A/HRC/45/CRP.11
following four areas of Caracas: Coche, El Valle, El Cementerio y Cota 905.1935 The Minister
of the Interior explained that the OLP intended to “free the people from the scourge of the
paramilitarized underworld”.1936 He framed the operation as part of a new phase of OLPs,
involving the participation of “a civic/military/police force of more than 3,000 men […] and
countless officials”.1937
1088. During the press conference, the Minister reported that 249 vehicles, 400 motorcycles,
33 armoured personnel carriers, 19 ambulances and 2 helicopters had been involved in the
operation.1938 Control posts were established in 136 points in roads heading out of the capital
city.1939 Video footage from that day, verified by the Mission, also shows three GNB
armoured vehicles making their way into the neighbourhood. 1940 The Minister of the Interior
reported that 15 firearms and 2 fragmentation grenades were seized 1941 and that 1,131 people
had been detained to verify their identity.1942
1089. The Minister of the Interior announced that four people had been killed or “taken
down” (“abatidas”) in what he described as confrontations with security forces in Cota 905.
Two died during the operation and two others died later in hospital. 1943 The operation was
still ongoing at the time of the Minister’s press conference at 4.30 p.m. on 10 May 2016. 1944
After or during that press conference, security forces killed at least five more people, bringing
the total killed in the operation to at least nine people.1945
1090. One of the young men killed in the operation (hereinafter C4FF25) had just finished
high school and he was the father of a child. One of his female relatives, C4FF15, reported
that he did not have a criminal record. She said that C4FF25 was killed because he was the
relative of one of the most wanted gang leaders of the area. He was killed inside his modest
home in the La Chivera area of Cota 905. C4FF15 described his house as very small “with a
single entrance and without a window”.1946
1091. C4FF25 had been asleep and was sick with the Zika virus.1947 At around 8 a.m. on 10
May 2016, around 15 armed men broke into the house. They were later revealed to be CICPC
officers. They were dressed in black and had their faces covered. They did not present a
warrant. They beat the other two people that were present, including the female witness
C4FF16, forcing them to leave the house.1948 The last time C4FF16 saw C4FF25, he was
sitting on the ground with the CICPC officials around him. They referred to C4FF25 by his
name, without ever having asked for or verified his identity.1949
1092. C4FF16 sought help from neighbours. Residents yelled at the men in black that
C4FF25 was an innocent person. However, the neighbours did not intervene because they
were afraid. C4FF16 telephoned a relative, C4FF15, to ask for help. C4FF15 attempted to
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1940
1941
1942
1943
1944
1945
1946
1947
1948
1949
YouTube Video, Luigino Bracci Roa, Situación en Venezuela, González López anuncia primeros
resultados de nueva OLP en Cota 905, minute 0:46, 10 May 2016, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkmI0mRZEWc.
Ibid., minute 4:51.
Ibid., minute 0:53.
Ibid., minute 3:48.
Ibid., minute 4:03.
El Cooperante, Operación Liberación del Pueblo llega a El Valle, El Cementerio y Cota 905, 10 May
2016, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUF-zaTSkno.
YouTube Video, Luigino Bracci Roa, Situación en Venezuela, González López anuncia primeros
resultados de nueva OLP en Cota 905, minute 1:43, 10 May 2016, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkmI0mRZEWc.
Ibid., minute 1:17.
Ibid., minute 2:14.
Ibid., minute 2:41.
Statement of Major General Sergio Rivero Marcano in Contacto Con Nicolás Maduro. OLP contra el
paramilitarismo. Venezuela, from minute 1:15:30, 11 May 2016, available at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_CEDxANJcY
Statement made by C4FF15 in an interview with local NGO No. 4, on file with the Mission.
Statement made by C4FF15 in an interview with a Venezuelan citizen security expert No. 5, on file
with the Mission.
Statement made by C4FF15 in an interview with local NGO No. 4, on file with the Mission.
Ibid.
215
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