Going out while carrying a banner, block streets to complain about the lack of water, the poor condition of a school, the nonpayment of wages or to express disagreement with an authority has subjected 2,220 Venezuelans to a criminal procedure process that can last 9 years. The complaint was filed by Marino Alvarado, coordinator of the Venezuelan Program of Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea), who rejected the threat of Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz to prosecute all those who "disturb the public peace." In noting that these figures were obtained from the Public Ministry, unions and the media, Alvarado said of Ortega, "The attorney general generates a situation of political risk, because when you lock the doors of democracy to critical sectors this creates favorable conditions for those who always seek violence. To impede those who seek a manner to express themselves is the perfect excuse for violence," he warned. He also said that the stance the chief of the Public Prosecutor is taking is contrary to the constitution, which advocates a "participatory" democracy. Alvarado also recalled that in 2007 alone, the prosecution started criminal investigations against 120 college students for participating in protests against ending the concession to Radio Caracas Television.
Representatives of the Democratic Unity Committee co-signed yesterday a communiqué at the headquarters of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas, in which they asked the OAS secretary-general, José Miguel Insulza, to expedite procedures to allow InterAmerican Commission for Human Rights (IACHR) to visit the country. Last week Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz warned of the possibility of bringing to justice those who disturb the peace in marches. Last week also saw the arrest of 11 workers of the Metropolitan Mayor's Office who tried to march to the Supreme Court to protest the Municipal Regime Law. The opposition also sent a letter to President Chávez in which they demand that he authorize the visit of the IACHR which has been trying to enter the country for six years. Delsa Solórzano, spokeswoman for the committee, lamented the fact that the opposition is victim of "judicial squads" headed by Minister of the Interior, Tarek El Aisami, Attorney General Ortega Diaz, Judge 37 of Control and president of the Criminal Judicial Circuit of the Metropolitan Area of Caracas, evidenced in the recent judicial action taken against the prefect of Caracas, Richard Blanco, following the demonstration against the Education law. "These officials have dedicated themselves to sentencing constitutional guarantees to complete extinction in Venezuela. They have dedicated themselves to saying that it is now a crime to march, to protest, which now violates the principle of legality." Solórzano noted that Blanco is the 39th political prisoner of the Chavez government.
On Monday afternoon, five police officers sought to forcibly enter the residence of the political opposition leader Oscar Pérez, said his daughter Osmary Pérez. She said five armed officers intercepted her upon arrival to the residence and attempted to forcibly enter presenting only an arrest warrant against Oscar Pérez, not a search warrant. Osmary Pérez said the police stormed the building, but were unable to access the apartment. Neighbors protested their displeasure over the attitude of the police, who furthermore arrested two residents of the building for allegedly carrying a weapon. Before leaving the location, police officers arrested one of the bodyguards of the leader of the Alianza Bravo Pueblo political party who was at the location, however, attorney Carlos Guevara said the firearm he was carrying is licensed.
In a press statement, the National Association of Journalists (CNP) demanded the restoration of 34 radio stations one month after leaving the air. The document states that the closure of these stations represents an event "unprecedented in the country" because not even in dictatorship times did a measure similar to this happen. The extent of the closure of stations in Venezuela is also a reference point for the rest of the world, according to the CNP, because no nation in this hemisphere has a government which has implemented a decision even remotely similar. These are reasons why the CNP says that this measure has won "universal condemnation", stressing the rejection condemnation expressed by Unesco.
Approximately 100 oil workers protested yesterday at 11 AM in front of the PDVSA building in Maracaibo, demanding their inclusion on the payroll of the state oil company and denouncing the income of unqualified staff. The group reiterated the abuses suffered on 24 August when they were denied access to the "Patria Grande" dock, where some 360 workers were working among divers and marine workers. Even after the cessation of private management contractor Venezuela Divers, they were still working. Because their requests were not met on the east coast where several protests staged last week, they moved the Maracaibo office to meet oil representatives there.
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