Last Tuesday, September 27, Marta Valiñas, President of the UN Independent International Mission to Venezuela, claimed that Venezuelan intelligence services are committing crimes against humanity in order to repress the opposition, on orders from the highest echelons of Nicolás Maduro’s government.
“This plan was orchestrated at the highest political level, led by President Nicolás Maduro (…)”, assured Valiñas at a press conference. He also denounced that his research and analysis “shows that the Venezuelan state is using the secret services and their agents to repress dissidents in the country. This leads to the commission of serious crimes and human rights abuses, including torture and sexual violence.“.
The report’s conclusions show the role of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) and the Military Counterintelligence Directorate (DGCIM) in carrying out these crimes “in the execution of a plan orchestrated by President Nicolás Maduro and other high-level authorities to suppress opposition to the government, including through the Committing extremely serious torture, which constitute crimes against humanity‘ the mission said in a statement.
The mission documented 122 cases of victims subjected to “torture, sexual violence and/or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment” perpetrated by DGCIM agents from 2014 to date.
The report sequentially details the deterrent methods alleged victims say are being used by Venezuelan intelligence services against adversaries. according to the text, Physical and psychological aggression stand out, as does sexual violence:
- Asphyxiation with plastic bags, chemicals, or by using a water container.
- Blows with blunt objects.
- Electric shocks to the genitals or other parts of the body.
- death threats or further violence.
- Threats of rape against the victim and/or their relatives.
- Forced nudity, even at extremely low temperatures.
- Stay chained for long periods of time.
According to the report of the independent UN mission These events took place at their headquarters in Boleíta, Caracas, and in a network of undercover detention centers across the country.
In Caracas, Provea, one of the most active NGOs in denouncing human rights violations. HH. in the country, denounced Tuesday that two Sebin officers tried to enter the headquarters to “intimidate” relatives of detained workers who were holding a press conference to demand their release.
“It seems very worrying to us, as we believe it is part of a larger escalation against human rights organizations and against those who today denounce President Nicolás Maduro’s repressive policies,” said spokesmen for the NGO.
Nicolás Maduro’s regime in Venezuela has been the subject of several complaints of human rights violations. – Photo: APHuman rights violations “continue”
According to the mission’s analysis and the information received, the authorities arrested dissidents and opponents of the government. In some cases, Maduro and those close to him and others have high-level authorities “participated in the selection of targets”.
The report also cites Diosdado Cabello, a powerful Chavista leader, as the originator of orders to identify some of those detained by the Sebin.
The secret services “tortured or ill-treated detainees – including opposition politicians, journalists, demonstrators and human rights defenders – mainly in the El Helicoide detention center” in the Venezuelan capital.
Former detainees at the center told the UN mission the appalling conditions in which they were found and that many detainees “had to urinate in plastic bottles” because they were only allowed to use the toilet once a day. There were “privileged” cells with better conditions that the inmates had to pay for. The mission has investigated 51 cases that have emerged since 2014.
“Both the Sebin and DGCIM used sexual and gender-based violence to torture and humiliate their detainees,” he adds.
The mission, which has already produced two reports – 2020 and 2021 – highlighting human rights abuses in Venezuela, insists these acts, particularly those of Sebin and DGCIM, “continue to this day”.
And “they took place in a climate of almost total impunity,” says Francisco Cox, a member of the UN mission.
*With information from AFP.