Saturday May 24, 2025
  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast
Versión Español
PanAm Post
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
PanAm Post
No Result
View All Result

Home » Experts Warn Amnesty Law May Fail to Free Venezuela’s Political Prisoners

Experts Warn Amnesty Law May Fail to Free Venezuela’s Political Prisoners

Sabrina Martín by Sabrina Martín
January 11, 2016
in Featured, News, Politics, South America, Venezuela
FacebookTwitterTelegramWhatsapp
Lilian Tintori, wife of political prisoner Leopoldo López, accompanied the presentation of the amnesty law. (Libertad Digital)
Lilian Tintori, wife Leopoldo López, celebrates the presentation of the amnesty law in Congress. (Libertad Digital)

EspañolThe Venezuelan opposition is pressing ahead with its promise to free political prisoners. On Monday, January 11, the Venezuelan Penal Forum (FPV) introduced the preliminary draft of the Amnesty Law that opposition lawmakers had announced would soon be put forth when they took office last week.

However, legal experts are taking issue with the bill’s implicit strategy: leaving it up to the Chavista-controlled judiciary whether or not to release the political prisoners.

RelatedArticles

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024

The FPV’s draft includes two alternatives for lawmakers to choose from: an Amnesty Law, which requires President Nicolás Maduro’s approval, or a Legislative Decree, which does not. Both are binding decisions that would, in theory, force all state institutions to release the prisoners.

Alfredo Romero, FPV executive director, tells the PanAm Post that he favors the decree, since it would provide a more immediate path toward releasing “76 political prisoners, exiles, and persecuted individuals.”

He explains that, according to Venezuelan law, a court must inevitably order the release of any prisoner. Regarding the possibility that a judge may refuse to comply, Romero says this would amount to a denial of justice, and a direct violation of human rights.

“I don’t think they are willing to commit human-rights violations,” Romero argues. “I’m not operating on the assumption that [a judge] will refuse to obey, because that would prove that the judiciary is a dictatorship.”

“If they don’t comply, they would be showing that they make arbitrary decisions that violate human rights, and they would be in violation of international treaties,” he explains.

Others, however, such as José Vicente Haro, have criticized the draft’s vague language, which could lend itself to potential delays and arbitrary interpretations.

[adrotate group=”7″]

Haro, a professor of constitutional law at the Central University of Venezuela, tells the PanAm Post that leaving the decision in the hands of the judiciary once again is a contradiction, even more so when the FPV and the opposition have denounced the lack of separation of powers in Venezuela.

The professor explains that his concern lies in that the draft does not, in fact, grant amnesty to the prisoners. Instead, he says it sets up “a complex judicial procedure that involves the very prosecutors and judges who are responsible for there being political prisoners in Venezuela.”

“[Amnesty] will depend on the courts, which as we know, are almost 100 percent dominated by handpicked regime supporters. Even if Congress goes through all the trouble of passing a law, freedom won’t be achieved. I have no confidence in this judiciary and the executive’s grasp on the system,” he warns.

Instead, the opposition majority in Congress should “seek a constitutional and practical law that is also realistic from the point of view of politics, so as to ensure the fastest possible release of political prisoners, without obstructions from the judiciary.”

Naming Names

Haro tells the PanAm Post that the Venezuelan Constitution grants Congress the power to unilaterally enact an amnesty for political prisoners. Opposition legislators should pass a law decreeing the dismissal of all the charges against these prisoners, exiles, and targeted activists, he argues.

He also notes that “the text must be well-written to explicitly and specifically order the release of said individuals, with name and surname.”

Haro warns that the current draft is so vague that it leaves it up to the courts to judge whether any political prisoner falls into the criteria set by the amnesty law, and notes that 2,000 other individuals have pending cases that have not been decided.

Haro says he will present the newly elected congressmen his concerns, so that they can reform their bill.

Maduro Government: No Way

The ruling party has not reacted well to the opposition’s initiative to free political prisoners. Former National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello has called the Amnesty Law “absurd,” claiming that the passage of such a law could lead to criminals and leaders of criminal gangs being freed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxP-kB9XtMA

Romero, however, claims that Cabello’s assertions are incorrect, and says the amnesty would exclude any human-rights violators and torturers. He further clarified that Article 17 of the proposed law establishes limitations that ensure that no one accused of crimes against humanity over the past several years remain unpunished.

Translated by Daniel Duarte.

Tags: Amnesty Lawleopoldo lopez
Sabrina Martín

Sabrina Martín

Sabrina Martín is a Venezuelan journalist, commentator, and editor based in Valencia with experience in corporate communication.

Related Posts

CNN Fake News: The Network’s Efforts to Justify Its Actions May Be Worse than Its Actual Flawed Reporting
Ideology

CNN’s audience in 2024 was the lowest in its history

December 21, 2024
The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving
Culture

The silence of the Democrats will be the main course on Thanksgiving

November 28, 2024
These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela
Elections

These are the 21 individuals sanctioned by the U.S. for fraud and repression in Venezuela

November 27, 2024
Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay
Elections

Yamandú Orsi, from the leftist Frente Amplio, wins the Presidency of Uruguay

November 24, 2024
Can Socialism Compete “On Equal Terms” in the Field of Ideas?
Argentina

Can Socialism Compete “On Equal Terms” in the Field of Ideas?

November 20, 2024
"The people must come to an agreement," said Colombian President Gustavo Petro regarding the outcome of the elections in Venezuela, ignoring the fact that Venezuelans had already expressed themselves at the polls. (File photo)
Colombia

Petro Calls Venezuelan Elections a “Mistake”: What Lies Ahead for Colombia?

November 19, 2024
Next Post
‘Best of Enemies’: A Reminder of the Culture War Latin America Never Had

'Best of Enemies': A Reminder of the Culture War Latin America Never Had

Subscribe free and never miss another breaking story

  • Venezuela
  • Mexico
  • Colombia
  • Chile
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Podcast

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Regions
    • South America
    • North America
    • Central America
    • Caribbean
  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Opinion
  • Podcast
  • Authors
  • Contact

© 2024 PanAm Post - Design & Develop by NEW DREAM GLOBAL CORP. - Privacy policy

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Privacy and Cookie Policy.