Political prisoners in Venezuela

 

Issued on March 27, 2005

Last Update: May 1, 2005

 

 

No.

 

PRISON

 

NAME

 

Position

WHEN

ARRESTED

 

CHARGES

 

COMMENTS

1

Santa Ana

Táchira  State

Danny Rámirez

Former president of the Student’s Union (UNET), and COPEI students’ representative

June 11, 2003

Cooperation and complicity to rebellion for the events outside the governor’s palace on April 12, 2002. Sentenced to 6 years.

Has been detained in Santa Ana since his arrest. Santa Ana is a penitentiary.

2

 

Orlando Pantaleón

AD leader and Education Union representative

June 11, 2003

Cooperation and complicity to rebellion. for the events outside the governor’s palace on April 12, 2002.  Sentenced to 6 years.

 

Has been detained in Santa Ana since his arrest. Santa Ana is a penitentiary

3

Hospital Central

San Cristóbal

Táchira State

Saúl Lozano

AD leader and president of Fetratáchira (teachers’ union)

June 11, 2003

 

Cooperation and complicity to rebellion for the events outside the governor’s palace on April 12, 2002. Sentenced to 6 years.

Has been repeatedly denied permission to undergo much needed surgery; remains handcuffed to bed rails.

4

CICPC

Parque Carabobo

Caracas

Henry Vivas Hernández

Former Metropolitan Police Chief and Security Police Commissioner

December 3, 2004

Conspiracy to commit homicide, intentional homicide, and infliction of serious injuries during April 11, 2002 events.

Denied asylum in El Salvador. Denied bail despite being granted to 3 shooters charged with similar charges alleging crimes against humanity

5

 

Lázaro Forero

Former Metropolitan Police Chief

December 3, 2004

Conspiracy to commit homicide, intentional homicide, and infliction of serious injuries during April 11, 2002 events.

Denied asylum. Denied bail despite being granted to 3 shooters charged with similar charges alleging crimes against humanity

6

DISIP

El Helicoide

Caracas

Iván Simonovis

Former Security  Police Commissioner

November 22, 2004.

Conspiracy to commit homicide and infliction of serious injuries during April 11, 2002 events.

Arrested without warrant when he was flying abroad. Denied bail despite being granted to 3 shooters charged with similar charges alleging crimes against humanity.

7

 

Pedro Antonio Sifontes N.

Navy

Corporal

May 17, 2003

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends. .

Has recanted his statements several times.

8

 

Silvio Mérida Ortiz

Security volunteer at Plaza Altamira

 

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends, and the bombing of the embassies and consulate, and the Teleport Tower in 2003.

One of Gral. Felipe Rodríguez’s bodyguards; would later recant his statements- alleging torture- in which he admitted his guilt and accused the general, Chacín, Colina and Valera of the bomb attacks.

9

 

Raúl Díaz Peña

 

 

 

Known as Fenix, he was close to Gral. Felipe Rodríguez, and was arrested to have him confess his whereabouts.       

10

PM Zona 2

Catia

Caracas

Arube Pérez

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

11

 

Marcos Hurtado

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

12

 

Héctor Rovain

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

13

 

Julio Rodríguez

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

. Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

14

 

Rafael Neazoa

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

15

 

Ramón Zapata

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

. Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

16

 

Erasmo Bolívar

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

17

 

Luis Enrique Molina

PM Corporal

April 19, 2003

Homicide, use of war and fire weapons, and infliction of serious injuries during the April 11 events

Remained in the PM headquarters in Cotiza until he was transferred to the DISIP headquarters in November 2004 when he changed his statement.

 

18

 

YARE I

Miranda State

Felipe Rodríguez

 

GN

Major General

 

February 4, 2005

 

7 charges:

Conspiracy to rebellion, rebellion, sedition, public intimidation, possession of war weapon, infliction of injuries, and association to commit crimes.

New charges are to be brought up in a military court in Aragua State for possession of explosives.

 

Transferred to a maximum security prison and incarcerated with 1 convicted criminal despite what COPP reads and his status as a military officer.

19

CENAPROMIL

Ramo Verde

Miranda State

Francisco Usón

Army retired

Brigadier General

Former Minister of Finance (2002)

May 22, 2004

Sentenced to 5 years and 6 months for defamation against the Armed Force

Gral. Usón explained how a linstock was used in a TV program in which speculation on how 8 soldiers in Ft. Mara could have been burned; two of them to death.

The TSJ denied a motion presented by his attorneys to be present in the hearing (April 21) on his “forced retirement”.

20

 

Ovidio Poggioli

Army retired

Brigadier General

Former director of DIM, and the International Airport (2002)

June 9, 2004

Armed rebellion

Sedition

Military prosecutor asking for 27 year sentence

21

 

Jesús Farías Rodríguez

GN

Colonel

May 13, 2004

Armed rebellion Sedition

Military prosecutor asking for 27 year sentence

22

 

Jesús Castro Yelles

GN

Colonel

May 13, 2004

Armed rebellion Sedition

Military prosecutor asking for 27 year sentence

23

 

Rafael Farías Villasmil

Army

Captain

May 24, 2004

Armed rebellion Sedition

Military prosecutor asking for 27 year sentence

 

24

 

Javier Quintero González

Army

Captain

June 19, 2004

Armed rebellion Sedition

Military prosecutor asking for 27 year sentence

25

 

Javier Nieto Quintero

GN Captain

May 13, 2004

Cooperation with armed rebellion and failure to report conspiracy.

Military prosecution asking for 12 year sentence

26

 

Carlos Guerra Camejo

GN

colonel

August 15, 2004

Sentenced to 2 years for conspiracy to rebellion

Was in charge of the Plan República in Amazonas. Denied suspended sentence

27

 

Francisco Martínez G.

GN

Lieutenant Colonel

August 15, 2004

Sentenced to 5 years and 2 months for conspiracy to rebellion and insubordination

Refused to read a political harangue to the troops on August 15, the day of the presidential RR. New charges were brought during trial so sentence would amount more than 5 years

28

 

Luis Antonio González

GN

Lieutenant Colonel

August 15, 2004

Sentenced to 5 years and 2 months for conspiracy to rebellion and insubordination

Refused to read a political harangue to the troops on August 15, the day of the presidential RR. New charges were brought during trial so sentence would amount more than 5 years

29

 

Miguel Prieto Morales

GN

Lieutenant Colonel

February 11, 2005

Military rebellion

Sedition

Caught during rescue operations in Vargas State. Preliminary audience scheduled for April 28, 2005 was suspended.

 

 

30

 

Otto Gebauer Morales

Army Captain

November 11, 2004

Insubordination

Captain Gebauer was one of the officers who “escorted” President Chávez to La Orchila on April 12, 2002. Was granted asylum in Uruguay but returned to Venezuela in 2004.

31

 

Humberto Quintero Aguilar

GN

Lieutenant Colonel

Former commander of the Anti-extorsion and kidnapping unit (GAES) in Táchira State (2004)

January 12, 2005

3 charges: Treason, abuse and faults against military decorum for having arrested Rodrigo Granda and turned it over to Colombian authorities

Was tortured during his arrest in DIM (4 days); four months later, there’s still an internal hematoma for which he’s being treated. . Preliminary audience scheduled for April 6, 2005 was suspended.

32

 

Luis Eduardo Salazar

Merchant Navy Captain

July 24, 2004

Defamation against the Armed Force.

Captain Salazar denounced PDV Marina president, Rear Admiral Camejo Arenas and Rear Admiral Torcat Sanabria for overpricing fleets and ships bought.

 

 

33

 

Carlos Ortega

President of the Venezuelan Labor Union (CTV)

February 28, 2005

3 charges:

civic rebellion, sedition, and use of false act. Indicted April 12, 2005.

Charged for his acts during the civic strike of December 2002.

34

DIM

Boleíta

Caracas

Blas Sousa Freitas

GN

Colonel

Commander of the No. 11 Post in San Antonio del Táchira.

February 10, 2005

Military rebellion

Whereabouts since his arrest February 10 are unknown. Thought to remain in DIM headquarters.

35

 

Darío Guillermo Farías Rodríguez

Army Colonel

 

April 21, 2005

Armed rebellion

Sedition

Arrested while in Ft. Tiuna, he’s accused of being envolved with his brother and cousin in the case of the presumed paramilitaries. Remains incommunicado (not even his lawyer) since his arrest in the dungeons at the DIM headquarters despite his poor health and blood pressure crisis.

36

La Planta,

El Paraíso

Caracas

Luis Chacín Sanguinés

Security volunteer at Plaza Altamira

May 2, 2003

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends, and the bombing of the embassies and consulate, and the Teleport Tower in 2003.

Known as El Armadillo, he was close to Gral. Felipe Rodríguez, and was arrested to have him confess his whereabouts. First jailed in Yare and then La Planta, both maximum security prisons, without a conviction. Tortured in both.

37

 

Rafael Gregory Umanés

Security volunteer at Plaza Altamira

March 26, 2003

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends. .

Known as El Zorro, he was close to Gral. Felipe Rodríguez, and was arrested to have him confess his whereabouts.

38

 

Raúl Díaz Peña

Security volunteer at Plaza Altamira

Unknown

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends. .

Known as Fenix, he was close to Gral. Felipe Rodríguez, and was arrested to have him confess his whereabouts.

 

38

El Rodeo

Miranda State

Tayro Aristiguieta

Security volunteer at Plaza Altamira

April 2003

Charges: Slain of three soldiers camping out in Plaza Altamira and two of their girlfriends, and the bombing of the embassies and consulate, and the Teleport Tower in 2003.

 

 

He denounced tortures to have him confess.

 

Under presentation

Juvenal Mora Pineda

GN

Second Lieutenant

April 8, 2003

Civil rebellion, sedition, and carrying weapon without due permit

“Advised” to plead guilty so he could benefit from a substitute measure having paid ¾ of the sentence.

 

Under presentation

Victor Valero Castellanos

GN retired

Corporal

April 8, 2003

Civil rebellion, sedition, and carrying weapon without due permit

Tortured during his stay at DISIP headquarters. “Advised” to plead guilty so he could benefit from a substitute measure having paid ¾ of the sentence.

 

Under presentation

Salomón Madrid,

Mario Pelez,

Triana Guerra,

Leonardo Tayupo,

Leonardo González,

Jotaniel Marcano

Group of young people.

December 19, 2004

Sentenced to probation and prohibition to leave the country for attacking the President.

 

For pot banging and shouting as presidential motorcade went by on November 8, 2003..

 

 

 

Tulio Alvarez

Constitutional attorney and university professor

 

Sentenced to 2 years and 3 months for defamation against former President of Parliament, MVR legislator William Lara; sentence confirmed by TSJ.

Trial filled with irregularities, including arresting a witness for denying being present in Miraflores on April 12, 2002. Alvarez was the person who coordinated the report on the fraudulent presidential recall referendum

 

 

Ibéyise Pacheco

Journalist

 

Sentenced to 9 months for defamation against Army Colonel Angel Bellorín

Has 11 other open investigations in different courts

 

 

Patricia Poleo

Journalist

 

 

Sentenced to 6 months for defamation against Jesse Chacón, Minister of Internal Affairs

Has 2 other investigations open. A previous investigation on libel and slander against the National Armed Force, ordered by the Minister of Defense for reporting there were Cubans roaming in military installations and showing a video of their presence in a garrison in Apure State, was dismissed by the Military Prosecution Office.

 

Freed

José Darwin Valera C.

GN

Lieutenant

January 12, 2005

3 charges: Treason, abuse and faults against military decorum for having arrested Rodrigo Granda and turned it over to Colombian authorities

Freed March 1, 2005 after formally blaming Lt. Col. Quintero Aguilar of issuing orders.

Was tortured during his arrest in DIM (4 days)

 

Freed

Carlos Castillo

GN

Corporal

January 12, 2005

3 charges: Treason, abuse and faults against military decorum for having arrested Rodrigo Granda and turned it over to Colombian authorities.

 

Freed March 1, 2005 after formally blaming Lt. Col. Quintero Aguilar of issuing orders.

Was tortured during his arrest in DIM (4 days)

 

Freed

Simón Rodríguez

GN

Corporal

January 12, 2005

3 charges: Treason, abuse and faults against military decorum for having arrested Rodrigo Granda and turned it over to Colombian authorities

Freed March 1, 2005 after formally blaming Lt. Col. Quintero Aguilar of issuing orders.

Was tortured during his arrest in DIM (4 days)

 

Freed

José Rodríguez

GN Corporal

January 12, 2005

3 charges: Treason, abuse and faults against military decorum for having arrested Rodrigo Granda and turned it over to Colombian authorities

Freed March 1, 2005 after formally blaming Lt. Col. Quintero Aguilar of issuing orders.

Was tortured during his arrest in DIM (4 days)

 

Compiled by Sol Maria Castro. VenEcononomia and VenInvestor correspondent.

 

SMCS/smcs. '2005

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