Venezuela: Wave of arrests as government turns against elected opposition
| Publisher | Amnesty International |
| Publication Date | 11 August 2017 |
| Cite as | Amnesty International, Venezuela: Wave of arrests as government turns against elected opposition, 11 August 2017, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/598db53b4.html [accessed 9 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The arrest of four officials from the opposition in Venezuela, the removal from office of a further 11 and the issuing of arrest warrants against another five, demonstrates the Maduro administration's tightening stranglehold on any form of dissent, taking repression to a frightening new level, said Amnesty International.
"By removing opposition officials from their posts for no legitimate reason, the Maduro administration is crossing a very delicate line," said Erika Guevara-Rosas, Americas Director at Amnesty International.
"The justice system should never be abused to silence the opposition, particularly those who have been elected to office."
"First they came for those taking to the streets, then for those who represent them in office. How much further is the Venezuelan government willing to go in order to silence those who think differently? The answer is terrifying," said Erika Guevara-Rosas.
"It seems that winning an election and being from a party opposed to the government is enough to send you to prison in Venezuela. The authorities must immediately give up trying to silence those who are simply drawing crucial attention to their country's human rights crisis."
"The suggestion that a truth commission set up by the government can impartially investigate human rights abuses the Maduro administration outright denies committing, is simply absurd."
Read more:
Venezuela: Lethal violence, a state policy to strangle dissent (News, 10 July 2017)
Venezuela: Authorities' militarization of crisis escalates violence and promotes fear (News, 2 June 2017)
Venezuela: Increase in 'witch-hunt' of dissidents amidst political crisis (News/Report, 26 April 2017)
