Prisoners in Venezuela Call Off Five-Day Hunger Strike after Maduro directs measures to address Judicial Backlogs and Overpopulation in Prisons
Bustling Caracas, June 15, 2024 (our website) - Consumed by concerns over his nation's penitentiary system, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has unleashed a fiery response.
Taking center stage on Tuesday, Maduro named Julio García Zerpa as the new minister for prison affairs, a role previously held by Viceadmiral Celsa Bautista. A seasoned attorney and National Assembly deputy, García Zerpa is tasked with tackling the troubles within Venezuela's prison system.
Kicking off last Sunday, June 9, prisoners across 51 detention facilities in 17 different states launched a hunger strike to root out judicial delays and demand improved living conditions. The unrest, which included both prisons and temporary arrest centers in police stations, finally shuddered to an end on Thursday following the Venezuelan government's intervention.
The government aimed to expedite legal cases and improve care for inmates, according to statements. A group of prisoners, however, pushed for the release of those who met the conditions of time served and redemption factors, the emancipation of elderly inmates with health issues, and reforms for the chronically ill.
A symphony of protests resonated in several cities across the country, with relatives of prisoners calling out for immediate action to humanize prison conditions and attend to the health woes of their convict kin. They chafed at the grinding judicial machine, which routinely left detainees languishing in custody, even after serving their sentences, and at the insult of detainees spending months behind bars without charges, only to be brought before a court for procedural postponements.
Maduro, addressing the insurmountable issues faced by the prison system, declared that prisons ought to be havens for stability, human rights, and rehabilitation. He vowed a war on corruption, advocating for a new generation of prison staff and the eradication of delays in judicial processes brought about by corrupt officials.
The newly-appointed minister, García, commended policing actions against organized crime but acknowledged the need for deeper, more expansive reforms. He emphasized the necessity of a digital case registry and remote video court hearings to minimize obstructions and accelerate legal proceedings.
News reports claimed that judicial authorities, including García himself, journeyed to different states to converse with demonstrators. Testimonials on social media broadcasted stories of expedited cases that had been stagnant for years.
Maduro had ordered a "judicial revolution" in 2021, and parliament enacted various reforms the following year. However, complaints of widespread judicial delays, prisoner mistreatment, and painful shortages of food and hygiene supplies persist.
The Committee for People's Rights unveiled a statement supporting the protesters' "grave grievances." The collective, initially conceived to defend five young men unjustly detained during the 2021 "Gran Cacique Guaicaipuro" police operation against armed groups in Caracas, implored citizens to unite and champion reform.
Following over two years of relentless effort and public rallies, the organization managed to secure the release of four of the five detainees. Unfortunately, the fifth perished in prison due to deplorable conditions and unacceptable healthcare.
Enrichment:
- The Venezuelan prison system grapples with severe human rights infringements and structural inadequacies, exacerbated by political repression and systemic apathy.
- Issues include political repression, torture, collaborations between criminal networks and the regime, and a lack of due process.
- Alleged reforms, such as limited releases, have fallen short, failing to address torture, inadequate healthcare, and judicial independence. The system continues to serve as an instrument of political control, with little evidence of meaningful change or accountability.
- In response to the pressing matters within Venezuela's prison system, President Maduro appointed Julio García Zerpa as the new minister for prison affairs.
- García Zerpa, an attorney and National Assembly deputy, promises to address the troubles within the prison system, including judicial delays and improved living conditions.
- Last week, prisoners nationwide launched a hunger strike, demanding changes like the release of time-served individuals and better care for the chronically ill.
- As protests emerged across cities, relatives of prisoners called for immediate action to improve prison conditions and address health issues, frustrated by the slow judicial process and prolonged detentions.
- Maduro addressed the difficulties facing the prison system, pledging a war on corruption, reformation, and enhanced human rights and rehabilitation.
- As part of the reform process, García suggested digital case registries and remote video court hearings to streamline legal proceedings, along with support for deep, expansive prison system reforms.
