BERLIN (AP) — The United Nations’ top human rights official expressed concern Tuesday about arbitrary arrests and “excessive use of force” in Venezuela as security forces crack down on the country’s disputed presidential election.
Forces loyal to President Nicolás Maduro have detained more than 2,000 people for protesting against him or questioning his claims that he won a third term in the July 28 election, despite strong evidence that he is lost by a margin of more than two to one.
“It is particularly disturbing that so many people are being detained, accused or charged, either for incitement to hatred or under counter-terrorism laws,” UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said in a statement. “Criminal law should never be used to unduly restrict the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association.”
The U.N. human rights office said that in most of the cases it documented, detainees were not allowed to appoint lawyers of their choice or have contact with their families. “Some of these cases may amount to enforced disappearances,” the office said.
Türk called for “the immediate release of all those arbitrarily detained and for guarantees of a fair trial for all detainees,” adding that “the disproportionate use of force by law enforcement officials and the attacks on protesters by armed individuals supporting the government, some of which have resulted in death, must not be repeated.”
Türk also noted that there have been reports of violence against government officials and public buildings by some protesters, saying that violence is never the solution.
On Monday, the International Criminal Court prosecutors said They are ‘actively monitoring’ events in Venezuela.
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