Amnesty International on Venezuela: Urgent Action Required
Amnesty International Urgent Action Network
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish or your own language:
- calling on the authorities to ensure that all public security policing operations are carried out in line with United Nations standards on the minimum use of force and firearms;
- recognising the duty of the authorities to maintain public order, but calling on them to respect the right to peaceful protest;
- reminding the authorities of their responsibility to ensure that all detentions are carried out in accordance with the law and international standards (which guarantee the right of those detained to be brought before a judge promptly and charged with a recognisably criminal offence or released, and to be allowed access to their families, legal advice and medical attention) and to ensure the right to a fair trial;
- calling for the deaths and injuries that have occurred during the present political violence to be fully and impartially investigated;
- insisting all allegations of human rights violations committed by the police and security forces are investigated promptly, impartially and exhaustively, for the results to be made public and for those found responsible to be brought to justice.
Please also include in your appeals a line noting that Amnesty International condemns all human rights violations and has called on the opposition to ensure that its protests respect human rights and do not contribute to the increase in political violence and undermine the rule of law.
APPEALS TO:
President of the Republic
Sr. Hugo Chávez Frías
Presidente de la Republica
Palacio de Miraflores
Caracas, Venezuela
Telegram: Presidente de la Republica, Caracas, Venezuela
Fax: + 58 212 801 36 44/34 04
Email: venezuela@venezuela.gov.ve
Salutation: Excelentísimo/ Dear President
Attorney General of the Republic
Dr. Isaías Rodríguez Díaz
Fiscal General de la Republica
Av. México esquina Pele el Ojo a Misericordia
Edificio del Ministerio Público frente a la Plaza Parque Carabobo
Caracas, Venezuela
Telegram: Fiscal General de la Republica, Caracas, Venezuela
Fax: + 58 212 509 81 34/33 11
Salutation: Estimado Doctor/Dear Sir
Minister of Interior and Justice
General Lucas Rincón Romero
Ministro del Interior y Justicia
Ministerio del Interior y Justicia
Avenida Urdaneta Esquina de Platanal
Edificio Interior y Justicia Despacho del Ministro, PISO TRES
Caracas, Venezuela
Fax: +58 212 506 1557/864 43 34
Salutation: Señor Ministro
Human Rights Groups
Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y Paz
Parque Central, Edif. Caroata, Nivel Ofic.2,
Ofic. 220, Parque Central
Caracas, VENEZUELA
COFAVIC,
Apdo Postal 16150
La Candelaria
Caracas 1010-A, Venezuela
And to diplomatic representatives of Venezuela accredited to your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 15 April 2004.
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