Repression in Venezuela: 35 people killed during demonstrations and 850 political prisoners last week

Monday, the Venezuelan observatory of the social conflict denounced the fact that 35 people were murdered during the past week as part of the protests s & # 39; oppose

As explained by the OVCS, the victims lost their lives during protests against Nicolás Maduro's regime and during episodes of looting in this context. However, the NGO Provea pointed out that eight episodes had occurred "executions among members after protests"

Rafael Uzcátegui, director of Provea, explained that 35 people were identified first and last name in 10 states. "These are people in their entirety from popular districts, reflecting the fury with which the least badisted communities in the country are repressed."he said.

The authorities also denounced the fact that soldiers threatened many relatives with failing to hand over the victims' bodies when they lodged a complaint with the organizations.

The NGO Penal Forum, which leads the defense of political prisoners in Venezuela, for its part denounced Monday that the repression of the Chavez regime in recent days has arrested 850 people.

According to the registration of the criminal forum, on January 23, the day when a large crowd took to the streets to demonstrate against the regime, the authorities They arrested 696 peopleand in the following days the figure of 850 arrestsamong those who are 77 teenagers and 100 women.

Alfredo Romero, director of the NGO, said that "77 minors were arbitrarily arrested, children aged 13 to 14 are in custody, many girls are involved"

This figure represents an increase over figures released Sunday as the NGO continues to receive information and complaints across the country.

According to the organization, the arrests appear first as "enforced disappearancesand that state security agencies are conducting searches and arrests in residential areas without a court order.

The crimes attributed to the detainees are "terrorism, incitement to hatred, change of public order and contempt of authority", according to the report of the NGO.