Venezuela Announces Amnesty Law, Plans to Transform Controversial Prison
Speaking at a ceremony marking the start of the new judicial year at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice, Delcy Rodriguez said on Friday that the amnesty would apply to cases from 1999 to the present, according to reports. She added that the law would exclude individuals prosecuted for drug trafficking, homicide, corruption, and human rights violations.
Some opposition figures have suggested that the decision was not a voluntary initiative by the Venezuelan government but rather influenced by US pressure, as noted by statements from a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and opposition leader.
A Venezuelan human rights group expressed cautious optimism about the proposal. Alfredo Romero, head of the organization, said through social media that “A general amnesty is welcome as long as its elements and conditions include all of civil society, without discrimination, do not become a cloak of impunity, and contribute to dismantling the repressive apparatus of political persecution.”
The Helicoide facility, a long-standing symbol of alleged repression and prisoner abuse, is planned to be repurposed as a hub for social services and recreational activities.
The announcement follows a US military operation on January 3 in which President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and taken to New York, where they pleaded not guilty to drug and weapons charges. US officials have said they would “run” Venezuela and its oil assets during a transitional period.
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