Venezuela using ‘State practices of terrorism’ says regional body as repression deepens

The Inter-American Commission is excoriating in its evaluation of the repression of protestors, human rights defenders and anyone perceived a opponents of the regime. ‘The regime in power is sowing terror as a tool to silence the citizenry and perpetuate the ruling authoritarian regime in power,’ says the Commission.

The repression being meted out has involved killings of protestors, arbitrary detentions and political persecution. As the UN’s Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela has well noted, this shows ‘the accelerated reactivation of the repressive machinery that was never dismantled’. The world was forewarned well before the 28 July presidential election of what was likely to happen. The UN’s High Commissioner has spoken of  ‘a climate of fear’ in the country and called for release of those arbitrarily detained. The High Commissioner’s office in Venezuela remains suspended, still operating from Panama.

Venezuelan defenders both in and out of the country have been working day and night to document attacks on protestors, and the arbitrary detention and persecution of those that are calling on the Venezuelan government to end repression and respect international electoral standards. Venezuelan NGO Foro Penal produces daily updates on detentions.

The space for civil society in Venezuela, however, keeps closing. On 15 August, the National Assembly passed an NGO law – the Law for the Control, Regularization, Performance and Financing of Non-Governmental and Related Organizations –  that members of the ruling party had threatened for months.  In January, ISHR joined other NGOs in denouncing the then bill for contradicting international standards.

‘The adoption of the NGO Law is one more piece in a strategy aimed at closing down civic space completely,’ said ISHR’s Eleanor Openshaw. ‘These are times when Venezuelan human rights defenders urgently need political and financial support.’

Political pressure is building on Venezuela. Following a first unsuccessful attempt, on 16 August, the Organization of American States passed a resolution by ‘consensus’. It called for the publication and independent revision of vote tallies and the end of human rights violations.

We are not three weeks out from the start of the next Human Rights Council session in Geneva, when a resolution is expected to be presented to renew the mandates of the Fact-Finding Mission and OHCHR:

 ‘The Fact-Finding mission and OHCHR play essential, separate roles in documenting and alerting the world to violations in Venezuela, as well as providing road maps for the essential reform that is needed,’ said Openshaw. ‘That work is more essential than ever in this period of violent repression and ongoing uncertainty.’

‘All States must call for fair elections and the protection of those protesting fraud and, during the upcoming HRC session, be unequivocal in their support for renewal of strong mandates for the Fact-Finding Mission and OHCHR,’ she added.