Amnesty International reports escalating death threats and harassment by Aragua State Police

<a href=www.vheadline.com>venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 09, 2003 By: VHeadline.com Reporters

PUBLIC AI Index: AMR 53/007/2003 09 May 2003 UA 130/03 Fear for Safety

VENEZUELA

Miguel Diaz Loreto (m) Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto (f) Jairo Alexis Diaz Loreto (m) Bladimir Diaz (m) Alexandra Gualdron (f) Enmary Cava (f)

Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto, Jairo Alexis Diaz Loreto, Bladimir Diaz, Miguel Diaz Loreto, Alexandra Gualdron and Enmary Cava are all family members from the town of Cagua in the State of Aragua.

They have been subjected to escalating death threats and harassment in recent months, allegedly by agents of the Aragua State Police and Amnesty International is seriously concerned for their safety.

The family members have been pressing the local authorities to carry out an exhaustive investigation into the killing of brothers Robert Diaz Loreto and Antonio Diaz Loreto and their father Octavio Ignacio Diaz, who were killed in suspicious circumstances, by agents of the Aragua State Police on 6 January.

Since the investigation into the killings began the family members have reportedly been subjected to systematic harassment and death threats. The most recent incident took place on 26 April when police agents entered the house of Miguel Angel Diaz Loreto reportedly without a warrant. They wanted to arrest him for his alleged involvement in a recent crime. As a result of the police operation, Miguel Angel was temporarily detained by the police.

Whilst also in temporary custody during the operation, Dinorah Maria Diaz was reportedly told by one of the police agents that he would kill all of her family, if they continued to pursue an investigation into the deaths of Robert, Antonio and Octavio Ignacio Diaz. Miguel Angel was also urged to stop supporting the case.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION Many Venezuelan states, including Aragua, Bolivar, Anzoatequi, Portuguesa and Falcon, have a history of extra-judicial executions carried out by the police and a failure to protect witnesses and family members of the victims. Both the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights have intervened in several of these cases, requesting that local authorities and the Venezuelan state investigate these crimes and provide protection to those involved.

However, the measures requested by the Inter-American System have not, in most cases, been carried out effectively.

In December 2002, Cesar Emilio Machado was reportedly assaulted and threatened by the Municipal Police in Girardot, city of Maracay, Aragua State in order to prevent him from testifying in a trial against the Municipal Police (see UA 32/03, 29 January 2003, AMR 53/004/2003).

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in Spanish and English or your own language:

• expressing concern for the safety of Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto, Jairo Alexis Diaz Loreto, Bladimir Diaz, Miguel Diaz Loreto, Alexandra Gualdron and Enmary Cava and asking the authorities to take action to guarantee their safety in accordance with their wishes;

• calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the death threats and harassment experienced by these individuals, to publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;

• calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the killings of Robert Diaz Loreto, Antonio Diaz Loreto and Octavio Ignacio Diaz, to publish the results and bring those responsible to justice.

APPEALS TO (Time difference = GMT - 4 hrs / BST - 5 hrs):

Attorney General

Fiscal General de la Republica Dr. Isaias Rodriguez Avenida Universidad, Esquina Pele el ojo a Misericordia, frente a Parque Carabobo, Caracas, VENEZUELA

Telegram: Fiscal General de la Republica, Caracas, Venezuela

Fax: 00 58 212 576 44 19

[Salutation: Estimado Senor Fiscal General/Dear Attorney General]

Local Governor

Gobernador de del estado Aragua Sr. Didalco Bolivar Palacio de Gobierno Maracay Estado de Aragua, VENEZUELA

Telegram: Gobernador del estado, Aragua, Maracay, Estado de Aragua, Venezuela

Fax: 00 58 243 2377002

[Salutation: Estimado Senor/Dear Sir]

Local Police

Comandante de la policia de Aragua Comisario Angel Mercado (no address available)

Telegram: Comandante de la policia de Aragua, Maracay, Estado de Aragua, Venezuela

Fax: 00 58 243 235 1220

[Salutation: Estimado Senor Comisario/Dear Sir]

Human Rights Ombudsman

Defensoria del Pueblo Dr. German Mundarain Bellas Artes comienzo Avenida Mexico frente al Ateneo de Caracas Plaza Morelos Caracas, VENEZUELA

Telegram: Defensoria del Pueblo, Caracas, Venezuela

Fax: 00 58 212 575 4467 (if a voice answers, say "tono de fax por favor")

Email: gmundarain@defensoria.gov.ve

[Salutation: Estimado Senor/Dear Sir]

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO: His Excellency Senor Alfredo Toro Hardy, Embassy of Venezuela, 1 Cromwell Road, London SW7 2HR. Fax: 020 7589 8887 Email: venezlon@venezlon.demon.co.uk

AND, IF POSSIBLE, TO THE FOLLOWING:

Commission for Human Rights, Justice and Peace for the State of Aragua Comision de Derechos Humanos de Justicia y Paz del Estado Aragua Calle Negro Primero, Oeste N 98, frente al Liceo 'Valentin Espinal', Cruce con Av. Ayacucho, Maracay, Estado Aragua, VENEZUELA

Telefax: 00 58 243 233 6363 (if a voice answers, say "tono de fax por favor")

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Please do not send appeals after 27 June 2003.

SHOULD YOU MENTION AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IN YOUR APPEALS? The name of Amnesty International may be used unless otherwise stated in the text above.

Letters written in a private or personal capacity may be more effective.

FAX NUMBER NOT WORKING? Officials will sometimes switch off their fax machines to stop appeals arriving? please keep trying. If you can't get through, please put your appeal in the post. If a number is unobtainable please inform the Urgent Action team.

EMAIL ADDRESS NOT WORKING? Please send a copy of the delivery error report to ua@amnesty.org.uk

RECEIVED A REPLY FROM A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL? Please send it or a copy to the Urgent Action team. If appropriate, thank the official who has replied and ask to be kept informed about the case.