A glint of liberation for Venezuela
The country is gradually releasing political prisoners. But some say a recent offer of 鈥渁mnesty鈥� implies they have broken the law 鈥� when, in fact, they have been exercising legitimate democratic rights.
Five recently released political prisoners (center, in white t-shirts) are flanked by supporters at a February 1 vigil in Caracas, Venezuela, for others who are still detained.
Reuters
It鈥檚 been a month since the United States captured Venezuela鈥檚 authoritarian leader, Nicol谩s Maduro, to put him on trial in New York. Rather than force his regime to dismantle, however, the U.S. chose to work with it, more on economic stabilization than on wholesale political transformation. Yet, while focusing on Venezuela鈥檚 vast oil potential, the Trump administration has, ironically, used undemocratic pressure to push the government to take a step toward democracy. So far, about 30% of an estimated 1,000 political detainees have been released.
Mr. Maduro鈥檚 former deputy, and current interim president, Delcy Rodr铆guez, announced the release 鈥� which she called an amnesty 鈥� for all those imprisoned for political activity since 1999, as well as plans to shut down a Caracas prison where political opponents have been held and reportedly tortured.
The aim, Ms. Rodr铆guez聽said, is 鈥渢o heal the wounds left by political confrontation ... to restore justice ... [and] coexistence.鈥�
These are worthy goals 鈥� and if they reflect sincere intent 鈥� are ones that would be supported by most Venezuelans who also question whether the Trump administration will pressure the ruling clique for further change or mainly focus on overseeing oil production and sales that benefit the United States.
鈥淲e want this [prisoner release] to not just be a gesture and a symbol, but the start of dismantling the repressive system ... and of restoring the judicial system,鈥� commented Alfredo Romero, director of the human rights organization Foro Penal.
Venezuela鈥檚 pro-democracy opposition leaders, who mostly live in exile, are seeking the release of all political prisoners. But one concern is that the government鈥檚 granting of 鈥渁mnesty鈥� implies that those receiving it have been guilty of unlawful acts.
鈥淭hese people were arbitrarily imprisoned for exercising rights protected by international [law], the National Constitution, and Venezuelan laws,鈥� the human rights group Provea pointed out in a statement. 鈥淭he announcement of an amnesty should not be conceived, under any circumstances, as a pardon or act of clemency on the part of the State.鈥�
Typically, political amnesties in Latin America have been granted to rebel forces, to draw them into peace processes, or to military rulers as a way to ease the transition from repression to freedom. Thus, for Venezuela鈥檚 political prisoners, drawing the distinction around amnesty or so-called pardons is about more than semantics. It鈥檚 about underscoring the exercise of legitimate rights to speak out or call for political change. And about reminding the world that the current rulers of Venezuela lack electoral legitimacy.
Opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mar铆a Corina Machado said as much last week, telling reporters she would not accept power-sharing with the current government. 鈥淲e are willing to facilitate a genuine transition,鈥� she said, not one 鈥渨here mafias remain in control.
鈥淰enezuela,鈥� she said, 鈥渘eeds justice, truth, and freedom.鈥�