The streets of Venezuela are expected to be filled again on Saturday, following the call of opposition leader María Corina Machado, who once again denounced President Nicolás Maduro for having rigged the last elections, which declared him the winner with 52% of the votes – compared to 43% for the opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia. The National Electoral Council (CNE), which is pro-government, has not yet published the details of the vote count, which continues to motivate demonstrations throughout the country.
“The deaths reported in the context of the protests must be thoroughly investigated and, if confirmed, abusive use of lethal force by security bodies and the participation of armed civilians acting with the connivance of said bodies“Those responsible must be held accountable,” said Marta Valiñas, president of the Mission on Venezuela, quoted in a statement.
The UN report on the protests in Venezuela
According to the UN, the repression during the protests left a balance of 23 deaths, most of them due to gunshots. It also added that there were at least 1,260 people have been arrested since July 28including 160 women. Maduro, for his part, assured that the number amounts to 2,200 and called them “terrorists.”
Among those arrested are leaders, party supporters, journalists, as well as human rights defenders, considered or perceived as opponents by the authorities, according to the report.
“All the people arresteds arbitrarily must be released immediately“said Patricia Tappatá, an expert from the Mission.
In turn, the document adds that many of the captures occurred after people participated in demonstrations or expressed their opinions on social media.
The report highlights reports of Arrests of more than 100 children and adolescentscharged with the same serious crimes as adults and who They do not have the presence of their parents or guardians during judicial proceedings.
In this regard, the UN demanded “guaranteeing that detained children and adolescents be treated in strict accordance with international standards for the protection of children“, said Francisco Cox, part of the Mission.
Venezuelan government dismissed UN report
During a council of ministers headed by Ripe, Venezuela’s Attorney General, Tarek William Saabsaid on Monday that the Fact-Finding Mission “He wants to take credit for an investigation that is not his responsibility” and continues “acting against Venezuela.”
Saab assured the riots caused by “the lack of recognition of the election results” left 25 deadtwo of them military personnel, and 192 wounded, of which 97 belong to the “state security forces.”
Source: Ambito
