AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: URGENT ACTION-JAILED OPPOSITION LEADERS’ PRISON CELLS RAIDED

Further information on UA: 33/14 Index: AMR 53/016/2015 Venezuela Date: 16 February 2015

JAILED OPPOSITION LEADERS’ PRISON CELLS RAIDED

The cells of imprisoned opposition leaders Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos have been raided in what appears to be an act of intimidation. Both men have been arbitrarily detained since February and March 2014, respectively, in relation to the wave of protests that swept the country. They must be immediately released.

In the early hours of 13 February, prison personnel raided Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos’s cells and tore some of their personal belongings, such as photos and documents. It is not clear why the raid was organized. According to the men’s families, the prison personnel first tried to enter their cells but the men locked themselves inside with iron bars. They reported that twenty armed men then returned and used a blowtorch to enter. Both Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos are held in CENAPROMIL (Centro Nacional de Procesados Militares), a military prison in Los Teques, on the outskirts of the capital, Caracas, while they are being tried in relation to the anti-government protests that swept the country between February and July 2014.

Leopoldo López, leader of the Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) opposition party, has been in detention since 18 February 2014 charged with, among others, incitement and conspiracy to commit arson and damage to property. Daniel Ceballos, mayor of San Cristobal, Táchira State, and also a member of Voluntad Popular was arrested by the Venezuelan Intelligence Security Services (SEBIN) on 19 March 2014 on suspicion of rebellion and conspiracy to commit a crime (rebelión civil y agavillamiento) and has been in detention since. Their trials are ongoing.

The men must be released as there is no evidence to substantiate the charges they face and their detention appears to be politically motivated. In August 2014 the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that the detention of Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos was arbitrary. Based on the opinion of the working group, the High Commissioner for Human Rights has urged the authorities to release them immediately.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

 Calling on the authorities to refrain from any acts of intimidation and harassment against Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos;

 Urging them to release both men in line with the recommendations of the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention;

 Urging them to address the human rights violations that were committed last year during the protests, in which 43 people died, hundreds were injured, scores ill-treated and 27 are still in detention awaiting trial.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 30 MARCH 2015 TO:

Vice President

Sr. Jorge Arreaza

Vicepresidencia de la Republica

Av. Urdaneta, Esquina de Carmelitas, Caracas, Venezuela

Email: via website http://www.vicepresidencia.gob.ve Twitter: @jaarreaza

Salutation: Señor Vicepresidente/ Dear Vice President

Minister of Defence

Gral. en Jefe Vladimir Padrino López Ministro del Poder Popular para la Defensa

Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Defensa

Fuente Tiuna, El Valle

Caracas, Venezuela

Twitter: @vladimirpadrino

Salutation: Señor Ministro/ Dear Minister

And copies to:

Amnistía Internacional Venezuela Apartado Postal 52121

Sabana Grande

Caracas 1050, Venezuela

Fax: +58 212 793 1318 ext. 116 Email: info@aiven.org

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please insert local diplomatic addresses below:

Name Address 1 Address 2 Address 3 Fax Fax number Email Email address Salutation Salutation

Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date. This is the second update of UA 33/14. Further information: www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR53/010/2014/en

URGENT ACTION
JAILED OPPOSITION LEADERS’ PRISON CELLS RAIDED
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For more information on the February to July 2014 events, see the following Amnesty International reports: Venezuela: Human rights at risk amid protests (http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR53/009/2014/en); and Venezuela: Briefing to the UN Committee Against Torture, 53rd session, November 2014 (http://amnesty.org/en/library/info/AMR53/020/2014/en).
Name: Leopoldo López and Daniel Ceballos Gender m/f: m
Further information on UA: 33/14 Index: AMR 53/016/2015 Issue Date: 16 February 2015