Venezuelas Acting President Announces Prisoner Amnesty Program

Venezuela’s Interim President Announces Amnesty Bill and Prison Closure

Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez has announced a general amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners, effective immediately. The National Assembly will take up the bill with urgency, according to Rodriguez.

The amnesty law covers the period of political violence from 1999 to the present day and aims to “heal the wounds left by the political confrontation fueled by violence and extremism,” Rodriguez stated during a televised event. The law also seeks to redirect justice in the country and promote coexistence among Venezuelans.

In addition, Rodriguez announced the shutdown of El Helicoide, a notorious secret service prison in Caracas, where human rights abuses have been documented. The prison will be transformed into a sports, social, and cultural center for the surrounding neighborhoods.

The Venezuelan-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal estimates that 711 people are in detention across Venezuela due to their political activities. Of those, 183 have been sentenced. Foro Penal President Alfredo Romero welcomed the planned amnesty but emphasized that it must apply to all prisoners “without discrimination.”

Rodriguez’s government has previously released some 302 prisoners following the abduction of former President Nicolas Maduro by US forces earlier this month. Human rights worker Eduardo Torres was among those released on Friday night, according to a video clip posted by Foro Penal.

Government officials have reported that over 600 people have been released from prison, but details on the timeline and specific cases are unclear. The release of prisoners has been a long-standing demand from families and human rights advocates, who argue that charges and convictions against detainees considered political prisoners should be dropped.

Source: Al Jazeera