Source: Amnesty International –
Nearly two months after the approval of the amnesty law intended to grant freedom to people prosecuted and detained for political reasons in Venezuela, Amnesty International reminds the Venezuelan authorities that its implementation must not rely on discretionary criteria that perpetuate the political repression the law is, in theory, intended to remedy. In this regard, Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, said:
“The same arbitrariness with which Venezuela has imprisoned thousands of people in recent years now defines how courts selectively apply the amnesty law, materializing the risk long denounced by human rights organizations regarding the urgent need to provide redress to tens of thousands of people detained for political reasons in the country.”
The same arbitrariness with which Venezuela has imprisoned thousands of people in recent years now defines how courts selectively apply the amnesty law.”
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
“Although hundreds of people have benefited from the law, hundreds of others have seen their amnesty requests rejected, without clear criteria or procedures ensuring access to impartial justice. For example, amnesty has been denied without explanation to Samantha Hernández, a 16-year-old charged with ‘terrorism’, and to Perkins Rocha, a lawyer who had been granted house arrest,” Piquer continued.
“This is just a small example of the pattern of arbitrariness and discretion through which Venezuelan authorities continue to systematically violate human rights. All of this must be investigated at the highest level. International justice must prevail and provide victims, their families and society as a whole with the reparation they deserve,” concluded Ana Piquer.
This is just a small example of the pattern of arbitrariness and discretion through which Venezuelan authorities continue to systematically violate human rights.”
Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International
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