February 21, 2014
Washington, D.C. – The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has continued to monitor and gather information on the events that have transpired in Venezuela in recent days, and reiterates that it is profoundly disturbed by various complaints alleging violations of the demonstrators’ rights to peaceful protest and their rights to life and humane treatment, personal liberty, freedom of association and freedom of expression.
The Commission has been particularly attentive to the serious complaints of alleged attacks by armed civilians against the demonstrators, during continued protests taking place in the country. In that context, a number of people were injured and one was killed when shot during the demonstrations staged in the city of Valencia on Tuesday, February 18. Also, according to figures provided by the Ministry of Interior, Justice and Peace, four people were injured bullet and another died in protests in the city of Puerto Ordaz, Wednesday 19. Similarly, the available information refers on activities of these groups in alleged raids made at the headquarters of a political party in Venezuela.
The IACHR condemns any action of this nature and calls upon the Venezuelan authorities to step up measures aimed at ensuring that these groups are effectively disarmed, that their unlawful actions are investigated and punished and that public safety is guaranteed. The IACHR appreciates that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, has publicly condemned these acts of violence and made a call to disarm these groups.