Venezuela: Amnesty lets down human rights defenders

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela: Amnesty lets down human rights defenders
Monday, March 31, 2014

In a recent article, Amnesty International accused the Venezuelan government of a “witch hunt” when a right-wing opposition mayor Daniel Ceballos was arrested. However, Amnesty has yet to use such strong language against the five weeks of human rights violations people in Venezuela have suffered at the hands of violent opposition sectors. The “witch hunt” term demonises the people’s right to bring such criminals to justice.

In its March 20 statement, “Venezuela: Arrest of local mayor signals potential 'witch hunt'”, Amnesty says Ceballos, mayor of San Cristobal, capital of Tachira state on the Colombian border, was arrested for his “alleged involvement in anti-government protests ... authorities in Venezuela seem to be setting the scene for a witch hunt against opposition leaders”.

It is important to counter the horrendous distortions contained in this article, because the private media will quote its positions as fact. Articles like this embolden the criminals and coup participants who are among opposition leaders. It also makes it harder for those of us who have suffered from opposition violence to demand arrests, and authorities to carry them out.

As I write here in Merida, I can hear constant gunshots coming from down the road. Violent groups, who demand elected President Nicolas Maduro resign, are firing at people, buses, and cars on a main city intersection.

More:
https://www.greenleft.org.au/node/56178

[Marksman_91]

1. Now that's funny

So far there's only proof that the only ones who are armed are pro-government street gangs and government security forces, not the other way around. I call BS on this author's claims

[ChangoLoa]

4. We're still waiting for the FIRST picture of a protester with a gun

The worshipers still have nothing but blind faith...

[Flatulo]

3. Amazing how the author can tell that it's only opposition gunshots, not GNB and Chavistas.

Given that the vast majority if those killed have been protestors and other civilians, it seems to me that someone else is doing the bulk of the shooting.