Human Rights

More than 4,000 inmates at three Venezuelan jails on hunger strike
Bylined to: Agencies
Sunday, September 05, 2010

Antonio Molina, defense counsel for one of the hunger strikers, told El Universal that the guards "have repeatedly beaten" the striking prisoners and have "kicked and smashed their belongings and suspended their visits."

Venezuelan vice-president: government did not violate hunger striker's rights
Bylined to: Wire Services
Thursday, September 02, 2010

The government "did everything in our power" to keep Franklin Brito alive and to resolve the land dispute that led to his strike, Vice-President Elias Jaua said in the government's first detailed response to Brito's death Monday.

Interview with Pedro Nikken, ex IACHR president on Venezuela
Bylined to: El Universal
Friday, August 27, 2010

Usually self-contained and careful of adjectives to label the government, Pedro Nikken seems to have left behind the moderation characteristic of jurists, as he is astounded, among others, by the government action taken against daily newspapers El Na

Environmentalist slams MIJ and Indigenous Affairs Minister in Yukpa case
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Monday, August 16, 2010

Lusbi Portillo of the environmental group Sociedad Homo et Natura has criticized Supreme Tribunal Justice (TSJ) magistrate, Eladio Ramon Aponte as responsible for moving the trial of Yukpa Chief Sabino Romero, Olegario Romero, Alexander Fernandez fro

Judge jailed in Venezuela hopes a successful election sets her free
Bylined to: Jim Wyss
Sunday, August 15, 2010

Maria Lourdes Afiuni's campaign headquarters is six paces long and two paces wide. Visiting hours are Wednesday and Sunday, but guests risk being strip searched.

LGBT NGOs launched to push for civil code gay marriage in Venezuela
Bylined to: Jose Merentes
Thursday, August 12, 2010

The national chapter for the Metropolitan Community Church, represented by Cesar Sequera, Venezuela Diversa and Union Afirmativa (Affirmative Union) founded in March, 2010 the "Coalition for full civil marriage equality in Venezuela."

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) throws out Yukpa defense injunction
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Monday, August 02, 2010

Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) has thrown out a protection measure lodged by lawyers and supporters of Yukpa Chief Sabino Romero and two others appealing against a sentence from the Zulia State criminal circuit appeal court.

NGO criticizes heavy workload of state prosecutors probing police abuses
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Friday, July 30, 2010

The Criminal Justice Citizen Observatory maintained that there are currently sixty-four (64) prosecutors entrusted with investigating abuses, mistreatment, tortures, forced disappearances and summary executions on the part of police and military pers

VZLA indian chief appeals to Bolivian President Morales for solidarity
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Yukpa Chief Sabino Romero has signed a letter to Bolivian President Evo Morales as indigenous leader of the Americas, asking for his solidarity with the Chaktapa Yukpa people of the Perija Sierra in Zulia State bordering with Colombia.

Yukpas pressure TSJ to come clean on Chief Sabino Romero trial procedure
Bylined to: Patrick J. O'Donoghue
Friday, July 23, 2010

Yukpa indians from the Venezuelan Perija Sierra in Zulia bordering with Colombia continue to hold vigils outside the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) building in Caracas. The group is now 80-person strong.