AI INDEX: AMR 53/001/2004 18 February 2004
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Public Statement
AI Index: AMR 53/001/2004 (Public)
News Service No: 036
18 February 2004
Amnesty International said today that President
Hugo Chávez must respect the right of non-governmental
human rights organizations to carry out their
legitimate work, such work is underpinned by
international human rights treaties which the
Venezuelan Government has willingly pledged to
uphold.
"In the current climate in Venezuela, random and
unsubstantiated allegations against human rights
organizations such as COFAVIC, PROVEA and Red de
Apoyo, suggesting that their legitimate human
rights activities are intended to fuel political
turmoil could expose members of these
organizations to serious dangers, including
threats and intimidation", added Amnesty
International.
Amnesty International said today it was also
concerned that President Chávez did not appear to
be familiar with the universal principal that all
individuals and groups all over the world are free
to collaborate and to exchange information and
expertise for the purpose of protecting and
defending universally recognized human rights and
fundamental freedoms.
Amnesty International said it was deeply worried
that slurs and attacks against human rights
organizations could further destabilize the
already difficult situation in Venezuela. Non-governmental
human rights organizations have and do play a
crucial role in upholding the rule of law in
Venezuela. Most recently such organizations
contributed to developing the new constitution and
legal reforms, they have also defended the rights
of the poor and most marginalised sectors of
society and attested the break in constitutional
order of the attempted coup of 2002.
The Venezuelan President should retract
allegations against human rights organizations and
recognize the important contribution these
organizations have made, over several decades, in
seeking to establish a country in which the rights
and dignity of individuals from all sectors of
society are converted from myth into reality
http://web.amnesty.org/library/index/engamr530012004