"Reports of arbitrary arrests and disappearances of political activists, human rights defenders and their families have overlapped in recent weeks with rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela over military maneuvers in the Caribbean. On Monday, the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission revealed in a report new patterns of repression against opponents following the presidential elections and during this complicated year. In Venezuelan prisons, NGOs report, there are still 823 people behind bars for political reasons."
"Despite the government decreeing dozens of releases, this Monday in Geneva officials warned that the persecution of opponents has not stopped. Thus, the human rights situation in Venezuela has returned to the spotlight after weeks of debate over the alleged links between the Venezuelan government and drug trafficking, amid increasing military pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump with the attack on boats in the Caribbean, to which the government of Nicolas Maduro has responded by militarizing the country and training civilians in the use of combat weapons."
United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission identified new patterns of repression against opponents following the presidential elections and during a turbulent year. NGOs report 823 people imprisoned for political reasons in Venezuelan prisons, including about 100 women, 89 foreign citizens, and at least 70 seriously ill detainees. Government decrees ordered dozens of releases, but officials in Geneva reported that persecution of opponents continues. Escalating tensions with the United States over Caribbean military maneuvers and allegations of government links to drug trafficking have prompted militarization and civilian weapons training under Nicolas Maduro. Spain demands immediate, unconditional release of political prisoners, including its nationals and dual citizens.
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