Venered

Manifestación del 19 de Abril de 2017 en Boston Common

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Thu, 20 Apr 2017 18:41:00 +0000

A pesar del frío y la lluvia, un nutrido grupo de Venezolanos residentes del área de Boston se reunieron ayer cerca del Palacio Legislativo de Massachusetts para manifestar su apoyo a la histórica manifestación del 19 de abril de 2017 en Venezuela y para protestar contra la dictadura de Maduro y las violaciones de #DDHH. ¡Exigimos la destitución de los magistrados golpistas y la restitución del hilo constitucional!

Vean este vídeo y compártanlo ¡Vale la pena!

#TomaDeVenezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 15:39:00 +0000

Ayer venezolanos residentes del área de Boston se reunieron en la plaza Copley para manifestar su apoyo a las marchas multitudinarias denominadas #TomaDeVenezuela que se llevaron a cabo en varios puntos del territorio venezolano. Los venezolanos de Boston también quisieron expresar su desacuerdo con la decisión del Consejo Nacional Electoral de suspender el proceso de referendo revocatorio. Boston no fue la única ciudad que se unió al llamado de la MUD también otras ciudades del exterior se manifestaron como podrán leer en este artículo de Efecto Cocuyo La #TomaDeVenezuela también se replicó en ciudades del exterior.

Boston une su voz para denunciar la dictadura y la ruptura del hilo constitucional en Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 15:40:00 +0000

La Mesa de la Unidad (MUD) pide a los venezolanos en el exterior acompañar a la La Toma de Venezuela aprovechando la gran movilización en rechazo a la reciente decisión del Consejo Nacional Electoral (CNE) de suspender el proceso de referéndum revocatorio en contra del presidente Nicolás Maduro que se está preparando para el miércoles 26 de Octubre en varias ciudades del país.

Día: Miércoles, 26 de octubre 2016

Hora: 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Lugar: Copley Square, esquina de Boylston St y Dartmouth St.

Para más información hacer clic en el siguiente enlace: https://www.facebook.com/events/1754733658120876/

Usuarios de Twitter e Instagram usar etiqueta #ConVenezuela #Boston #ConVenezuela #TomaDeVenezuela.

¡Todos juntos hacemos la diferencia!

Venezuela designed its own collapse

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 22 Oct 2016 03:07:00 +0000

NPR's Planet Money Podcast produced an excellent primer on Venezuela's failed economy.

Protesta mundial por la libertad de los presos políticos y defensa de DDHH

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Fri, 29 May 2015 18:13:00 +0000

Boston se une a la manifestación del Sábado 30 de Mayo por la libertad de los presos politicos y el respeto de los derechos humanos.

Fecha: 30 de Mayo de 2015
Lugar: Boston Common (Brewer Fountain, zone 10)
Hora: 11:30 am-1:30 pm
Hashtags: #‎30MVamosTodos‬ por ‪#‎Venezuela‬, #‎30MYoVoy‬
Dirección:

Hangout político: Tortura en Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:52:00 +0000

Una conversación con Ligia Bolívar, del Centro de Derechos Humanos de la UCAB, sobre la interpelación a Venezuela en el Comité contra la Tortura (ONU). El Hangout político es un espacio conducido por los periodistas y activistas @Naky Soto y @LuisCarlos Díaz desde Venezuela.

Achieving Justice Under International Law - Venezuela case study: challenges and opportunities

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 17:58:00 +0000

Hola amigos de la colonia de Venezuela residente en Boston y Massachusetts.

Es de gran agrado y de gran honor para mi invitarlos al panel académico que llevaremos a cabo en el Boston College sobre el caso Venezuela.
Abajo encontraran la información del panel, locación, dia y hora, tema e information relevante al tema del panel. Sairam participara del panel desde Caracas via Skype.

https://orgsync.com/72125/events/901586/occurrences/1948250

El panel es abierto no solo a la comunidad académica del Boston College, sino a otras universidades, centros de investigación, empresas, centros de pensamiento, etc. No duden en compartir la información del panel con sus colegas del trabajo, allegados, amigos y familiares.

Cualquier información adicional no duden en enviarme un email, o llamarme a mi celular: 8572375593.

Aprovecho la oportunidad para compartir con ustedes una pieza editorial que escribí sobre el caso Venezuela para el Fletcher Forum of Global Affairs (online edition).

http://www.fletcherforum.org/2014/10/09/portilla-2/

Con un cordial y atento saludo,

Juan Carlos Portilla

Visiting Scholar

Boston College Law School

885 Centre Street

Newton, MA 02459

Email: juan.portilla@bc.edu

BCTelephone: (617)552-4019

BCFax: (617)5522889

Mobil: 8572375593

Resumen de preguntas del Comité Contra la Tortura ONU al Estado venezolano

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 00:11:00 +0000

Boston Globe Editorial: Crackdown presents challenge to Citizens Energy, Joe Kennedy II

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sun, 25 May 2014 16:43:00 +0000

A raíz de la visita de Lilian Tintori, el Boston Globe publicó hoy un editorial muy importante sobre la situación en Venezuela y la conexión con Citizen Energy.

A continuación presentamos un extracto del texto:

" ... Citizens Energy has provided a winter lifeline to more than 1.8 million people. If it gave up its deal with Venezuela, many of those families would face far higher heating costs. But American interests aren’t the only ones at issue. In López’s Harvard award acceptance letter, he urged Americans to speak up about what’s happening in his country: “You have an opportunity to send a far different message: that the weight of the global community is on the side of human rights and dignity.”

Para leer el texto completo del editorial, hacer clic aquí.

Es la primera vez que el Globe se pronuncia de una manera tan contundente. ¡Estimados residentes de Nueva Inglaterra hay que difundir el mensaje! Accedan a la página online del Globe y escriban sus comentarios, o mejor aun, envíen una carta al editor felicitando al Globe y agradeciendo la publicación del editorial. Envíen una carta de apoyo a letter@globe.com o fax: 617-929-2098.

Lilian Tintori denuncia régimen venezolano

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 24 May 2014 02:15:00 +0000

Chevron: The Bolivarian Connection

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:55:00 +0000

Amnesty International: More protesters detained, at risk of torture in Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:49:00 +0000

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.

Please write immediately in Spanish or your own language:

Acknowledging that the state has a duty to act, in a lawful and proportionate manner, to maintain public order; and reminding the authorities that they must respect human rights, must not use excessive force, and must ensure that the right to freedom of expression, association and assembly are respected;

Calling on the authorities to make public the whereabouts of all detainees, and ensure they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment, are given immediate access to their lawyers, families, and any medical attention they may require;

Calling on them to either charge those detained with a recognisable offence or release them; to respect the right of all those charged with an offence to due process and urging the authorities to refrain from making statements that undermine the presumption of innocence;

Calling on them to guarantee the protection of journalists and human right defenders and ensure that they can carry out their work without fear of reprisals, given their essential role in monitoring and reporting on the protests and possible abuses.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 26 JUNE 2014 TO:

Vice-president

Sr. Jorge Arreaza

Vicepresidencia de la Republica

Av. Urdaneta, Esquina de Carmelitas, Caracas, Venezuela

Twitter: @jaarreaza

Salutation: Señor Vicepresidente

Dear Vice-president

Minister of Justice and Interior

Gral. Miguel Rodríguez Torres

Ministerio del Poder Popular para Relaciones Interiores, Justicia y Paz

Av. Urdaneta, Edificio Interior y Justicia Caracas, Venezuela

Fax: +58 212 506 1685

Email: asistenciadirecta3@gmail.com

Salutation: Señor Ministro

Dear Minister

And copies to:

Amnistía Internacional Venezuela�Av la Salle, Torre Phelps, piso 17, Oficina 17A

Plaza Venezuela�Los Caobos, 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.

URGENT ACTION

MORE protesters detained, AT risk of TORTURE

Additional Information

Between 7 and 8 May security forces in the Chacao and Baruta Municipalities of Caracas, the capital, detained 243 people in four makeshift camps built as part of anti-government demonstrations that have been ongoing throughout the country since February 2014. All but 12 people have already been conditionally released, including all the minors

Since the beginning of February 2014, Venezuela has been shaken by mass protests for and against the government in various parts of the country. The unrest has already resulted in the death of over 41 people, including at least six members of the security forces. More than 650 people have been injured and over 2,000 have been detained. Most people arrested have been conditionally released pending investigations, but they face charges that could lead to years in prison.

There are indications of excessive use of force by the security forces, as well as reports of violence by armed pro government groups and by anti-government protesters. 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 aim of the cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees appears to have been to punish them for their participation, or alleged participation in the protests. Among the complaints received are cases of beatings by members of the security forces, who allegedly punched, kicked and hit detainees with blunt objects, such as helmets, including when detainees were being restrained on the ground at the time of detention.

The organization has also received complaints from detainees who were allegedly forced to kneel or stand for long periods at detention centres, subjected to sexual abuse or threatened with rape. Other reports indicate that some were threatened with death, and in one case, officer’s allegedly poured petrol onto a young detainee.

Detainees were not given medical examinations on arrival at detention centres and, in some cases, did not receive medical attention until they were brought before a judge, despite evident wounds from rubber pellets or bullets. The right of detainees to be examined by a doctor and receive medical treatment whenever necessary is a safeguard against torture and ill-treatment, and an integral part of the authorities’ duty to guarantee respect for the integrity and dignity of the individual.

Name: Another 105 people detained in Caracas
Gender m/f: both

Further information on UA: 119/14 Index: AMR 53/014/2014 Issue Date: 15 May 2014

Los "Reservoir Dogs" de la carrera armamentista en Venezuela (1999-2013)

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Tue, 15 Apr 2014 02:24:00 +0000

Amnesty International on Venezuela: Political spiral of violence a threat to the rule of law

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:22:00 +0000

Provea Bulletin from February 2014 on Human Rights Situation in Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sun, 06 Apr 2014 00:18:00 +0000

An evening with Venezuelan human rights activists Alfredo Romero and Marino Alvarado

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:53:00 +0000

Se realizará un foro con estudiantes y público en general para discutir la situación de las violaciones de los Derechos Humanos en Venezuela. Invitado especial Afredo Romero, director de Foro Penal Venezolano y Marino Alvarado, coordinador del Programa Venezolano de Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (Provea) via Internet desde Venezuela.

El país necesita ojos y oídos en todo el mundo para demandar nuestros derechos primordiales, Los derechos humanos. Serviremos de embajadores a nuestro país y decir la verdad acerca de los hechos que han conducido a detenidos, heridos y muertos en el último més en Venezuela y tras el silencio oficial.

Día: Miércoles

Fecha: 2 de Abril

Hora: 6 pm

Lugar: 77 Mass Ave. Cambridge, MA 02139, Auditorio Edificio 6- Salón 120, Al final de corredor infinito, pasando la cúpula central de MIT.

Ponentes

Alfredo Romero

Fundador de la Asociación Civil VIVE (Víctimas Venezolanas de Violaciones a los Derechos Humanos) y Asesor Legal de la misma, organización que lleva varias denuncias ante el Sistema Interamericano de Derechos Humanos de la OEA. Director Ejecutivo PRO-Bono de la ONG de Derechos Humanos Foro Penal Venezolano.

- Asesor Dirección Crédito Público 1994-1996

- Socio de la firma Gimón Troconis Romero Abogados 1998-2008

- Relator de la Sala Constitucional del Tribunal Supremo de Justicia 2000-2002.

- Socio de la firma Himiob Romero Abogados 2008-Presente

- Profesor por concurso de Derecho Administrativo, Universidad Central de Venezuela

- Profesor en Derecho Administrativo y Financiero Internacional de la UCAB

- Abogado Universidad Católica Andres Bello.

- Maestria en Estudios Latinoamericanos, Universidad de Georgetown, Washington D.C.

- Maestría en Derecho Público Financiero, London School of Economics, Universidad de Londres

Obras y Articulos Publicados

- Ha escrito varios artículos sobre Derecho Público y Derechos Humanos.

- Autor del libro: Relatos de muerte en vivo: Historias reales de una sociedad en crisis

English

Lawyer, Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, Caracas, MA, Georgetown University; LLM, London School of Economics. Formerly: Legal Adviser, Public Credit, Ministry of Finance, Venezuela; Assistant, Constitutional Chamber, Supreme Court of Justice, Venezuela. Legal adviser to various companies and individuals on public contracts, public and constitutional law and litigation. Partner, Rosich Himiob Romero Law Firm. Director, Vive and Foro Penal Venezolano, pro bono NGOs that represent victims of political violence in Venezuela. Registered cases of political persecution and filed actions for violations of human rights and crimes against humanity in Venezuela at the Interamerican Commission for Human Rights (OAS) and the International Criminal Court of The Hague. President, Fuerza Integradora, a human rights organization of Venezuelan lawyers. Professor of Public Law, Graduate School of Law, Catholic University, Caracas, and Universidad Central de Venezuela. Author of articles and coordinator of books about public and constitutional law, human rights and crimes against humanity. Recipient, Chevening Award, British Embassy.

Marino Alvarado

http://www.derechos.org.ve/2014/03/20/video-opinion-de-provea-sobre-la-recien-creada-comision-parlamentaria-para-investigar-sucesos-de-febrero-marzo-2014/

Making sense of Venezuela's situation

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 08 Mar 2014 23:43:00 +0000

A panel of eight experts will review the recent economic, social and political evolution of Venezuela and conduct an open and interactive debate moderated by Leonardo Vivas, creator of the Latin America Initiative at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

The recent conflicts in Venezuela began with a student’s protest and escalated to a national crisis which have now made international news. The depth of the crisis in Venezuela is one that reveals the economic and political failures of one of the most powerful economies in Latin America. Presently, over 2,000 human rights violations have been reported including rape and physical abuse.

Since the protests began on February 12th, there have been over 20 deaths during street clashes attributed to the Bolivarian National Guard, over 300 protestors wounded with bullets, and more than 2000 detainees with 44 jailed activists. The violations continue to rise. Political opponents are being persecuted and jailed while worsening shortages of food and medicines continue. This crisis has not been televised on Venezuelan TV. Newspapers and radio stations have been penalized for their reporting, and newsprint shortages are dire.

Organizers: Roberto Rigobón (rigobon@mit.edu) and Irene Bosch member of Venered

Time: 6 PM to 9 PM

Date: Wednesday March 12th

Place: 10-250 Auditorium at 77 Mass. Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139

Directions: http://whereis.mit.edu

The representatives from Venezuela are: Keta Stephany, Professor at the Central University of Venezuela, and Secretary General of the National Federation; Pedro Moreno, President of worker’s political party and member of the union workers in Venezuela; and Eusebio Costa, President of the Student Center of the Catholic University of Santa Rosa and a victim of human rights violations.

Panel members from Boston:

Francisco J. Monaldi Visiting Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Roy Family Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs. Adjunct Professor of Energy Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and Non-Resident Fellow for the Latin America Initiative at the Baker Institute at Rice University. He is on leave as Professor at the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración (IESA) in Caracas, Venezuela. He is the founder and Director of IESA’s International Center on Energy and the Environment. In 2012-2013 he was the Robert F. Kennedy Visiting Professor at Harvard University and Fellow at the David Rockefeller for Latin American Studies. In 2008-2009 he was Visiting Professor at Stanford University and Campbell National Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science (Political Economy) from Stanford University, a Master in International and Development Economics from Yale University, and a B.A. in Economics from UCAB.

Boris Muñoz is a Venezuelan journalist and author of several books, including: La ley de la calle, testimonios de jóvenes protagonistas de la violencia en Caracas, Más allá de la ciudad letrada, Crónicas y espacios urbanos and Despachos del imperio. Muñoz is a fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. He was and Editor-in-Chief of Nueva Sociedad and Editorial Director of Exceso magazine, and contributes regularly to The New Yorker, Foreign Affairs, Gatopardo magazine, and Prodavinci.com.

Roberto Patiño is one of the founders of VotoJoven, an organization that mobilized youth to get out the vote in Venezuela, and JoTA, an NGO that advances the rights of young people through events like sports tournaments; they built a policy plan for the youth by listening in assemblies the concerns and expectations of young people in his country, focusing primarily in education policies. Roberto was featured in the documentary A Whisper to a Roar and won the 2010 International Democracy Award. He was a student leader during the large pacific demonstrations occurred between 2007-2010, advocating for education of quality for all and freedom of speech. He was the head of the Presidential Youth Campaign for the opposition coalition in Venezuela in 2012; they managed to do the largest youth political event in the country’s history with more than 30.000 youngsters in a stadium. He is currently studying an MPP at the Kennedy School and was recently elected president of the Latin American Caucus of the School.

Miguel Angel Santos was the Head of the Macroeconomic Policy Team for presidential candidate Henrique Capriles in the Venezuelan elections of 2012. He has more than twelve years of executive experience doing business development and corporate finance in Latin America. He is an Adjunct Professor at the Center of Finance of Instituto de Estudios Superiores en Administración (IESA) in Caracas, and writes a weekly column at El Universal, Venezuela’s oldest nationwide newspaper. Miguel Angel holds two M.Sc. degrees in Economics and Specialized Economic Analysis, both from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, and has also earned the right to use the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. He is a currently an Edward S. Mason Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government and a Ph.D. in Economics candidate at Universidad de Barcelona.

Roberto Rigobon is the Society of Sloan Fellows Professor of Applied Economics at the Sloan School of Management, MIT, a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research, a member of the Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee, and a visiting professor at IESA. Roberto is a Venezuelan economist whose areas of research are international economics, monetary economics, and development economics. Roberto focuses on the causes of balance-of-payments crises, financial crises, and the propagation of them across countries - the phenomenon that has been identified in the literature as contagion. Currently he studies properties of international pricing practices, try to produce alternative measures of inflation, and is one of the two founding members of the Billion Prices Project, and a co-founder of PriceStats. Roberto joined the business school in 1997 and has won three times the "Teacher of the year" award and three times the "Excellence in Teaching" award at MIT. He got his Ph.D. in economics from MIT in 1997, an MBA from IESA (Venezuela) in 1991, and his BS in Electrical Engineer from Universidad Simon Bolivar (Venezuela) in 1984. He is married with three kids.

Urgent action on situation of human rights in Venezuela

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 02:05:00 +0000

Member organizations of Foro por la Vida, together with other Venezuelan organizations, in light of serious violations of human rights in Venezuela.

We, the undersigned organizations, given the worsening of the Venezuelan situation resulting from violence, misinformation, arbitrary detentions and other major violations of human rights that have occurred in the month of February 2014 make a call for urgent action in support of the observance of human rights, justice and peace in Venezuela.

The events taking place in Venezuela showcase the deterioration of public institutions to effectively arbitrate the diversity of political positions that exist in the country. In light of this situation it is important that various sectors of the national and international community take a stand to challenge human rights violations, calling for an independent investigation, requesting the cessation of repression and the opening of genuine dialogue.

Criminalization of protests

Students and other social sectors of Venezuelan society have convened and conducted peaceful demonstrations throughout the month of February. Systematically, high-ranking public officials have disqualified these mobilizations and demonized sectors participating in them.

Disqualifying speeches are frequently featured in the National System of Public Media or through mandatory radio and television broadcasts. Acts of vandalism and street closures that have involved a minority of protesters —rejected by the organizers and broad sectors of Venezuelan society— are overexposed in such broadcasts. Thus, because some participants incur in violent acts, all participants and organizers of peaceful demonstrations have been disqualified as violent, as a justification for the authorities to widespread repressive responses.

Arbitrary detentions

Starting February 12, there were numerous arbitrary arrests in the context of demonstrations. Protesters have been subjected to punishments that include torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Detainees have been taken to places without minimum conditions to ensure their fundamental rights, lacking adequate ventilation, and have been denied access to lawyers or food supply by their family. Likewise, detainees have complained that officials had searched into their belongings, and particularly their electronic equipment, such as cameras and cell phones. Minors were kept in adult detention centers, in a context of severe repression and torture. Finally, there have been reports of detainees who have been severely beaten and sexually assaulted, as well as having had their personal property damaged.

State actions regarding these arbitrary arrests offer no guarantees of due process. The authorities have failed to properly report on the number of detainees, their identities and ages. Arrests in many cases exceeded the time limits established by law to be brought before a judge. Likewise, in some cases judges have threatened detainees with keeping them imprisoned, instead of on probation, if they requested forensic reports of attacks against them.

Freedom of expression

In this context, there is a restriction of the free flow of information in the Venezuelan media, and this leads many people to seek information through international news networks or social networks. Attacks and aggressions against journalists and reporters persist as well as blockings of websites, promoted by the Venezuelan authorities.

Traditional media refrain from publishing information about the demonstrations and violent and irregular situations, due to government pressure and fear of reprisals. Many journalists and reporters have been assaulted or attacked while covering violent events and repression from authorities. Most of the perpetrators of these attacks are police officers, members of the armed forces or pro-government armed groups.

Likewise, without due process, the Venezuelan Government ordered cable companies to take international news channels off from their programming, and as well blocked access to several websites, made it difficult to upload and send images through Twitter and created other restrictions within the internet. These policies lead to serious restrictions to freedom of expression and information, endangering people and impeding the exercise of their rights, with less and less space for expression and repressing critical voices.

Public order

The undersigned organizations of this Urgent Action recognize the State’s obligation to maintain public order, but we must remember firmly that this responsibility should be carried out in strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution and international standards in this matter. All in accordance with the Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, adopted by the United Nations, and the landmark judgment in the Caracazo Case, dictated by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights which is binding for the VenezuelanState.

All measures for restoring order must be compatible with human rights and the principles of a democratic society. The VenezuelanState has a constitutional obligation to adjust its operational plans to control public order to reestablishing order, providing various means for differentiated use of force, maintaining independent functioning of the Judiciary, respecting and guaranteeing due process and providing judicial guarantees for all persons. As well, it must implement crowd-control techniques that minimize the need to use force, employing methods of persuasion, negotiation and mediation, as well as complying with the constitutional ban on the use of firearms and toxic substances in controlling peaceful demonstrations, as is enshrined in Article 68 of the Venezuelan Constitution.

Paramilitarism

We express deep concern regarding repressive actions against the demonstrators by paramilitary pro-government groups. In some parts of Venezuela, these actions have been coordinated with the National Guard, the Bolivarian National Police and state police forces. A member of the Venezuelan human rights NGO Provea was a victim of kidnapping, beatings and death threats by these irregular organizations.

Some senior State officials, through their accounts on the social network Twitter, have encouraged the actions of such groups. To date, President Nicolas Maduro has made no condemnation of those groups. Neither the Attorney General nor the Ombudswoman have questioned the actions of paramilitary groups that have helped to contain demonstrators, through tear gas and gun shots, even against family homes.

We recall that the State is responsible for violations of human rights when not taking adequate measures to prevent the actions of such armed groups and even more when their actions are executed with the cooperation of the authorities.

Situation of human rights defenders in Venezuela

The conditions under which human rights defenders carry out their work in Venezuela have deteriorated significantly. The Venezuelan State has failed to fulfill its obligations to provide the necessary means for human rights defenders to conduct their activities freely; to protect them when they are threatened, to prevent attacks on their lives and personal integrity; to refrain from imposing obstacles to the realization of their work, and to conduct serious and effective investigations regarding violations against them, preventing impunity.

When the political polarization in Venezuelan society is at peak levels, the attitude of the Venezuelan State towards NGO´s and human rights defenders changes: from neutralizing the actions of human rights defenders by adopting a defensive strategies against criticism from the sector, to the adoption of a clear policy of confrontation and public discrediting, which has caused serious consequences. Evidences of this change are public and notorious: holders of highest public office not only fail to recognize their work as human rights advocates, but also make serious allegations against organizations and human rights defenders, among them as traitors to the motherland.

Public Prosecutor and Ombudsman

Instances of violence and human rights violations that have occurred should be subject to a fair, serious and thorough investigation by an independent authority. In accordance with the Venezuelan Constitution this is a responsibility of the Public Ministry, chaired by the Attorney General’s Office. However, these investigations have not been carried out with due diligence, in violation of constitutional and international obligations of the State. Therefore, this conduct of the Attorney General amounts to a serious renunciation of her institutional functions.

Similarly, the Ombudswoman is responsible for the promotion, protection and monitoring of human rights. However, her performance has been directed at silencing human rights violations against government dissidents and to politically defend the arbitrary actions of the State´s security forces. Wherefore also in practice the Ombudswoman has severely declined to exercise her constitutional powers and duties.

State of Exception

Article 337 of the Venezuelan Constitution expressly provides that during states of exception guarantees enshrined in the Constitution may be temporarily suspended, except those relating to the right to life, prohibition of solitary confinement and torture, the right to due process, the right to information and other intangible rights. This means that there are a number of constitutional guarantees that under no alleged circumstance may be suspended. As it is impossible to suspend them during a state of exception, it is equally inadmissible to suspend the exercise of legal warrant actions.

States of exception correspond to objective situations of extreme gravity against which the ordinary means available to the State are insufficient to meet them. The Declaration of a State of Exception does not allow public authorities to act in disregard of the law, to which must adhere at all times. Therefore they must abide by the principles and obligations of proportionality, timeliness, and non-discrimination, and this declaration must be officially decreed because, otherwise, this would be a de facto State of Exception, inadmissible in a democratic state.

Dialogue

In the current Venezuelan crisis, with the unfortunate deaths of 12 people in the context of the recent demonstrations, and over 120 wounded by gunfire, we urge the Venezuelan Government to create minimum conditions that allow for a democratic solution to the conflict, which involves refraining from the criminalization of dissenting opinions, recognizing the social and political factors critics of the government, opening spaces for dialogue and ensuring the exercise of the right to peaceful demonstration.

We also urge opposition political leaders to strongly condemn the violence and to generate conditions favorable to establishing with the government a minimum agenda for a sincere and productive dialogue, in order to face the various problems affecting Venezuelan society today.

We therefore urge to write letters, press releases or communiqués:

Expressing concern at the criminalization of social protest, the systematic harassment of journalists and media, the actions of paramilitary groups and calling for guarantees necessary for an independent investigation of human rights violations;
Calling for the cessation of recurrent public insults against demonstrators by State officials and urging them to fulfill their obligation to guarantee the rights to freedom of assembly, expression, personal integrity and due process;
Urging the different sectors to establish mechanisms for a real dialogue that enables national understanding and the implementation of proper procedures to effectively investigate violations of human rights and to achieve justice in each case.

SEND MESSAGES BEFORE APRIL 1st TO:

President of Venezuela

Nicolás Maduro Moros

Final Avenida Urdaneta, Esq. De Bolero, Palacio de Miraflores Caracas, Distrito Capital Venezuela

Twitter: @NicolasMaduro
Greeting: Mr. President

Dear Mr. Presidente

Send copies to Venezuelan diplomatic representatives and to the Foreign Affairs Ministers in your country

Send copies to:

Foro por la Vida (Spokes group)
Bulevar Panteón, Puente Trinidad a Tienda Honda, Edif. Centro Plaza Las Mercedes, PB. Number 6 Phone numbers/fax: +58-212-862-1011 / 53.33 and 860-6669
Caracas, Venezuela
Email: voceria.foroporlavida@gmail.com

Organizations members of the Foro por la Vida who sign and promote this Urgent Action:

Acción Solidaria
ACCSI Acción Ciudadana Contra el SIDA
Caritas Los Teques
Centro de derechos humanos de la Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (CDDHH UCAB)
Centro para la Paz y los Derechos Humanos - Universidad Central de Venezuela
Comisión de Justicia y Paz de la Conferencia Episcopal Venezolana (CEV)
Comité de Familiares de las Víctimas de los sucesos ocurridos entre el 27 de febrero y los primeros días de marzo de 1989 (Cofavic)
Espacio Público
Observatorio Venezolano de los Derechos Humanos de las Mujeres
Oficina de Derechos Humanos del Vicariato de Puerto Ayacucho
Programa Venezolano de Educación Acción en Derechos Humanos (Provea)
Vicaría de Derechos Humanos de la Arquidiócesis de Caracas

Other organizations who sign and promote this Urgent Action:

ACOANA (Asociación Venezolana para la Conservación de Áreas Naturales)

Asamblea de Educación

Asociación Civil Banco del Libro

Cáritas Ciudad Bolívar

Cecodap

Centro de Investigación Social Formación y estudios de la mujer (CISFEM)

CESAP Asociación Civil

Ciudadanía activa

Civilis – Derechos Humanos

Comisión Venezolana del Servicio Social Internacional Centro Comunal Catia

Convite AC

Fenasopadres

Fuerza Ecológica Calabozo (Fecolca)

Fundación Aguaclara

Fundación CIIDER

Fundación de Derechos Humanos de Cumaná (INCIDE)

Grupo Social CESAP

Instituto Venezolano de Estudios Sociales y Políticos (Invesp)

Observatorio Venezolano de Prisiones

Sinergia

Transparencia Venezuela

Unión Vecinal para la Participación Ciudadana

Manifiesto por los derechos humanos y el diálogo social

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 22 Feb 2014 16:56:00 +0000

El movimiento sindical y gremial autónomo y clasista y las organizaciones sociales, condenan y rechazan el uso inhumano e inconstitucional de los Cuerpos de Seguridad del Estado y de grupos paramilitares para reprimir las legítimas protestas estudiantiles. Se han utilizado armas de fuego contra manifestantes indefensos, con el terrible saldo de 6 muertos, decenas de heridos y más de 300 presos, algunos de los cuales han denunciado que fueron sometidos a torturas infamantes.

Los trabajadores sabemos que las reivindicaciones del movimiento estudiantil expresan el sentir de la mayoría del pueblo venezolano, quienes a diario están sometidos a la inseguridad, al asalto, a una muerte violenta, al deterioro creciente del poder adquisitivo de sus ingresos, a la escasez de productos básicos, al desabastecimiento generalizado y la precariedad de los más elementales servicios públicos.

La protesta estudiantil es la respuesta a una acción gubernamental errada, que ha empobrecido a la mayoría y enriquecido a unos pocos. Todos sufrimos a diario, las consecuencias de una política económica que ha despilfarrado los cuantiosos recursos derivados de los altos precios del petróleo. El movimiento sindical y gremial, en todas sus versiones tiene varios años manifestándose en contra de tal política. Hemos insistido en que para construir una economía sana y autosostenida es necesaria la inversión productiva, tanto pública como privada. Por no haber procedido de esa manera las consecuencias están a la vista: estamos frente a la más grave escasez de alimentos básicos de la historia nacional y padecemos una inflación que es de las más altas del planeta.

Los estudiantes reclaman seguridad y ese es un clamor nacional, pues la delincuencia no distingue por edad, condición social o preferencias políticas.

La sociedad exige una rectificación. Que el gobierno cumpla con sus responsabilidades y no insista en ocultar sus errores, invocando fantasmas como una presunta guerra económica y el disco rayado de un golpe de estado.

También rechazamos que se pretenda silenciar a los medios negándoles las divisas para importar el papel, con lo cual, además de limitar la información, se ponen en riesgo miles de puestos de trabajo.

Ese modo de proceder nos puede llevar a una escalada de violencia con resultados más dolorosos y lamentables para la república. No queremos más estudiantes o trabajadores detenidos, heridos o muertos.

Los trabajadores venezolanos sabemos por experiencia propia que sin consensos no hay progreso, que si no resolvemos pacíficamente nuestras controversias no habrá inversión de los particulares, que sin fuentes de trabajo no crece el empleo, que el capital es tan necesario como el trabajo en la creación de riquezas y que el deber de todo gobierno responsable es favorecer la convivencia y garantizar la igualdad y el progreso para todos.

Por ello, desde el movimiento sindical y gremial independiente y autónomo exhortamos al gobierno nacional, tal como lo hicimos hace menos de un mes, ante la misión de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), a convocar a todos los actores sociales a un dialogo nacional para buscar soluciones consensuadas a la crisis institucional que atravesamos.

El gobierno debe dar pasos previos que demuestren que desea superar la crisis. Por ello es perentorio:

a) La inmediata libertad de todos los estudiantes, trabajadores y demás ciudadanos presos por ejercer el derecho constitucional a la protesta

b) El desarme de los grupos paramilitares llamados colectivos

c) El cese de las medidas que pesan sobre los dirigentes sindicales sometidos a juicio.

d) Detener la criminalización de la protesta, de la lucha estudiantil y de la acción sindical

e) La supresión del SEBIN

f) El irrestricto respeto de los derechos humanos y otorgar todas las garantías para su cabal ejercicio

g) La autonomía y separación de poderes públicos

Llamamos a la unidad de los venezolanos, a derrotar la violencia, venga de donde venga, a luchar juntos por una Venezuela mejor. Reafirmamos nuestro compromiso por la vida, la libertad y la justicia. Los trabajadores seguiremos luchando por nuestras reivindicaciones laborales y los derechos democráticos arriba enunciados.

CONFEDERACIÓN DE TRABAJADORES DE VENEZUELA (CTV)

CONFEDERACION DE SINDICATOS AUTONOMOS (CODESA)

CONFEDERACIÓN GENERAL DE TRABAJADORES (CGT)

INTERNACIONAL DE SERVIDORES PUBLICOS. CAPÍTULO VENEZUELA

FEDERACIÓN DE ASOCIACIONES DE PROFESORES UNIVERSITARIOS DE VENEZUELA (FAPUV)

ASOCIACIÓN DE PROFESORES DE LA UNIVERSIDAD CENTRAL DE VENEZUELA (APUCV)

ASOCIACION DEL PERSONAL ACADEMICO DE LA UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL ABIERTA (APAUNA)

FEDERACIÓN MEDICA DE VENEZUELA (FMV)

FRENTE AUTONOMO DE DEFENSA DEL EMPLEO SALARIO Y SINDICATO (FADESS)

MOVIMIENTO SINDICAL DE BASE (MOSBASE)

ALIANZA SINDICAL INDEPENDIENTE (ASI)

ONG UNA MONTAÑA DE GENTE

FRENTE PARA LA DEFENSA DE LA EDUCACIÓN DEMOCRÁTICA

PROGRAMA VENEZOLANO DE EDUCACIÓN Y ACCIÓN EN DERECHOS HUMANOS (PROVEA)

#LaSalida

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sun, 26 Jan 2014 03:00:00 +0000

La siguiente rueda de prensa, convocada por Maria Corina Mchado, Leopoldo López, estudiantes, sindicalistas y representantes de la sociedad civil el 23 de Enero de 2014, ha sido prácticamente ignorada por la mayoría de los medios de comunicación del país.

¡Qué nada te detenga!

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 23:54:00 +0000

Ha llegado la hora del ciudadano, no dejes que otro decida por ti. En tus manos está la transformación de Venezuela. Cada voto no emitido es un voto a favor de Maduro (Toripollo).

@hcapriles ha hecho un enorme esfuerzo para apoyar a todos los candidatos a alcaldes y consejales de la unidad. Ahora te toca a ti.

Acuérdate, somos millones de ciudadanos que queremos una Venezuela moderna de paz y progreso. ¡Actívate! ¡Moviliza a tus amigos, a tus familiares! ¡El voto es tu arma! Y recuerda, si notas alguna irregularidad, ten este número a la mano, 0212-319-1111 o 212*SOS desde tu celular.

Boston se une a la convocatoria de Capriles: ¡Todos a manifestarse en contra de la tiranía!

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Fri, 22 Nov 2013 14:24:00 +0000

Durante esta semana Venezuela ha vivido cambios políticos que apuntan hacia una agudización de la crisis política y económica.

El gran desabastecimiento en rubros de consumos primarios se teme irreversible, ya que los niveles de necesidad de dichos insumos serían de tan gran magnitud que reponerlo pueda ser imposible a corto plazo.

De allí que las tácticas distractorias del Gobierno, como la manipulación miembros de la Asamblea para imponer la Lay Habilitante, y las falsas soluciones como fueron intervenciones a pequeños negocios y la incitación a la violencia con los saqueos, ha convertido el panorama Nacional en un verdadero caos. El juego de hacerle creer a la gente que se vive un proceso revolucionario en el país, ha mantenido por más de una década a los sectores progresistas paralizados ante la arremetida del control del Estado hacia los medios de comunicación y expresión en general, la falta de derechos civiles y el asalto al derecho jurídico por parte del aparato de gobierno.

Es muy importante entonces DEJAR TESTIMONIO y actuar, así sea a distancia, por parte de todos los Venezolanos, para dejar saber a nuestros compatriotas que el país no son el grupo grande de asaltadores del gobierno, que no estamos de acuerdo con el estado actual de cosas y que desde ahora en adelante se trata de una lucha política, larga, pero visible, para reponer order a un país que nos crió y que sigue dando saldo positivo por la renta petrolera, pero en manos de los que se reparten esas divisas a costa de la demolición de un país entero.

Por lo tanto, cada vez que se pueda daremos un paso hacia el frente para mostrar esa fuerza opositora y no falta de voz o de acciones.

Lugar: Copley Square, enfrente del consulado de Venezuela en Boston
Dia: Sábado, 23 de Noviembre
Hora: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Trae el rollo de papel higiénico nuevo con el cual se elaborará una escultura en la calle.

¡Muchas gracias por tu participación!

El saqueo como estrategia electoral

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Mon, 18 Nov 2013 02:40:00 +0000

La violencia y los saqueos ocurridos en diversas ciudades del país responden al discurso belicista-electorero del monárquico Maduro en su pretensión de derrotar la escalada inflacionaria y sobreponerse a la mala perspectiva oficialista para las elecciones municipales del 8 de diciembre.

Bajo la excusa de defender los intereses del pueblo y luchar contra la inflación, Maduro y su combo de maleantes han apelado a una retórica electoral-populista que reivindica el saqueo (operación anaqueles vacíos) y lapida de manera demagógica a algunas empresas. Inflación que no responde a ningún plan perverso del imperio, sino a la quiebra del aparato productivo nacional, a un excesivo gasto público, un gigantesco déficit fiscal, y a una errada política monetaria que ha implicado sucesivas devaluaciones de la moneda.

Sin embargo, es necesario señalar que estas medidas populistas y tumultuosas tomadas por el régimen de Maduro no apuntalan al fin del capitalismo rentista y al nacimiento del modelo productivo socialista como suelen publicitar los miembros del clan bolifascista. Todo lo contrario, contribuyen al afianzamiento de un capitalismo de Estado militarizado que ha institucionalizado el latrocinio al cual ha sido sometida la nación, y a enmascarar la magnitud del saqueo multimillonario que ha realizado el grupete que ostentan el poder.

Saqueo que ha conllevado al deterioro del aparato productivo del país y por ende a un desabastecimiento alimentario y de otros insumos esenciales, a la entrega de nuestras riquezas petroleras a las transnacionales bajo la figura leonina de las empresas mixtas y a un desenfrenado endeudamiento interno y externo que en algunos casos ha implicado la entrega de nuestros recursos energéticos como garantía para la aprobación de esos prestamos en el exterior. Rapacidad que ha conllevado la destrucción de PDVSA y la capacidad exportadora no-petrolera del país, igualmente una masiva importación de alimentos, y de bienes y servicios. Este vergonzoso saqueo además ha permitido el surgimiento de una burguesía para-estatal ociosa y parasitaria la cual Gunder Frank caracteriza como la lumpen-burguesía.

Esta devastadora situación económica se ha traducido en un incremento en las cifras de desempleo abierto y encubierto (informalidad), en una sistemática criminalización de la luchas sindicales y una militarización de las empresas estatizadas a fin de acallar a los trabajadores en sus justas demandas.

Estamos en presencia de un Estado delictivo y totalitario dirigido por una logia militar fascista con el apoyo de un infame y servil grupo de oportunistas de izquierda. Gorilato que ha destruido la agroindustria, profundizado la pobreza, conculcado los derechos de los trabajadores, hipotecado a la nación, entregado nuestra soberanía a países extranjeros e institucionalizado la corrupción. Una sargentería saqueadora que ha robado a la nación en nombre de una bastarda revolución.

Autor: José Rafael López Padrino

Beauty and Ugliness

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Mon, 11 Nov 2013 00:16:00 +0000

Dear Foreign Press,

Instead of reporting about the beauty of Venezuelan women why don't you take a closer look at the ugliness of our current political system. Of course, not all of you have been blinded by beauty. Some of you have been actually following the myriads of problems affecting our country this week:

State sponsored looting of appliance stores. For more information read the report Venezuelan Shoppers Amass Outside Seized Stores.
Collapsing healthcare system. Associated Press recently published an article about the current crisis in health care where cancer patients are not getting treated because radio therapy machines are broken and there is a shortage of cancer drugs -- courtesy of deranged economic policies implemented by the Maduro government.
Reigning motorcycle chaos in big cities as reported here by Reuters.
Crime rate spiraling out of control. Venezuela now has the highest murder rate in Latin America with an average of 53 murder per day.
Highest inflation rate in the world --well above 50 percent. A sad record, consequence of misguided government policies as well as low and high level corruption linked to currency controls implemented by the government.

Footnote: Last but not least, there is even a disturbing aspect about the bizarre culture of beauty prevalent in Venezuela, a country that seems to be churning out Miss Universes like no other country on this planet. Read the New York Times excellent expose about this subject Mannequins Give Shape to a Venezuelan Fantasy.

Mensaje de Henrique Capriles

noreply@blogger.com (VeneRed) — Tue, 05 Nov 2013 01:57:00 +0000

Nosotros, los venezolanos en el exterior no podemos votar pero alertamos a la comunidad de compatriotas en nuestro territorio que no dejen de acudir ese día a reclamar por nuestro voto.