More than 1,500 political prisoners ask to be included in amnesty in Venezuela

More than 1,500 prisoners requested their freedom in Venezuela through the recently approved general amnesty law, reported this Saturday (21) the head of Parliament, who assured that, throughout the day, 80 releases had already been registered.

O amnesty mechanism — according to the law approved last Thursday — is not automatic. Those affected must appeal to the court responsible for their case and request the application of the benefit, which covers specific events over 27 years of Chavismo.

O Public prosecutor can also request the release. “In total, 1,557 are being attended to immediately and, at this moment, hundreds of releases of people deprived of their liberty who are subject to the amnesty law are already taking place,” said deputy Jorge Rodríguez in a press conference.

Afterwards, he told AFP that on Saturday alone, 80 releases were recorded in Caracas, without providing further details.

The law is part of what interim president Delcy Rodríguez defined as the step towards “a more democratic, fairer, freer Venezuela”.

The president took power after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in an American military incursion on January 3. She promoted the text amid the pressure she faces from Washington, with which she normalized diplomatic relations and to which she ceded control of oil.

The instrument, however, received criticism from human rights organizations who classified the law as insufficient and exclusionary.

“We hope it’s true”

This, according to Representative Jorge Arreaza, who led the drafting of the law, said on Friday. It is unclear whether they are included among the 1,500.

Jorge Rodríguez stated that the releases will take a few days and that it is a process that “is taking place permanently”.

“We hope it’s true,” Gênesis Rojas said outside National Police cells in Caracas known as Zone 7.

Family members have been camping in front of detention centers for more than a month and a halfwhen Rodríguez announced a first process of releases with parole. It benefited 448 prisoners, according to the NGO Foro Penal, which estimates that there are still around 650 behind bars.

“We want to go to our homes, we want to go to our homes!”, shouted a group in the early hours of this Saturday in front of Zone 7. “How long will there be so much abuse of power? Free them, they are all innocent!”

A line of police with riot shields blocked the path..

“They have to ask for forgiveness from us, those who kidnapped us, who robbed us, who violated all our human rights”, said, in turn, Yessy Orozco, whose father is imprisoned in Zone 7.

“We continue to wait”

Saturday was visiting day in Zone 7. “My husband is fine, they were going to shave him now, thank God I saw him well,” said a woman who preferred to protect her identity. “He calmed down a lot because he’s very nervous. We’re still waiting, I hope what Arreaza said isn’t a joke.”

A group of 10 women went on a hunger strike that lasted five days and only had one participant. She remains in Zone 7 on a mattress. “In recovery. No answers,” reads one sign. He does not make statements to the press because he “still feels bad”.

On the outskirts of El Rodeo I prison, on the outskirts of Caracas, family members fear that inmates have started a hunger strike because of exceptions to the law. The authorities did not authorize the visit, without providing an explanation.

This prison has around 120 detainees, according to the Penal Forum. Many were linked to military cases that are excluded from amnesty.

Representative Jorge Rodríguez indicated that the Executive is analyzing possible “grace or pardon measures” for people who are not covered by the law, such as the military.

Many also hope that a special parliamentary commission will analyze the cases of those excluded. The head of Parliament also indicated that the situation of around 11 thousand people on parole will also be studied.

*With information from AFP