Venezuela's Post-Election Brutality
On July 29, Venezuela’s electoral council announced that Nicolás Maduro had been re-elected president. Thousands of people across the country took to the streets in largely peaceful protests to demand a fair counting of the votes.?
Since then, authorities have committed widespread human rights violations against not only protesters, but opposition leaders and critics across the country. On September 2, a judge issued an?arrest warrant?against opposition candidate Edmundo González for “conspiracy,” “incitement to disobedience” and other alleged crimes.
Human Rights Watch has documented how Venezuelan authorities and pro-government armed groups known as “colectivos” have committed widespread abuses, including killings, arbitrary detention and prosecution, and harassment of critics.?
We received credible reports of 24 killings in the context of protests from independent local groups in Venezuela. Researchers analyzed and verified videos and photographs of protests found on social media or sent directly to HRW by people close to the victims, and by local organizations and journalists.?
Venezuelans voted in the presidential election in large numbers, despite?government?repression in the lead-up to the election, including arrests of opposition members and arbitrary disqualifications of opposition candidates. International observers have noted the country’s election process lacked transparency.
Venezuelan authorities stated that they have arrested more than 2,400 people in connection with the protests. Hundreds have been charged with crimes carrying harsh sentences.?
HRW has?long documented the Venezuelan government’s abuses. We reported on political repression, working together with local groups to cover the massive crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in?2014 ?and?2017 .?
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Media coverage of our work has helped inform the world of Maduro’s steps to undermine judicial independence, as well as the work of independent journalists and activists.
As brutal repression continues in Venezuela, governments should push for independent verification of the country’s electoral results and support international efforts to end the government’s assault on rights.
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National Urban League of West Palm Beach Senior Jobs Program Administrative Assistant
2 个月This sounds way to familiar folks.
International Business Development Consultant
2 个月Extract from latest MC Machado’s statement to???? “… 2. Edmundo González Urrutia es el Presidente Electo de Venezuela. 3. El proceso de defensa del voto, recolección, digitalización de las actas y publicación de las actas OFICIALES y ORIGINALES en la página web: resultadosconvzla.com no sólo es un derecho constitucional de los venezolanos, sino una haza?a ciudadana éPICA, que hoy reconoce y admira el mundo entero. 4. Yo me enorgullezco de ser parte de este movimiento poderoso que hizo posible este operativo cívico y tecnológico extraordinario y asumo la responsabilidad de las Actas porque son legales,legítimas y expresan la Soberanía Popular del pueblo venezolano. 5. Esta operación que realizamos más de un millón de voluntarios, y que permitió que en 24 horas el mundo entero tuviera las evidencias de la estruendosa derrota de Maduro, ha establecido un nuevo estándar mundial para la defensa del voto! 6. Lo que hicimos es HEROICO! Lo que el régimen hace es monstruoso. Nosotros estamos avanzando, ellos cada día se hunden más. Serenidad, coraje y firmeza. Lo que estamos haciendo sigue siendo heroico. ?Esto es HASTA EL FINAL! ?Venezuela será libre!” https://x.com/MariaCorinaYA/status/1831748820025360388?t=7Zcfx4puh2aFxwkVO_yEcQ&s=19
Neurophysiologist at Clinical NeuroDiagnostics
2 个月Insightful. Most peaceful demonstrations generally lead to outbursts of violence. Especially when historically unrest, violence, war, and disgruntled government members are difficult to change because of their historical mind set.