Venezuelan law enforcement is committing serious abuse and torture against those that don't agree with the government. The judiciary and individuals from the attorney general's office have enabled or contributed to not only these abuses but also to violations of rights, including due process rights.
Law enforcement shot at and severely assaulted and beated unarmed people. When arrested, these people were physically and psychologically abused. The government submitted these individuals to beatings from gangs supported by the government and sometimes even helped with the attacks.
Those that got the brunt of the abuse were often documenting law enforcement through pictures or videos, and many of them were journalists. It is obvious that this violent treatment has more to do with punishing those that don't agree with the government or are thought to not agree than the enforcement of laws. Many people were abused that weren't even protesting.
Please tell the Venezuelan government to stop the violence and treat everyone with respect instead!
Dear the Government of Venezuela,
Security authorities in Venezuela have been committing human rights abuses including the denial of due process rights, and bringing serious physical and psychological harm to anti-government protestors. Even those not involved in the protestors were treated this way.
Those that were especially subjected to abuse were those that were recording or taking pictures of law enforcement, including many journalists. Individuals were beaten, assaulted, and shot at that were unarmed and nonviolent. Once arrested, individuals were subjected to more abuse, and were even attacked by pro-government gangs, sometimes with the help of government.
It is time for Venezuelan law enforcement to stop committing human rights violations -- it shouldn't be a crime to not agree with the views of the government.
Thank you for your time.
