<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, June 08, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Amnesty International (AI) Venezuela has criticized what it calls a "cocktail of laws" passed by President Hugo Chavez Frias' government and warns that it could unleash a crisis of human rights. 

AI Venezuela director, Marcos Gomez goes back to laws passed since December 2001, which he claims caused 66 deaths and more than 849 wounded persons, as well as a deterioration of economic, social and cultural rights and the appearance of irregular and armed actors that have been seen acting with weapons. 

Taking the media content law, anti-terrorist law and criminal code reforms as examples of dangerous laws, Gomez says AI-Venezuela is concerned not just about the background of the laws but also the way reforms are brought about, adding that the above-mentioned laws are against constitutional principles, such as continuity, non-discrimination, subordination to the Constitution, international and institutional responsibility to reinforce the rule of law.

The strong-worded criticism comes a day after the National Assembly (AN)  pro-government bench held its first session outside of the Capitolio without the presence of opposition deputies passing internal procedures reform.

theindependent.com Published Sunday, June 8, 2003 Last modified at 1:01 a.m. on Sunday, June 8, 2003 By Gretchen Fowler gfowler@theindependent.com

ST. PAUL -- Retired St. Paul doctor Maurice Mathews returned from his first humanitarian mission overseas with a bundle of photos and stories to last a lifetime.

Mathews left for Sucre, Bolivia May 13.

He was gone for two weeks and spent 10 days volunteering his services with Rotaplast International, a nonprofit organization established in 1992.

According to www.rotaplast.org, the mission of Rotaplast International is to provide free reconstructive surgery and treatment for underprivileged children worldwide, to provide education, and to advance research in the prevention of cleft lip and palate.

While in Bolivia, Mathews' job was to sterilize equipment used in a series of surgical procedures to correct deformities in underprivileged children and adults.

The hospital where the procedures took place was a teaching hospital, so when medical students weren't available, Mathews scrubbed in.

The majority of the procedures done were to fix cleft lips and palates in children.

However, because of age restrictions and the medical conditions of some patients, not all children were able to be helped during the trip.

"Some of the little ones, it would just break your heart to see them (have to wait another year)," Mathews said.

Going through the pictures from his trip, Mathews showed the photograph of an older man who had gone all his life with a cleft lip. In the next photo, he stood smiling beside the man whose appearance had been drastically improved.

Mathews also assisted in procedures that involved working on patients' arms and ears. While he doesn't have experience in plastic surgery, Mathews said he performed numerous surgical procedures during his 38-year career in St. Paul. He retired in 1998.

The plastic surgeons Mathews worked with in Bolivia came from the United States, Bolivia and Guatemala. Rotaplast groups have completed missions in Chile, Argentina, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Mathews said part of the missions is to conduct research and perform case studies to help doctors learn more about the high occurrence of cleft lip and cleft palate in certain countries. That way, he said, more can be done to prevent similar cases in the future.

Mathews spends most of his time working on his tree farm northeast of St. Paul but said he felt volunteering his time to this cause would be a good thing to do.

"I've been a life student of both Albert Schweitzer and Mother Teresa. I wanted to have the experience, even if it was only for a week or two, doing what they did their whole life," Mathews said, " -- helping the poorest of the poor."

Equipment for such missions is purchased with donations made to Rotary International. Rotaplast International was founded by a Rotary Club president and is an ongoing project of the Rotary Club. Mathews became a charter member of the St. Paul Rotary Club 19 years ago and has been a member ever since.

For more information on Rotaplast, log on to www.rotaplast.org.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, June 06, 2003 By: Amnesty International

Death Threats/Fear for Safety

VENEZUELA

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

On 26 May, Enmary Cava died in hospital in the town of Cagua, Aragua state. She had been in hospital in a critical condition after being shot six times by an unidentified man on 10 May. A female friend who was with her when she was shot is still in a critical condition in hospital.

On 27 May, a judge in the town of Cagua ordered the authorities to ensure the protection of Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto, Alexandra Gualdron and Jairo Alexander Diaz Loreto. However, it is not clear what measures will be taken and when they will begin.

Amnesty International is concerned that no measures were ordered to protect Enmary Cava's injured friend, witnesses to the killings of Robert Diaz Loreto, Antonio Diaz Loreto and Octavio Ignacio Diaz, and other members of Enmary Cava's family including Miguel Diaz Loreto and Bladimir Diaz Loreto.

It is believed that the attack against Enmary Cava and her friend may be related to the increasing number of death threats received by Enmary Cava and members of her family, allegedly from agents of the Aragua State Police.

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

Family members claim that the Aragua State Prosecutors Office has failed to carry out an exhaustive, impartial and prompt investigation into the killings and police have reportedly been unwilling to cooperate with the investigation.

According to reports, detention orders may be issued next week against seven police officials for the killings of the three men.

Local human rights groups have, however, expressed concern that insufficient time has been given for collecting evidence against the officials, thus running the risk of acquittal on grounds of insufficient evidence.

FURTHER RECOMMENDED ACTION:

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

• expressing sadness at the death of Enmary Cava, whose family have received a number of death threats;

• calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the fatal attack on Enmary Cava and on her friend, to publish the results and bring those responsible to justice;

• expressing concern for the safety of Enmary Cava's family including Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto, Jairo Alexis Diaz Loreto, Bladimir Diaz, Miguel Diaz Loreto, and Alexandra Gualdron;

• urging the authorities to take action to guarantee the safety of all members of Enmary Cava's family, Enmary Cava's friend, and witnesses to the killings of Robert Diaz Loreto, Antonio Diaz Loreto and Octavio Ignacio Diaz, in accordance with the wishes of those at risk;

• 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;

• urging the authorities to carry out a exhaustive 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 (it may be difficult to get through; please keep trying) E-mail: didalco@gobernacion.arg.gov.ve [Salutation: Estimado Senor/Dear Sir]

Local Police Chief:

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

Fax: 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 18 July 2003.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Family members of victims of police murder squads in Anzoategui State have gone to Caracas to highlight their situation and lodge a formal complaint at the Attorney General's Office about constant police harassment and threats. 

Anzoategui State Human Rights Foundation president, Alcides Magallanes claims there have been 300 extra-judicial killings attributed to police murder squads since 2000 ... "the killer police officers are under the wing of State Governor David da Lima and started functioning after a police officer was wounded ... since then it has been eye for eye." 

Foundation coordinator Veronica Avila says the State Police (Polianzoategui) is responsible for 70% of the murders and the rest are attributed to municipal police forces, Police Detective Branch (CICPC) and the National Guard (GN). 

Showing a bizarre side of the murder gangs, the Foundation's leaders say the squads have not been targeting them but rather their families with threats. 

The commission protesting in Caracas claims that Anzoategui has suffered more homicides at the hands of the police than Portuguesa State, which has at least two known police murder gangs ... in the latter state there have been alleged 279 extra-judicial killings since 1999.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan human rights group Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz has asked the National Assembly (AN)  to pass a law preventing and penalizing torture in Venezuela. Congregating in front of the AN, the Red de Apoyo lobbied passers by and passed out fliers to illustrate their conviction ... a striking display of bannered colors and photographs showed victims of torture and extra-judicial killings.

Red spokesperson, Laura Roldan says the organization has received 121 complaints (16 in 2003) from people allegedly tortured and insists that the Assembly grant the police, tribunals and Attorney General's Office more resources to fight torture perpetrated by police and military officers. "Legally torture isn't typified and there are no legal or disciplinary penalties either ... the public organs must have the resources to combat impunity."

The human rights group has been working on a draft law that stresses prevention and punishment for perpetrators, as well as establishing State responsibility when it comes to helping victims. 

The Police Detective Branch (CICPC), Roldan points out, does not come out in shining colors as regards the practice of torture ... "our research on the CICPC has surprised us because that particular police force is investigative by nature ... it is supposed that CICPC officers have been trained to legally elicit information. 

"The Red de Apoyo has received reports of illegal arrests, physical and psychological mistreatment and even extra-judicial killings on the part of the Metropolitan Police (PM) and Sucre Municipal Police.