On Wednesday, September 4th, international human rights organizations accused that following the controversial presidential election in Venezuela, the country’s security forces and pro-government armed groups participated in a massacre against protesting civilians.
According to a report by the Associated Press, Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization stated that after the Venezuelan election in July this year, the administration of Nicolás Maduro carried out a brutal repression against protesting civilians.
The report pointed out that analysis by researchers, forensic pathologists, and weapons experts on collected reliable evidence indicated that the Venezuelan National Guard and National Police were involved in some of the 24 killings related to protests against the election results.
Human Rights Watch also concluded that violent groups allied with the ruling party seem to bear responsibility for some of the deaths.
Among the 24 victims were 23 protesters or bystanders and one member of the Venezuelan National Guard.
Juanita Goebertus, Director of the Americas Division of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement, “The brutality of the repression we have seen in Venezuela is shocking,” emphasizing the need for the government to take urgent measures to ensure that people can peacefully protest and that their votes are respected.
The conclusions regarding the massacre were drawn based on interviews with witnesses, journalists, and other sources of information, verification of death certificates, videos, and photos, as well as analysis by forensic pathologists and weapons experts, the organization stated.
After the election authorities loyal to the ruling party declared incumbent President Maduro the winner of the election just hours after the announcement, thousands of people across Venezuela, including minors, took to the streets to protest.
The protests started peacefully, but later demonstrators toppled statues of Maduro’s predecessor, the late leader Hugo Chávez, threw stones at law enforcement officers and buildings, and set fire to police motorcycles and government propaganda.
Maduro and his ruling party allies control all aspects of the South American government, forcefully suppressing the protests, including implementing arbitrary detentions, prosecutions, and launching a campaign encouraging people to report relatives, neighbors, and acquaintances who participated in protests or expressed doubts about the election results.
Human Rights Watch detailed the case of civil engineer and food truck worker Rancés Daniel Yzarra Bolívar who was killed.
Yzarra Bolívar, 30, participated in a protest on July 29th in Maracay, a northern city in Venezuela.
One journalist told researchers that the protests were initially peaceful; another witness stated that the protesters called on soldiers to join them. A soldier ordered them to leave, and some demonstrators dispersed.
Verified videos by researchers showed peaceful protesters confronting National Guard personnel in riot gear at the protest site.
Researchers geolocated another video, which was approximately 490 feet away from a military installation. The video depicted smoke in the area, reportedly around 5:37 pm, with law enforcement officers using tear gas to disperse protesters.
The report cited a statement from an individual next to Yzarra Bolívar, saying, “Around 6 pm, a bullet hit Yzarra Bolívar in the left chest.”
Human Rights Watch analyzed and geolocated four videos showing Yzarra Bolívar wounded and losing consciousness. One video, verified by a journalist, was filmed at 5:50 pm and released 20 minutes later.
The videos captured two protesters carrying Yzarra Bolívar about 490 feet away from the military compound. Other protesters can be heard shouting, “They killed him.”
In the days following the election, Venezuelan security forces arrested over two thousand people, including dozens of children, journalists, political leaders, campaign staff, and a lawyer defending protesters. A local activist live-streamed military intelligence officers forcefully entering her home to arrest her.
Human Rights Watch stated in the report that “Maduro and Chief Prosecutor Tarek Saab publicly stated that those arrested should be held accountable for violent acts, terrorism, and other crimes.” However, the organization found that many were arrested merely for criticizing the government or participating in peaceful protests.
Those arrested were often held in solitary confinement for weeks, and most were deprived of the right to hire a lawyer.
Unlike previous presidential elections, the National Electoral Council did not announce the vote tally supporting Maduro’s victory. However, the opposition alliance obtained the results from over 80% of the electronic voting machines used in the election and declared their candidate, González, defeated current President Maduro by a 2-to-1 margin.
The lack of transparency in the election results and the extensive post-protest arrests sparked global condemnation against Maduro and his allies.
On Monday, September 2nd, a judge in Maduro’s administration approved the prosecutor’s arrest warrant for González, once again igniting international outcry.