Hundreds of people continue to be arbitrarily detained for political reasons

‘The fact that the Venezuelan government’s policy of repression remains intact and in force should not go unnoticed’ - Ana Piquer

Following the release on 8 January of a number of people arbitrarily detained including prisoner of conscience Rocío San Miguel, political leader Enrique Márquez, journalist Biagio Pilieri and Spanish nationals Jose María Basoa and Andrés Martínez, Ana Piquer, Amnesty International’s Americas Director, said:

“The end of each arbitrary detention is a necessary and long-awaited-for relief for the victims who have been released. The fact that people unfairly detained, such as prisoner of conscience Rocío San Miguel, are now able to reunite with their loved ones is good news, but this does not go far enough.  

“Hundreds continue to be arbitrarily detained for political reasons in Venezuela, including human rights defenders such as Kennedy Tejeda, Javier Tarazona, Eduardo Torres, and Carlos Julio Rojas. Amnesty International demands their immediate release and that of the hundreds of people who continue to be held following the announcements made by the Rodríguez government.

“The fact that the Venezuelan government’s policy of repression remains intact and in force should not go unnoticed. We call in the strongest terms for the policy of repression to be dismantled, cease arbitrary detentions for political reasons, and investigate people up to the highest level who are responsible for these serious violations of human rights and crimes against humanity.”

Silencing dissent

Those released on 8 January comprise only a small proportion of number of people who continue to be arbitrarily detained in Venezuela. The widespread and systematic practice of politically motivated, arbitrary detention is part of a state policy that seeks to silence dissent, whether real or perceived. Days before Thursday’s releases, Amnesty received numerous reports of new arbitrary detentions, including 14 journalists who have subsequently been released.