EspañolLate on Thursday night, the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (Sebin) of Venezuela raided the headquarters of human rights NGO Un Mundo sin Mordaza, (A World without Silencing) — as publicized by Gustavo Tovar, an activist with ally NGO Humano y Libre (Human and Free) with whom they share offices. Un Mundo sin Mordaza is the driving force behind the global campaign SOS Venezuela campaign.
Unidentified officials also arrested a young Venezuelan present at the moment of the raid: Yeimi Varela, the headquarters housekeeper for more than 20 years.
The president of the raided NGO Rodrigo Diamanti characterized these actions by the Venezuelan government as the beginning of a witch hunt to intimidate human rights defenders and organizations into silence. He believes the NGO has been targeted because of the successful SOS Venezuela campaign they have carried out in over 120 cities worldwide, drawing support from artists such as Jared Leto and Eros Ramazotti.
“This will not deter us; we will fight because this proves there’s no rule of law [in Venezuela] and someone has to defend human rights here,” he said.
The total number of arrests during the night raid remains unavailable as of this morning, as tweeted by Gustavo Tovar. There is no further news of Yeimi Varela’s whereabouts either, and Tovar places full responsibility on Nicolás Maduro’s government for whatever happens to all the disappeared activists.
No sabemos nada de los detenidos en el allanamiento. Responsailizamos a la dictadura por cualquier cosa q les pase.
— Gustavo Tovar Arroyo (@tovarr) May 2, 2014
No sabemos aun. RT @dduart3: @tovarr, quiénes fueron los detenidos aparte de Varela? Es para una nota en el @PanAmPost_es, gracias.
— Gustavo Tovar Arroyo (@tovarr) May 2, 2014
Source: El Comercio.