Rights abuses on the rise in Venezuela, group says

www.alertnet.org 10 Mar 2003 23:38

WASHINGTON, March 10 (Reuters) - A human rights body on Monday painted an alarming picture of human rights abuses in Venezuela with accusations that armed groups were intimidating opponents with "impunity" and that the government was doing little to stop it.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, part of the Organization of American States, said some police groups were involved in "extrajudicial executions" amid a backdrop of increasing political tensions there.

Venezuela is deeply divided between supporters of President Hugo Chavez, a fiery populist, and his foes, who organized an unsuccessful strike in an effort to force him to call early elections or resign.

Street clashes between the two sides have left 40 dead and over 750 wounded between March of last year and early January, according to the commission, which said the situation in Venezuela as one of "extreme political polarization."

"The commission observes ... the impunity that characterizes human rights violations in Venezuela, without consideration for state's obligation to investigate and sanction those responsible" for abuses, it said in a statement.

Failure to investigate rights violations would lead to "grave consequences" for the rule of law.

The commission's long list of concerns ranged from harassment of rights activists to a proposed bill that would curtail freedom of the press. It also said that "armed civil groups" carry out political violence and it expressed concern for "the impunity that they enjoy."

Police forces in the interior provinces of the country were involved in "extermination groups," mostly in the interior of Venezuela. Over one-hundred extrajudicial executions have been reported in the state of Portuguesa, according to the commission.

The commission is an autonomous body of the OAS, which brings together 34 countries in Caribbean, North and South America. On Friday, the commission concluded a three-week session, which included testimonies on Venezuela by civil groups, human rights organizations and government officials.

The statement comes as diplomats from six countries --Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and the United States-- met in Brasilia on Monday to find ways to give the stalled talks between the government and the opposition a new start.