UN human rights mission calls for a thorough investigation into whether there was abuse of force against protesters
AFP, AP and Sputnik
The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, August 13, 2024, p. 26
Caracas. Venezuelan ruler Nicolás Maduro yesterday called for iron fist to the powers of the State following protests by the opposition, which, without evidence, alleges that there was fraud in the presidential elections of July 28, in which the official results gave the victory to the president.
Where are the masterminds behind this violence? Where are those who finance it? Where are those who planned it? Where is Edmundo González Urrutia? Why is he fleeing? Why is he afraid? Why won’t he show his face? Where is the fascist major (Corina) Machado, who orders the killing?Maduro asked during a meeting with authorities.
At least 25 people were killed and 192 injured in protests led by the opposition, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab said during his speech at a meeting of the Council of State and National Defense, the highest consultative body for planning and advising the national, state and municipal public authorities on matters related to security and defense.
Saab said the fatalities were murdered by the extreme right and they were people of good will, young peopleafter showing photographs of some of the deceased; most of them lost their lives due to gunshot wounds between July 29 and 30, the authorities explained.
The deaths reported in the context of the protests must be rigorously investigated and, if abusive use of lethal force by security forces and the participation of armed civilians acting with the connivance of said forces is confirmed, those responsible must be held accountable.said Marta Valiñas, president of the independent international mission of the United Nations Human Rights Council in a statement.
In the text, the mission assured that authorities of the country created a climate of widespread fearwhile facing protests that arose in the streets and on social media after the National Electoral Council (CNE) proclaimed Maduro’s victory.
Prosecutor Saab denounced the double standards of the United Nations mission, considering that it attributes actions that They do not correspond to youafter she called on the Venezuelan government to stop the growing repression.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, said he is following developments in Venezuela, in addition to evaluating numerous reports of unrest.
In a statement, Khan added that the ICC is in contact with the Venezuelan government at the highest level in order to underline the importance of ensuring respect for the rule of law at this time, and stresses that all persons must be protected from violations that may constitute crimes under the Rome Statute.
This position was questioned by Congressman Diosdado Cabello, who urged Khan to investigate the genocidal policy perpetrated by Israel in Palestine.
Venezuela’s internal affairs are resolved by Venezuelans and their institutionshe stressed during a press conference of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela of which he is vice president.