring, which is crucial to protecting the Venezuelan will.

Citizens are urged to continue demanding the transparent publication of election results and to remain firm in defending their rights, documenting and denouncing every abuse.

Finally, they alerted the International Criminal Court and its prosecutor Karim Khan about this systematic policy of repression that has only intensified. For this reason, they consider that an investigation should be opened at the ICC for crimes against humanity, Venezuela I.