Church demands list of detained protesters

The Venezuelan bishops have demanded that the Government publish a list of all the people detained during anti-government protests last week.

The protests, during which three people were killed and 100 arrested, are part of growing political tension in the country, with opposition groups demonstrating against the Government of Nicolás Maduro.

In a statement the bishops condemned the Government’s “criminalisation” of people who were exercising their right to protest. They denounced arbitrary detentions, questioned the location of the detention centre and suggested there was “cruel treatment towards detainees”.

The Bishops’ Conference Commission for Justice and Peace demanded a list of names of detainees and their alleged crimes “to guarantee their right to a legal defence”.

“Political parties, civil society and the Venezuelan state must recognise that people have different ideas and approaches so that dialogue can be carried out in a constructive and peaceful way,” they wrote. “Violence and fratricidal conflict is a blind alley.”

The Archbishop of Caracas reinforced this, saying the Government must listen to the voices of the thousands of Venezuelans who have taken to the streets.

Cardinal Jorge Urosa also denounced the action of armed paramilitary groups, who attended with the permission of government institutions, “erupting on to the scene” on motorbikes.

“This must be eliminated. There can be no armed groups sabotaging or misrepresenting peaceful protests which then lead to the loss of life,” the cardinal told a Venezuelan radio station last week.

“There is huge polarisation in Venezuela and a very uncompromising attitude on the part of some, with a very violent attitude from others.”