Venezuelan Human Rights NGO says four hundred and four torture victims have little prospect of seeing justice done

VHeadline Venezuela News reports: Venezuela's Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz (Support Network for Justice & Peace) claims that between 1995 and 2007 there have been no less than 404 cases of torture registered by the Human Rights NGO where the perpetrators have gone scot free without punishment of any kind. Fiorella Perrone, a spokeswoman for the group, says "torture is something that affects not only the person directly tortured, but his/her entire family and the entire community."

According to the NGO most of the registered cases of torture were at the hands of the Caracas Metropolitan Police (23.59%), the Police Detective Branch (CICPC) (21.18%), State Troopers (16.35%), National Guard (12.06%), the Venezuelan Army (7.51%) and the State Political & Security (DISIP) police (4.56%).

69.6% of the victims suffered blows or kicks, while 48% were death threats, 32.7% verbal abuse, 23.8% overly tightened handcuffs, 13.9% thrown down stairs, against the floor or walls, 12.9% head covered with plastic bags, 12.1% solitary confidement or deprivation of food, 8.4% forced to stand for lengthy periods, 7.4% wounded by firearm, 6.9% bound hands and feet, 6.7% blindfolded, 5.0% grabbed by the hair and forced to undress, 4.7% had electricity applied and 3.7% suffered simulating execution. Perrone stresses that 41.8% suffered bruises, 28.7% myalgia, 16.6% bruises, 16.3% scars, 12.9% aggravated wounds.

Torture victims have also faced psychological traumas, such as unability to sleep (44.8%), anxiety and distress (31.9%), depression (31.4%), anger, irritability (27. 5%), abnormal eating habits (21.3%), torture flashbacks (16.3%), continuing fear (13.4%), persecution complex (10.6%), emotional inability (8.2 %), low self-esteem (5.9%) and feelings of guilt (4.2%).

Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz says it regrets that victims of torture are not properly cared for, and that despite a series of proposals put forward by the NGO to the National Assembly (AN) there has not been any movement to draft any law to punish torture.

Meanwhile, public prosecutors have been urged to get to grips with the problem and the NGO is urging the government to provide adequate human rights training to military and police officials.
VHeadline Venezuela News
vheadline@gmail.com

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