URGENT ACTION
MORE protesters detained, AT risk of TORTURE
On 14 May security forces in Caracas detained at least 100 people
involved in ongoing anti-government demonstrations. They are at risk of
torture or other ill-treatment and their right to due process is at
risk.
According to reports, on 14 May, at least 100
people including some minors, were detained by Venezuelan National Guard
in Chacao municipality, east of the capital Caracas, with excessive use
of force. Some of them have been released after few hours, including
all the minors. They were detained while taking part in a student
demonstration organised to protest against the detention of 243 people
between 7 and 8 May. Student demonstration was held in front of the
UNDP’s office
National Guards attacked media workers who were
covering the protest. According to press reports, four photographers
were beaten and three journalist assaulted, some of them present
injuries by rubber pellets. The Ministry of Tourism, adjacent to the
UNDP’s offices was reportedly attacked with stones and Molotov cocktails
during the demonstration. A member of the National Guard was injured
when he was accidently hit by one of the buses that was carrying some of
the detainees into custody.
In the context of the ongoing protests in
Venezuela, Amnesty International has received dozens of complaints about
torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees by
members of the security forces, at the time of detention, during
transfer and at detention centres. The detainees’ safety and right to
due process are at grave risk.
