– Opposition denounces arrest of 37 political activists
Since the start of the year, 37 political activists or representatives of civil society have been detained in an “arbitrary” manner, the Venezuelan opposition denounced on Monday.
Maria Corina Machado in Caracas on June 17, 2024.
AFP
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The leader of the opposition in Venezuela, Maria Corina Machado, denounced on Monday the 37 “arbitrary detentions” of political activists before the presidential election on July 28.
“What we are experiencing at the moment in Venezuela is a regime that criminalizes political activity and electoral campaigning. Since the beginning of the year, 37 political activists or representatives of civil society have been detained by the tyranny,” Maria Corina Machado said at a press conference.
Ten of the 37 people arrested are members of the opposition campaign leadership and six others are “under protection at the Argentine embassy,” she stressed, revealing the names of her 16 collaborators.
The 54-year-old leader said two of them were arrested Monday during a lunch near the opposition campaign headquarters in Caracas and were “taken to El Helicoide,” the Venezuelan intelligence prison. which human rights organizations denounce as a “torture center”.
According to Maria Corina Machado they are “accused of inciting hatred and criminal association for the simple fact of having accompanied our candidate Edmundo Gonzalez to a political rally”.
Maria Corina Machado, favorite in the polls but designated ineligible by a justice system that the opposition denounces is subjugated to power, has appointed the diplomat unknown to the general public Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia to face outgoing President Nicolas Maduro, candidate for a third term.
The opposition denounces a “political persecution” of its leaders and activists as well as the administrative closures and fines imposed on traders, hotels or restaurants who provided logistical support to the field campaign led by Maria Corina Machado.
The Venezuelan government has made no comment on these arrests and accuses the opposition of fomenting alleged plots against Nicolas Maduro, whose appearances have increased on state television in the run-up to the elections.
The NGO Foro Penal indicated on June 13 that there were 278 “political prisoners” in Venezuela.
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