URGENT ACTION

OPPOSITION MEMBERS FACE ONGOING THREATS
Since December 2019, members of the opposition and staff in the Venezuelan National Assembly have been arbitrarily detained, including Ismael Léon, detained on 21 January 2020 and then conditionally released on 23 January. The uncle of National Assembly’s Presidente, Juan José Márquez was arbitrarily detained on 11 february. National Assembly’s Chief of Staff, Roberto Marrero, remains in detention since 21 March 2019. Representative Juan Requesens continues in custody, reportedly incommunicado since 5 February. Gilber Caro’s whereabouts have been informed to his lawyers and family but remains arbitrary detained since 20 December 2019. 

TAKE ACTION: WRITE AN APPEAL IN YOUR OWN WORDS OR USE THIS MODEL LETTER

President Nicolás Maduro
Palacio de Miraflores
Av. Nte. 10, Caracas 1012, Distrito Capital, 
Venezuela
Tel: +58 212-8063111

Nicolás Maduro,

I and millions of others are observing your government’s repeated use of excessive force, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearances and torture as part of a policy of repression and violation of human rights as documented in Venezuela.

The continued targeting of political dissidents – including the arrest, torture, and disappearance of members of the Venezuelan National Assembly – demonstrate your government’s propensity for the violation of human rights to forcibly silence opposition leaders and everyday Venezuelans alike. 

I demand that you put an immediate stop to the violations of human rights and to the policy of repression used by your government and to guarantee the right to due process, life, integrity, and freedom of speech for all Venezuelans – even if they do not agree with you. 

Cordially,

Additional information

Upon National Assembly President Juan Guaidó’s return to Venezuela on 11 February 2020, his uncle Juan José Márquez was arbitrarily detained and accused of smuggling explosives on his commercial flight from Lisbon, Portugal to the Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetía, Venezuela. Mr. Marquez’s arrest represents the continuation of a worrying pattern of the targeting of those close to opposition lawmakers and other members of staff. 
Other opposition lawmakers have themselves been arbitrarily detained, including Ismael Léon. Lawmaker Juan Requesens continues to be detained, reportedly incommunicado since 5 February, and his representatives manifest that he has been tortured and suffered severe irregularities in his judicial case. The location of lawmaker Gilber Caro has been disclosed to his lawyers and family but he remains arbitrary detained after he was enforced disappeared for a month. Among those arbitrarily detained was Roberto Marrero, National Assembly President's chief of staff, who was arrested on 21 March 2019 and remains held by the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) in El Helicoide, Caracas. President Nicolas Maduro and his government continue to intimidate, harass, physically abuse, arbitrarily detain and forcibly disappear National Assembly representatives and staff in an attempt to silence political dissent. 
In recent years, dozens of opposition members have been forced to flee the country and request asylum in the face of threats they have received from the Maduro government. At least two opposition lawmakers (Freddy Guevara and Roberto Enriquez) have sought the protection of foreign embassies in Venezuela, where they have remained for nearly three years.
These actions are part of a policy of repression that seem to originate from the top of the Maduro government in an attempt to hinder civil and political rights.
In last year’s report, Hunger for Justice: Crimes against Humanity in Venezuela, Amnesty International concluded that the selective extrajudicial executions, arbitrary detentions, and deaths and injuries caused by the excessive use of force by Nicolás Maduro’s government as part of a systematic and widespread policy of repression since at least 2017 may constitute crimes against humanity. 
Since 2014 Venezuelans have fled in unprecedented numbers in search of safety and a dignified future abroad. By December 2019, an estimated 4.8 million had fled the country and it is believed that this figure will reach 5.5 million in 2020.

PREFERRED LANGUAGE TO ADDRESS TARGET: Spanish
You can also write in your own language.

PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: 13 April
Please check with the Amnesty office in your country if you wish to send appeals after the deadline.

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Plural (they/them/their)

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr53/1639/2020/en/	

Also send copies to:

HER EXCELLENCY Mrs Rocío Maneiro  
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
1 Cromwell Road SW7 2HW
020 7584 4206 or 020 7581 2776
Fax 020 7589 8887
ambassador@venezlon.co.uk 
reinounido.embajada@gob.ve