Government challenged over political prisoners

Venezuela’s Catholic Church has called on the Government to respond to students on hunger strike, who are demanding the release of 27 colleagues, arrested in connection with anti-government protests more than a year ago. There are reports from detention centres of inhumane conditions and suicide attempts, writes Ellen Teague.

On Monday, Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo of Mérida met 17 students on hunger strike outside a Catholic church and accepted a letter asking the Church to mediate between protesters and Government.

The letter highlighted that hunger strikes are being conducted by young people and adults in 12 of Venezuela’s 23 states. Humanitarian groups, including the Red Cross, have been denied access to the prisoners. Bishop Rafael Ramón Conde Alfonzo of Maracay met with hunger-striking students promising “prayerful support”.