Control Court Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, who granted parole to Eligio Cedeño, was arrested by the Disip. Apparently, the reason for her arrest was because Afiuni made the decision to grant parole without the presence of prosecutors. Similarly, all staff working at the court, present at the moment of arrest, were also arrested and taken to Disip headquarters. According to sources, Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, a career judge, was arrested by the Disip with the entire staff of the court who aided the case of Eligio Cedeño, including three constables, a secretary and the coordinator of bailiwicks, after the release of Cedeño.
The Inter-American Court on Human Rights (IACHR) decided in favor of the demand General Francisco Usón brought against the Venezuelan state. This was announced by the representative of the military officer at the agency, attorney Héctor Faúndez. Faúndez said in a telephone call that the IACHR's decision condemns the Venezuelan state for the violation of human rights and freedom of speech of General Usón. It furthermore indicated that this decision ratifies the innocence of General Usón, annuls the existing sentence against him and grants a period of one year to the Venezuelan authorities to meet this measure. The IACHR further noted that the opinion is another confirmation of human rights violations occurring in Venezuela.
Having been issued a warrant for alleged defamation, journalist and former mayor of Coro, Rodolfo "Popo" Barráez, is in Lima, Peru, where he will request political asylum. Barráez arrived in Lima on 20 November, after the former governor of the state of Falcón, Jesús Montilla, sued him for defaming the mayor of the city of Punto Fijo, Alcides Goitía. Venezuelan authorities issued on an arrest warrant on 11 November against Barráez, whose home and mother's home were raided. Barráez was previously tried in Venezuela in 2003 after denouncing the so-called "pits of death" in reference to alleged existence of death squads in Falcón, according to the Peruvian newspaper El Correo.
Prices of products and services offered in the country continue to rise. Last month, the cost of living rose 1.9 percent. The variation recorded in November was the same as in October, but 2.3 percent lower than that obtained during the same period last year. The monthly report issued by the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) said that inflation will be approximately 23 percent over the course of 2009. The BCV statement said that in the past 12 months (November 2008 - November 2009) prices for items and services rose 26.2 percent.
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