Opposition leader María Corina Machado denounced that 37 activists have suffered “arbitrary arrests” this year in Venezuela, in the midst of the campaign for the July 28 elections, in which President Nicolás Maduro will seek a third consecutive term.
“What we are experiencing these hours in Venezuela is the regime criminalizing the electoral route, criminalizing the electoral activity and the campaign, so far this year there are 37 political and social leaders who have been detained by tyranny,” said Machado. to journalists.
Of this figure, 10 are directly linked to Machado’s campaign command. Another six are “under protection in the Argentine embassy,” the opposition member noted when disclosing the names of 16 of those arrested.
The 54-year-old leader indicated that this Monday two of her collaborators were arrested after going out to buy lunch near her campaign command, in Caracas.
“Today two young people who were working at this headquarters went out to buy something for lunch nearby and were intercepted, detained and taken to El Helicoide,” a feared prison of the intelligence service in Caracas, which human rights organizations describe as a “center of torture.”
Gabriel González and Javier Cisneros “are being linked to a file in which they are accused of instigating hatred and association to commit a crime for the simple fact of accompanying our candidate Edmundo González to an activity in Vargas (La Guaira state),” he added. .
Machado, favorite in the polls but disqualified by the official Comptroller’s Office, nominated diplomat Edmundo González Urrutia as her replacement to confront Maduro, who accuses her of encouraging sanctions against Venezuela.
The opposition has denounced “political persecution” of its leaders and activists, which has included closures and fines to hotels and restaurants that have provided services to Machado and his team.
On Friday, three other opponents were detained “arbitrarily” after organizing an activity attended by González Urrutia in Maiquetía, La Guaira, it was indicated.
The Venezuelan government, which has so far not commented on the arrests, accuses the opposition of hatching alleged conspiratorial plans against Maduro, whose appearances have multiplied on state television prior to the elections.
Until June 13, the NGO Foro Penal counted 278 “political prisoners” in Venezuela. Source: news
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2024-06-20 05:05:00