166 NGOs demanded “to avoid a massacre” in communities affected by clashes between criminal gangs and Maduro forces in Caracas

A group of 166 Venezuelan NGOs asked this Friday “prevent a massacre in the communities“from Caracas”affected by violence“And scenario, for more than two days, of constant shootings between criminal gangs and police forces without, for the moment, there being a death toll or injuries.

“We demand to make people’s lives a priority and to avoid massacre in communities affected by violence. We ask for the support of international, national, local and community entities to guarantee the life and integrity of the population ”, reads a press release published by Provea, dedicated to the defense of human rights, and signed by 165 others. NGO.

In their messages, they show their solidarity “with all the families who have lost their children in this new armed confrontation and in particular with the families of the police officers who lost their lives in these operations”.

“We demand follow-up and repair processes to help deal with these losses“, They stressed.

Likewise, they express their “deep concern for the life and safety of its inhabitants ”and urged the authorities to take“ urgent measures and longer-term policies in the face of these recent events.”.

They consider that “the State must respect its international obligations in matters of protection and guarantee of the human rights of the civilian population, in matters of citizen security ”.

The organizations believe that “the policies of the ‘strong hand’, such as the operations for the liberation of the people (PLO), have only killed hundreds and the alliance between criminal organizations to respond to the offensive declared by the authorities, which caused the strengthening of these gangs. in structure, limbs and arms ”.

Faced with what they consider as a “failure” of these policies, they urge “develop harm reduction strategies that involve a gradual approach in the short, medium and long term that reduces the conditions that affect the most basic rights of citizens”.

For all this, they ask “respond to communities’ demand for a ceasefire and the proportionate and differentiated use of force against those who have committed crimes”.

Finally, they point out that “the phenomenon of urban violence has led to the appearance of the phenomenon of internal displacement “, by families who” want to escape clashes between gangs“, between these and the police or the agents”made with the indiscriminate use of force”.

This has led to the fact that in different areas of Caracas there are “abandonment of houses, desperate sales at prices well below their cost, which could affect the rise in poverty indicators in the country”.

The west of Caracas has been the scene since Wednesday of incessant shootings between criminal gangs and the police, which generated the announcement of a vast operation announced by the Minister of the Interior, Carmen Meléndez.

So far, the final toll of this operation is unknown, although the police have released images and videos in which we can see how the officers reached the higher areas of the neighborhoods and demolished the checkpoints. control established by the bands.

Since noon this Friday, the shooting has gradually ceased, even though dozens of people have been forced to leave their homes for fear that they will breed again.

(With information from EFE)

KEEP READING: