New Age | Widespread human rights violations in Venezuela: HRW

According to the opposition, Venezuelan authorities have committed “widespread human rights abuses” against protesters, bystanders and opponents in the aftermath of the rigged presidential elections, Human Rights Watch said on Tuesday.

The NGO published a report on events since the July 28 election, in which incumbent President Nicolás Maduro claimed victory despite uproar from the opposition and much of the international community.

She blamed the Venezuelan authorities and pro-government armed groups, so-called “colectivos,” for killings, arbitrary detentions and harassment of critics following the controversial vote.

Venezuela's National Electoral Council, most of whose members are friendly to the 61-year-old Maduro, declared him re-elected for a third six-year term despite opinion polls predicting a victory for the opposition, which immediately cried foul.

The standoff sparked protests in which, according to officials, 25 civilians and two soldiers were killed and nearly 200 people were injured.

The regime blamed the opposition, led by Maria Corina Machado and presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, for the post-election clashes, in which more than 2,400 people were arrested.

But Juanita Goebertus, HRW's Americas director, pointed the finger at the regime, saying: “The repression we are witnessing in Venezuela is shockingly brutal.”

“The governments concerned must take urgent steps to ensure that people can protest peacefully and that their voices are respected,” the report said.

The United States, the European Union and several Latin American countries refused to recognize Maduro's victory without receiving a detailed breakdown of the votes cast.

The CNE said it could not publish the recordings because hackers had tampered with the data, but observers said there was no evidence of this.

Gonzalez Urrutia, a 75-year-old retired diplomat, was added to the ballot at the last minute to replace Machado after Venezuelan institutions denied her candidacy based on allegations that were widely dismissed as fabricated.

Both have largely been living in hiding since the election because Maduro has demanded their imprisonment.

The opposition released its own polling station results, showing that Gonzalez Urrutia had won the election by an overwhelming majority.

This led to the opposition candidate being charged with incitement to disobedience, sabotage, “connection” to organized crime and terrorist financing.

A court issued an arrest warrant for him on Monday after Gonzalez Urrutia ignored three consecutive summonses to appear before regime-appointed prosecutors investigating him.

HRW reported data from local human rights group Foro Penal showing that more than 1,580 “political prisoners” have been arrested since July 29, including 114 children.

“Prosecutors have charged hundreds with crimes that are sometimes broad and carry harsh penalties, such as 'incitement to hatred,' 'resistance to authority,' and 'terrorism,'” the statement said.

HRW added that the government had also intensified “its broader repressive tactics,” including cancelling the passports of critics to prevent them from leaving the country, encouraging citizens to report protesters, and conducting abusive raids.

The non-governmental organization called on foreign governments to consider imposing further targeted sanctions against members of the security forces and “colectivos” as well as against judges and prosecutors responsible for human rights violations.

HRW also said Maduro's allies, including Cuba and the Venezuelan oil industry, should be encouraged to “call on Maduro to … respect the people's vote.”

HRW called on the international community to expand access to asylum and other protections for Venezuelans fleeing the country.