The Venezuelan NGO Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners reported on Saturday night that 138 people detained in the context of the post-election crisis were released in the last hours from two penitentiary centers located in the north of the country. Among those released are 19 women who were held in the female annex of one of these prisons.
According to the organization, the releases occurred in the prisons of Tocorón, in the state of Araguawhere 59 people were released, and Tocuyito, in the state of Carabobo, with 79 released, including women. The relatives of the prisoners confirmed these actions since Friday, as published by the NGO on the social network X.
Nevertheless, The organization denounced that those released from prison must sign a document in which they declare that their human rights were respected during their imprisonment.. “If they do not do so, they will not receive the ticket issued by the court granting them conditional release,” stated the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners.
The former opposition governor César Pérez Vivasmember of the Democratic Unitary Platform (PUD)assured that the Venezuelan regime is using a “blackmail protocol” against those released from prison.
“They are being forced to appear in Caracas at the beginning of January to attend a public event where they must say that they were paid to go to protests on July 29 or that (the opposition leader) Maria Corina Machado ordered them to carry out acts of violence,” said Pérez Vivas in X.
He added that, under these conditions, those released do not enjoy full freedom. “A whole script to continue justifying official violence and judicial terrorism against citizens. They must continue to show up. There is no complete freedom.”he denounced.
For its part, the NGO Criminal Forum counted until last Thursday 1,849 political prisonersmostly detained after the July 28 elections, in which the dictator Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner amid allegations of fraud by the PUD.
The vice president of Foro Penal, Gonzalo Himiobhe recently told the news agency EFE that the organization has not yet been able to verify the total number of those released, despite the fact that the Prosecutor’s Office reported 956 releases in recent weeks.
“It has not published a list with names and surnames, so the NGO has not been able to verify this number in its entirety”Himiob explained.
Just 13 days before the scheduled date for taking possession of Edmundo González Urrutiathe opposition leader Maria Corina Machado He sent a strong message to the Venezuelan Armed Forcesconsidered one of the main supports of the regime of Nicolas Maduro.
In a video broadcast through social networks, Machado stressed the duty of the military to protect the nation and guarantee the validity of the democratic order.
“The duty, honor and privilege that the Homeland has conferred on you, to carry the weapons and insignia of the nation (…) with the sacred and exclusive purpose of defending the security of our people, the integrity of our territory and the full validity of our constitutional and democratic order,” he expressed.
The opponent, however, He questioned whether these responsibilities have been displaced by the “criminal nature of Chavismo.”which for more than 20 years has demonstrated its irresponsibility (…) and ineptitude” towards the Venezuelan people.
Machado urged officers to reflect on their role in the current situation in the country. “Ask yourself if those who lead your component order you to use these weapons to guard our territory or if, rather, (…) they are being used to subdue and massacre the people”he said, alluding to the use of military force in repressive acts.
He also raised questions about whether the weapons in his custody are at the service of the Constitution or, on the contrary, of “a group of corrupt and criminals.”
Furthermore, he appealed to those who, although not directly involved in criminal activities, are still part of a structure that supports the regime. “Ask yourself if silence does not make you complicit in the current tyranny“If undue obedience does not put you at the service of a handful of criminals and if your inaction at this time does not make you a victimizer of your own Venezuelan brothers,” said Machado, leader of Vente Venezuela (VV).
The message comes five months after the elections in which anti-Chavismo, led by González Urrutia, claims to have obtained the majority support of Venezuelans in a process marked by allegations of irregularities.
Machado called on the Armed Forces, which he referred to as a “big family,” to comply with the democratic order and be part of the change that, he said, citizens demand.
“The time for definition has arrived (…) The time to tear down the last obstacle that separates us from freedom has arrived. I trust in you, in the moral reserve of our men of honor and arms, and that you are just one step away from doing the right thing,” he stated with determination, urging the military to act for the benefit of the country and the people.
Machado closed his message by once again calling on Venezuelans to mobilize in the streets against Chavismo. “See you soon on the streets of Venezuela,” he concluded.
(With information from EFE)
