Venezuela: Child murdered amid allegations of police complicity

Roni Barrios, a 17-year old boy, was brutally murdered with an axe or machete on the night of 16 May 2013, in Aragua state, Venezuela.

Since 1998 members of the Barrios family have been murdered in circumstances that suggest police involvement, and the authorities have failed to investigate the killings and protect the family from further violence and intimidation.

Following the murder of Roni Barrios on the night of 16 May 2013, his body was found the following morning by his younger brother, near the home of his aunt Eloisa Barrios.  His head and neck had wounds which indicate that a machete or axe was used in the murder.

Roni’s murder is the third in 12 months, and he became the tenth member of the Barrios family to have been murdered since 1998.  The killings which have intensified recently, have allegedly been committed with the help of police officers in Aragua State.  The crimes committed against the Barrios family have gone unpunished as no one has been brought to justice since the murders commenced in 1998.

TAKE ACTION:

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY IN SPANISH OR YOUR OWN LANGUAGE. PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 1 JULY 2013 TO:

Attorney General

Dra. Luisa Ortega Díaz

Fiscal General de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela

Edificio sede del Despacho de la Fiscal General de la República

Esquinas de Misericordia a Pele El Ojo

Avenida México

Caracas, Venezuela

Email:      ministeriopublico@mp.gob.ve

Salutation: Dear Attorney General / Dra. Fiscal General

Aragua State Governor

Tareck el Assaimi

Gobernador de Aragua

Av. Las Delicias, Antigua sede

Edificio Corpoindustria, Piso 7

Maracay, Municipio Girardot

Aragua, Venezuela

Salutation: Dear Governor / Sr. Gobernador

And copies to:

Aragua-based NGO

Comisión de Derechos Humanos de Justicia y Paz del Estado Aragua

Calle Negro Primero, Oeste

N 98, frente al Liceo ‘Valentin Espinal’, Cruce con Av. Ayacucho

Maracay, Estado Aragua,
Venezuela

SAMPLE LETTER

Dear  Attorney General / Governor

I am writing to express my concerns at the killing of ten members of the Barrios family, and urge the authorities to reveal what progress has been made in the investigation of the murders which have been on-going since 1998.

I urge you to order a full and impartial investigation into the most recent murder of Roni Barrios, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice.

Furthermore, I urge you to take decisive action to guarantee the protection of all members of the Barrios family in accordance with their wishes.

Yours truly,