Venezuela's government is responsible for crimes against humanity, UN investigators claim 

Venezuela’s government is responsible for crimes against humanity including murders and torture, UN investigators claim

  • Experts issued a report which says President Maduro and his ministers were aware of crimes committed by security forces and intelligence agencies  
  • It further alleged high-level authorities had power over the forces and agencies, making top officials responsible  
  • Maduro’s government has come under political pressure from the international community which consider Juan Guaido the country’s legitimate leader

The government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro has committed crimes against humanity including torture and murder, independent experts commissioned by the UN have claimed.

The experts issued a report that says the people responsible for crimes that include extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture must be held to account, in part to ensure they do not happen again. 

The findings, based on nearly 3,000 cases that were investigated or examined, concluded that Mr Maduro and his defence and interior ministers were aware of crimes committed by security forces and intelligence agencies.

It further alleged that high-level authorities had both power and oversight over the forces and agencies, making the top officials responsible.

This handout photo released by the Venezuelan Presidency shows Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro delivering a speech at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, on April 23, 2019

This handout photo released by the Venezuelan Presidency shows Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro delivering a speech at Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, on April 23, 2019

Mr Maduro’s government has come under increasing political pressure from the United States and dozens of other countries which consider Juan Guaido the legitimate leader of Venezuela.

Mr Maduro has called this a plot to overthrow him so the US can exploit Venezuela’s oil wealth.

The 411-page report for the Human Rights Council represents an extensive look at rights violations in Venezuela and was based on interviews with alleged victims, relatives, witnesses, police, government officials and judges, as well as videos, satellite imagery and social media content.

The authors said they did not receive responses from the government itself. 

Venezuelan security forces clash with supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on the Venezuelan side of the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge on February 25, 2019. A UN report has found that Mr Maduro was aware of crimes committed by security forces and intelligence agencies

Venezuelan security forces clash with supporters of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido on the Venezuelan side of the Francisco de Paula Santander International Bridge on February 25, 2019. A UN report has found that Mr Maduro was aware of crimes committed by security forces and intelligence agencies

Marta Valinas, Francisco Cox Vial and Paul Seils worked under a fact-finding mission for the Geneva-based rights council set up last September to investigate violations in Venezuela over the past five years.

‘These acts were committed pursuant to two state policies, one to quash opposition to the government and another to combat crime, including by eliminating individuals perceived as criminals,’ Mr Valinas told reporters.

‘We also consider that the documented crimes were committed as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population.’ 

source: dailymail.co.uk