CARACAS, Venezuela: Human rights groups and UN experts on Tuesday condemned an “alarming increase in enforced disappearances” of Venezuelans ahead of presidential elections in the South American country.
President Nicolas Maduro, who has been accused of abusing state institutions to imprison opponents and eliminate political rivals, is seeking a third six-year term in July 28 elections.
His main challenger, opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, has been barred from running by courts loyal to Maduro.
And just this weekend, three activists were arrested after an opposition election rally.
The Foro Penal NGO Tuesday said that there are 273 “confirmed political prisoners” in the South American country, 147 of whom are military and 126 civilians.
More than half of them have not been convicted of any crime, and many are said to have been held in pretrial detention for more than three years, according to Foro Penal, which provides legal aid to people arbitrarily detained.
Gonzalo Himiob, the group’s deputy, told reporters in Caracas that they were witnessing a significant intensification of the persecution of human rights activists or non-governmental political forces.
He also reported “very serious violations” of the prisoners’ legal rights, with many unable to visit their families or choose a lawyer.
Meanwhile, UN experts in Geneva have reported an “alarming increase” in enforced disappearances in Venezuela since last year.
They said there appears to be a pattern of individuals being deprived of their liberty by government officials, taken to formal detention facilities, and denied basic rights and protections.
Most of those arrested were the main members of the opposition party or the army.
The United Nations Working Group on Enforced Disappearances said in a statement that such actions could prevent free and fair elections in July.
The report calls on governments to “prevent, eradicate and sanction” such practices and provide information on the fate and whereabouts of individuals currently available to the government.
Also on Tuesday, human rights group Provea reported that more than 10,000 people have been killed by Venezuelan security forces and 1,650 have been tortured during Maduro’s 10 years of rule.
