<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Monday, May 19, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuelan Human rights group, Red de Apoyo says it has received 13 complaints this year involving the police forces. 

In breakdown figures, Red de Apoyo general coordinator, Alfredo Ruiz reports that Police Detective Branch (CICPC) agents are responsible for 5 of the abuse cases, 5 the National Guard (GN), the Army 2 and municipal police forces 1. 

Last year, the group dealt with 25 cases: 44% allegedly perpetrated bthe Metropolitan Police (PM), 32% municipal police forces, 8% CICPC, 12% State Police and GN and Army 4%.

Ruiz says the breakdown of 70 cases in 1999-2001 is State police forces (24 cases), PM (17) and CICPC (9), municipal police forces (8), GN (4), Army (4) State Political & Security (DISIP) Police (2) and prison wardens (2). 

The most frequent forms of torture are death threats, verbal aggressions, beatings, being thrown down stairs, handcuffed, blindfolded, deprived of food and stripped naked. Most of the victims are male between the ages of 14-24 and 25-34.

• Red de Apoyo calls on the State and especially the Attorney General's Office to end the absolute impunity enjoyed by the security forces. 

Ruiz says he is concerned that there is no legal framework to penalize the perpetrators and accuses the National Assembly of failing in its duty because a law project should have been included in the House agenda in 2002.

Monday, May 19, 2003 Posted: 9:24 AM EDT (1324 GMT)

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN-AP) -- Venezuelans raised over US$4 million for homeless children in a charity concert and a two-day telethon.

Venezuelan singers, comedians and actors performed in front of a crowd of tens of thousands until late Sunday night. Top names included salsa and merengue star Chichi Peralta, and ballad singers Franco de Vita and Carlos Ponce.

The fund-raising event, which was sponsored and broadcast live by public and private television stations, received pledges of 6.8 billion bolivars, or US$4.2 million.

Hundreds of children end up on the streets of Caracas and other major cities after running away or being abandoned. Venezuela's deficient and cash-strapped social service system has failed to solve the problem despite repeated efforts.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, May 18, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Zulia Children's Rights Council (Cedna)  president Edinson Castro says there are 8,000 street children and teenagers, of which 1,000 are located in Venezuela's second biggest city, Maracaibo.  ... "only 482 receive any attention." 

Maracaibo Mayor's Office general director, Francisco Delgado admits that he cannot confirm the above figures because no census has been made to classify street children but maintains that the municipality is organizing a technical team to tackle the problem combining state prosecutors, child protection councils, Cedna, judges, Maracaibo Police (Polimaracaibo), Casa Mia Foundation and the Divino Nino Center. 

• Child Protection Tribunal president, Hector Penaranda reports that Zulia has 4 independent judges that function when the protection councils cannot resolve a problem. 

Tribunal secretary, Angelica Barrios lists housing accommodations for street children: Child Welfare Office (INAM) Casa Hogar Maracaibo and Nido Alegre, Hogamin, Casa "Simon Rodriguez",  Anti-Drugs Jose Felix Ribas Foundation, La Casa Mia, Republica de los Muchachos and Por Amor a los Ninos that have developed special programs for children at risk. 

Zulia University (Luz) criminology studies director Alexis Rodriguez says the Child Protection Law (Lopna) is an efficient instrument to confront the situation of street children, since it also develops a preventive approach.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, May 16, 2003 By: VHeadline.com Reporters

VENEZUELA

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

On May 10, Enmary Cava was shot six times by an unknown man in the town of Cagua in the State of Aragua. The man got out of an unidentified car and then shot her in the street at approximately 6:00 p.m. She remains in a critical condition in hospital, as does a female friend of hers who was also shot three times.

Few details have as yet come to light, but Amnesty International is concerned that the incident could be related to the escalating death threats that Enmary Cava and members of her family Dinorah Maria Diaz Loreto, Jairo Alexis Diaz Loreto, Bladimir Diaz, Miguel Diaz Loreto, Alexandra Gualdron have been receiving, allegedly from agents of the Aragua State Police.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

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 January 6.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

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

• expressing concern for the safety of Enmary Cava, her friend and other members of her 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 their safety in accordance with their wishes;

• calling on the authorities to carry out a full, prompt and impartial investigation into the attack against Enmary Cava and her friend, 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 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 +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 +58 (243) 237.7002 [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: +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: +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, OesteN 98, frente alLiceo 'Valentin Espinal', Cruce con Av. Ayacucho, Maracay Estado Aragua, VENEZUELA Telefax: +58 (243) 233.6363 (if a voice answers, say "tono de fax por favor")

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.

Please do not send appeals after June 26, 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.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, May 15, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

The courts have sentenced Metropolitan Police (PM) officer, Williams Alexander Arvelo to 15 years imprisonment for killing Carlos Jose Rodriguez (17) on September 15, 2002. 

Human rights Red de Apoyo group has been helping Carlos Jose's father, Carlos to get justice. Rodriguez recalls that his son was at the corner of their house in San Jose de Cotiza when he received a bullet that ended his life. 

Police officials attempted to cover up the crime, alleging the youth died as  the result of a shootout with the police. Unfortunately for the police, neighbors witnessed the killing and kept to their story, despite harassment and threats from the police during an oral hearing. 

Red de Apoyo coordinator, Laura Roldan says the family kept faith and ended a three-year state of impunity... "PM action was disproportionate ... firearms must only be used to protect life and as a last recourse in extreme situations." 

The HR group is asking the PM General Inspectorate to investigate the actions of other police officers that evening, who helped cover up the murder, even though they were let off by the judge.