UN Human Rights Report: Maduro Regime Increases Repression in Venezuela

September 17, 2024 TruthUSA

The reports indicate that the most violent mechanisms of repression in Venezuela were reactivated after Maduro retained power through an illegitimate vote-count in the summer election.

United Nations human rights experts have noted that President Nicolás Maduro’s regime has escalated the use of the most severe and violent tools of repression in Venezuela following a disputed election in July.

The U.N. report reveals that Venezuela’s security forces, aligned with Maduro and the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, have engaged in arbitrary detentions, torture, and sexual violence, which collectively amount to the crime against humanity of persecution on political grounds.

Despite evidence suggesting that opposition candidate Edmundo González had won by a landslide, the National Electoral Council (CNE) declared Maduro, the incumbent socialist, as the winner of the July 28 presidential election, prompting González to seek refuge in Spain.

According to opposition tallies, González had secured 73 percent of the accessible votes, doubling the count of Maduro.

Several countries, including the United States, have refused to recognize Maduro as the legitimate president due to what they perceive as an undemocratic and opaque election process. Last month, a member of the CNE criticized the lack of transparency and truthfulness in the elections.

The fact-finding mission led by the U.N. High Commissioner of Human Rights, Volker Türk, stated, “During the time frame covered by this report, particularly after the presidential election of July 28, 2024, the state has revived and escalated the most severe and violent methods of its repressive apparatus.”

‘Intensification of State’s Repressive Machinery’

Marta Valiñas, head of the fact-finding mission, affirmed, “We are observing an escalation of the state’s repressive machinery in response to perceived critical views, opposition, or dissent.”

She added, “Although this continues past trends characterized as crimes against humanity, the recent wave of repression, due to its intensity and systematic approach, constitutes a severe violation of the fundamental rights of the Venezuelan people, despite numerous calls from both within and outside the country to uphold human rights.”

Following Maduro’s victory in the election, protests erupted in the streets of Caracas and other cities, led by thousands of demonstrators against the regime.

While most demonstrations were peaceful, some activists vandalized statues of Maduro’s predecessor, Hugo Chávez, and set police motorcycles on fire.

The Venezuelan security forces and pro-government militias responded aggressively.

According to the report, Venezuela’s attorney general confirmed 25 deaths during the protests on July 29 and 30.

Upon investigation, it was found that there was “circumstantial evidence” suggesting that the protesters were killed by the security forces or pro-government vigilantes.

The report stated, “The mission observed armed civilians present and firing during several protests, either in collaboration with security forces or acting independently. In several cases investigated, members of the Bolivarian National Guard or the Bolivarian National Police used firearms to suppress protesters.”

Furthermore, the government was accused of conducting at least 39 “arbitrary detentions” of 32 men and seven women, who were either actual or perceived opponents of the government after July 28.

The report emphasized that “in most of the cases investigated, the detentions were accompanied by serious and systematic violations of due process.”

The findings of the fact-finding mission align with concerns raised by the U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and various human rights organizations.

The U.N. fact-finding mission criticized the Venezuelan criminal justice system for being “clearly subservient” to Maduro’s interests and the ruling party.

Courts ‘Instrument’ of Repression

It highlighted that the courts were employed as a “key instrument in its plan to suppress all forms of political and social opposition.”

Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado (R) talks to the media, accompanied by opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, following the presidential election results in Caracas on July 29, 2024. (Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images) — Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado (R) talks to the media, accompanied by opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, following the presidential election results in Caracas on July 29, 2024. Federico Parra/AFP via Getty Images

The fact-finding mission revealed that the report was compiled based on interviews with 383 individuals, reviews of court case files, and other relevant documents.

The apparent election winner, 75-year-old González, is now facing charges of conspiracy and other offenses by the Venezuelan authorities.

Having sought refuge in Spain on September 8, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez welcomed González, emphasizing Spain’s humanitarian commitment and solidarity with Venezuelans.

On September 15, two Spaniards, three U.S. citizens, and a Czech were arrested in Venezuela on allegations of being involved in a CIA-backed plot to assassinate Maduro.

The U.S. government has denied any involvement in such a plot.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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