MADURO REGIME RESPONSIBLE FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ACCORDING TO A UN REPORT
In Venezuela a UN-backed finding mission denounces the Maduro regime for crimes against humanity.
Based on a review of approximately 3,000 cases, including 36 protesters murdered during protests of 2014, 2017 and 2019 in Venezuela, a UN-backed finding mission has found ample evidence in a 411 report that point to a systematic and clear policy of tortures, carefully coordinated assassinations of political opponents involving government, state agents and groups working for them, identifying all those elements as part of a “widespread and systematic course of conduct that amounts to “crimes against humanity.” The report says that 45 SEBIN and DGCIM officials “directly responsible should be investigated and prosecuted” in connection with these crimes.
It is outrageous that despite ample evidence of politically motivated assassinations, tortures, imprisonment, forced disappearances and persecutions perpetrated by the Maduro regime against dissidents and documented over the years by human rights organizations such as Foro Penal, Casla Institute, Amnesty International and other organizations, the United Nations against all that evidence and even ignoring the recommendation for preliminary examination for Crimes against Humanity referred to the International Criminal Court in 2017, had voted to include the Nicolas Maduro regime as a member in the United Nations Human Rights Council for the period from 2020-2023.
Based on UN criteria, membership in the Human Rights Council takes into account the “candidates’ state contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard.” One wonders, how a criminal regime of this nature responsible for the politically motivated killings of 2,000 protesters in recent years and for blatantly persecute and kill their own people in front of TV cameras could have made any contribution to the promotion of human rights?
OHCHR | Venezuela: UN report urges accountability for crimes against humanity
GENEVA (16 September 2020) – The Venezuelan State must hold to account those responsible for extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture, and prevent further acts of this nature from taking place, the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela said in its first report, published today.
The Mission investigated 223 cases, of which 48 are included as in-depth case studies in the 411-page report. It reviewed an additional 2,891 cases to corroborate patterns of violations and crimes.
While recognising the nature of the crisis and tensions in the country, and the responsibilities of the State to maintain public order, the Mission found the Government, State agents, and groups working with them had committed egregious violations. It identified patterns of violations and crimes that were highly coordinated pursuant to State policies, and part of a widespread and systematic course of conduct, thus amounting to crimes against humanity.
The Mission found that high-level State authorities held and exercised power and oversight over the security forces and intelligence agencies identified in the report as responsible for these violations. President Maduro and the Ministers of the Interior and of Defence were aware of the crimes. They gave orders, coordinated activities and supplied resources in furtherance of the plans and policies under which the crimes were committed.
“The Mission found reasonable grounds to believe that Venezuelan authorities and security forces have since 2014 planned and executed serious human rights violations, some of which – including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture – amount to crimes against humanity,” said Marta Valiñas, chairperson of the Mission.
“Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to State policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials.”
Venezuela: Informe de la ONU insta a la rendición de cuentas por crímenes de lesa humanidad
GINEBRA (16 de septiembre de 2020) – El Estado venezolano debe exigir cuentas a los y las responsables de las ejecuciones extrajudiciales, desapariciones forzadas, detenciones arbitrarias y la tortura e impedir que se produzcan nuevos actos de esta naturaleza, dijo la Misión Internacional Independiente de determinación de los hechos de las Naciones Unidas sobre la República Bolivariana de Venezuela en su primer informe, publicado hoy.
La Misión investigó 223 casos, de los cuales 48 se incluyen como estudios de casos exhaustivos en el informe de 443 páginas. Adicionalmente, la Misión examinó otros 2.891 casos para corroborar los patrones de violaciones y crímenes.
Aunque reconoció la naturaleza de la crisis y las tensiones en el país y la responsabilidad del Estado de mantener el orden público, la Misión constató que el Gobierno, los agentes estatales y los grupos que trabajaban con ellos habían cometido violaciones flagrantes de los derechos humanos de hombres y mujeres en Venezuela. Identificó patrones de violaciones y crímenes altamente coordinados de conformidad con las políticas del Estado y parte de un curso de conducta tanto generalizado como sistemático, constituyendo así crímenes de lesa humanidad.
La Misión constató que las autoridades estatales de alto nivel tenían y ejercían el poder con la supervisión de las fuerzas de seguridad y los organismos de inteligencia identificados en el informe como responsables de esas violaciones. El Presidente Maduro y los Ministros del Interior y de Defensa tenían conocimiento de los crímenes. Dieron órdenes, coordinaron actividades y suministraron recursos en apoyo de los planes y políticas en virtud de los cuales se cometieron los crímenes.
“La Misión encontró motivos razonables para creer que las autoridades y las fuerzas de seguridad venezolanas han planificado y ejecutado desde 2014 graves violaciones a los derechos humanos, algunas de las cuales – incluidas las ejecuciones arbitrarias y el uso sistemático de la tortura – constituyen crímenes de lesa humanidad,” dijo Marta Valiñas, presidenta de la Misión.
“Lejos de ser actos aislados, estos crímenes se coordinaron y cometieron de conformidad con las políticas del Estado, con el conocimiento o el apoyo directo de los comandantes y los altos funcionarios del gobierno.”