A/HRC/45/CRP.11
Venezuela”.95 This followed a previous announcement on 10 February that the President had
activated these commandos and was preparing a “zone by zone” and “name by name” plan
to prevent a coup.96 A warrant for the arrest of opposition leader Leopoldo López was issued,
who had called for the protests, and he was detained on 18 February after turning himself
in.97
68.
Protests continued over the next months. By 30 April, the death toll had risen to 40
people. Of these, 32 were civilians and 9 were police.98 Thousands of people were detained
in this period.99 Two opposition mayors, Daniel Ceballos of San Cristóbal, Táchira, and Enzo
Scarano, of San Diego, Carabobo, were among those arrested. Throughout this period,
President Maduro criticized media outlets for publishing “war propaganda” 100 and
widespread attacks against journalists, censorship and limitations on the press were registered
in this context.101
69.
In early April 2014, mediated talks commenced between the Government and
opposition leaders, facilitated by the foreign ministers of the Union of South American
Nations (UNASUR) and a representative of the Holy See.102 During the televised dialogues,
President Maduro called for “tolerance” and an end to the violence. At the same time, he
referred to an “armed insurgency” in the country, which he said the Government would take
severe measures to combat.103 For his part, opposition leader Henrique Capriles stressed the
need for the Government to include the opposition in decision-making, stating “either [this
situation] changes, or it will explode”.104 The Government and the opposition were unable to
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
16
See YouTube Video, TeleSurTV, Venezuela convoca a reunión del Comando Nacional AntiGolpe, 21
February 2014, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOF5li5HSIU.
See YouTube Video, MultiMedio VTV, Comando AntiGolpe se Mantendrá alerta ante posibles
ataques al país, 10 February 2014, available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=us7NeASIlL4.
See YouTube Video, La Patilla, Maduro sobre detención de Leopoldo López, 18 February 2014,
available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=vNVU1rZhYeI&feature=emb_logo. See also
YouTube Video, Leopoldo López, #Resistencia18F, 16 February 2014, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=vCmoGxEnEJc&feature=emb_logo; see also
YouTube Video, Últimas Noticias, Video de la entrega de Leopoldo López, 18 February 2014,
available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=W8Sr7IRoRxo&feature=emb_logo.
See Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Annual Report 2014: Chapter IV Venezuela,
para. 383, available at: http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/docs/anual/2014/docs-es/Anual2014cap4Venezuela.pdf; See also statement by the UN Secretary-General, 2 August 2019, available at:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2014-02-26/statement-attributable-spokespersonsecretary-general-venezuela.
See Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Annual Report 2014: Chapter IV Venezuela,
para. 383, available at: http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/docs/anual/2014/docs-es/Anual2014cap4Venezuela.pdf; See also statement by a group of Special Procedures mandate holders, Venezuela
/ Demonstrations: UN experts ask for clarification on alleged arbitrary detentions and use of violence,
6 March 2014, available at:
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=14318&LangID=E.
See YouTube Video, Télam, Maduro: CNN se va de Venezuela, Si no cesa propaganda de Guerra, 20
Februrary 2014, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=HD_JyqY74o4&feature=emb_logo.
For an extremely in-depth review of cases of limitations of freedom of expression, see Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights, Annual Report 2014; Chapter IV on Venezuela, paras. 407-566,
available at: http://www.oas.org/es/cidh/docs/anual/2014/docs-es/Anual2014-cap4Venezuela.pdf.
See statement by the UN Secretary-General welcoming dialogues, 11 April 2014, available at:
https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/sg/statement/2014-04-11/statement-attributable-spokesmansecretary-general-venezuela-scroll.
See YouTube Video, Luigino Bracci Roa, Diálogo Maduro-Oposición: Palabras finales del
Presidente Nicolás Maduro, 11 April 2014, minute 12:40, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=41&v=WJMrMzqe-9o&feature=emb_logo.
See YouTube Video, Luigino Bracci Roa, Diálogo Maduro-Oposición, Palabras de Henrique
Capriles, gobernador de Miranda, 11 April 2014, available at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAetqyZBxZY&feature=emb_logo.
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