The leader of a local Venezuelan opposition party, Edwin Santos, was found dead on the evening of 25 October with critics blaming the death on state security forces. According to his party, Voluntad Popular (Popular Will), Santos disappeared on 23 October after traveling by motorbike from his home in El Nula to the town of El Piñal.
State security officials came out with a statement saying that his death was the result of an accident on his motorbike in which he had run into a tree, causing severe injury including a skull fracture. Regardless, Voluntad Popular and the greater opposition alliance are critical of the state government’s statement, with some arguing foul play on the part of the state.
In a statement on X, Voluntad Popular argued that President Nicolas Maduro’s regime had murdered Santos, pointing to this event as a continuation of a string of police repression and persecution of opposition party leadership. Exiled opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez stated on social media that Santos was murdered by the Maduro regime, adding that he had no doubt the crime was political. According to Reuters, the leader of the greater opposition alliance, Maria Corina Machado, has called for an impartial investigation and international justice for a recent rise in crimes against humanity in Venezuela, agreeing with Voluntad Popular that Santos was murdered.
On the other hand, Venezuelan police director Douglas Rico said in a post on Instagram that the state rejects all false information shared on various platforms and spokespeople saying that the national regime was behind the incident.
The response from the Venezuelan state is less than ideal, as it does little to explain the time difference between Santos’ disappearance and the discovery of his body, nor to dissuade existing rumors regarding the state’s involvement in his death. Corina Machado’s call for an impartial investigation and international justice stands as a reasonable and effective call to action for the Venezuelan government and the international community. A full and impartial investigation would go a long way in understanding the truth of what happened to Santos and may help uncover other potential crimes committed by the Maduro regime.
Venezuelan rights group Foro Penal claims that this past week there were an estimated 1,953 political prisoners in Venezuela, largely held without a sentence. Additionally, the United Nations previously accused President Maduro of repression against political opponents in the wake of the Venezuelan election in July of this year, in which Maduro claimed victory though the opposition claimed it won by a landslide.
Following the election, Venezuela’s national guard and police force killed 23 people who were protesting the election, according to a report from Human Rights Watch. An arrest warrant was issued for Maduro’s opposition challenger, Edmundo Gonzalez, forcing him to flee from the country.
All signs point to the Maduro regime’s insistence on repressing and persecuting political opponents. Though the state has denied involvement in Santos’ death, the continued string of police repression and political persecution seems to suggest otherwise. An impartial investigation originating from the international community may find evidence of the state’s involvement, which may help stop the Maduro regime from continuing such crimes against humanity.
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