Amnesty International concern over Venezuelan human rights

www.vheadline.com Posted: Monday, February 24, 2003 By: Robert Rudnicki

Amnesty International has issued a statement in which it expresses concern over the human rights situation in Venezuela at this time.  Last week's events, including the arrest of Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez "could lead to a further deterioration of the human rights situation in the country."

With Fernandez now under house arrest pending trial and Confederation of Trade Unions (CTV) president Carlos Ortega, for whom an arrest warrant was also issued, currently on the run, Amnesty cautions "the judiciary has a key role in preventing these events from triggering an escalation of the human rights crisis," urging any legal action that is to be taken against the two strike leaders to be independent of any political interference and in line with international standards of due process, as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.