Last 25 January, the Commission of the Venezuelan Bishops for Justice and Peace, expressed itself on the issue of the repression taking place in recent days in the country, a press release commented on and published online by Catholic News Agency.
The Bishops have called on the Maduro government to respect "the life and safety of all Venezuelans, including those who protest civilly" and they asked "the cessation of the violation of human rights and the guarantee of all citizens' rights".
Since January 21, repression and violence have been increasingly used by the state security forces (and by some armed gangs ...), against people who protest civilly.
The statement reads "We deeply deplore the death, pain and suffering of our people.The balance of injured, dead, arbitrarily detained, tortured and persecuted throughout the land violates the dignity and human rights of citizens.It is a clamor that cries to heaven: stop the repression! ".
The bishops of Venezuela say that Maduro's second term is illegitimate, and have expressed their support for peaceful demonstrations of opposition, calling them a "sign of hope" for the necessary democratic change. Some bishops took part in the marches. The Bishops' Commission for Justice and Peace also urged prayer "that constitutional order be restored to a spiritually and materially prosperous nation".
According to some Venezuelan webmagazines "dozens of children from the 23 January, they would not come home after school". Others report that other boys and children would be ill-treated and imprisoned in terrible conditions in military prisons, on the orders of "judges appointed by Nicolás Maduro". The formal accusation against these children would be "terrorism".
The political repression that began on January 21 (two days before the national protest called by interim president Juan Guaidó to call for the cessation of the usurpation of power in Maduro) already counts dozens of dead and over 850 detainees. One of the first victims was a teenager (photo).
The question of Venezuela is becoming more and more delicate not only within the country but also among the already precarious international balances. In Italy, is the government still watching?
Art. 350 of the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela states that "The people of Venezuela, faithful to its republican tradition, to its struggle for independence, peace and freedom, REFUSES any regime, legislation or authority that is contrary to democratic values, principles and guarantees or diminishes human rights". The initiative of interim president Guaidó is therefore not a "forcing" - as implies too much Press - but an act envisaged by the Venezuelan Charter.
That the world is dividing between the two South American contenders is evident. It is equally inevitable that there are manipulations in information.
The question at this point is: in the event that the growing phenomenon of Venezuelan “disappeared” is confirmed, will the blood of tens, hundreds or thousands of innocent people also fall on our government? Watching will not wash away the blood of men, women and children.
