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TITLE: Fear for Safety / Ill-Treatment - Venezuela |
AUTHOR: |
DATE: January 4, 2001 |
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Pemon Indigenous People in San Rafael de Kamoiran Juan Ramon Lezama Silviano Castro Pemon indigenous people protesting against the construction of an electricity supply network in Venezuela's Gran Sabana region have been harassed by soldiers, and one person has been severely ill- treated. Amnesty International fears for their safety. In the early hours of 29 December 2000, Juan Ramon Lezama was reportedly held by the neck and beaten by two soldiers till he fell unconscious. On regaining consciousness, he attempted to escape but was chased by the soldiers. He ended up tangled in some barbed wire where he was deliberately left. He apparently suffered injuries to his neck, arms and legs. Amnesty International does not know whether he remains in detention. The incident took place after the army reportedly began keeping the Pemon indigenous community of San Rafael de Kaimoran in the municipality of Gran Sabana, Bolivar state, under routine surveillance in late December 2000. Troops first visited the community on 26 December, offering the inhabitants free food. The community rejected the offer in the belief that it was an attempt to persuade them to abandon their campaign against the construction of a major electrical power line in the region. Over the following three days, troops returned to the community where they interrogated community members and confiscated work-tools. They also surrounded the home of Silviano Castro, the head (cacique) of the community. Members of the community have said that the continuing harassment by the army 'takes place on our own territory and affects our daily life, our culture and our safety' ('occurre en nuestro propio territorio y afecta nuestra vida cotidiana, nuestra cultura y nuestra seguridad'). BACKGROUND INFORMATION Pemon indigenous people are protesting against the construction of an electricity supply network (tendido electrico) running pylons and high voltage cables across Venezuela's Canaima National Park, Imataca Forest Reserve and the Gran Sabana region. Work on the network began in 1997 following an agreement for Venezuela to supply northern Brazil with electricity. Pemon indigenous people protesting against the construction of the network have been subjected to acts of intimidation. In October 2000, Amnesty International issued an Urgent Action on another Pemon indigenous community, Santa Cruz de Maupari, after inhabitants there received death threats (UA 332/00, 30 October 2000). The Venezuelan Constitution adopted in 1999 includes provisions for the protection of indigenous people and their environment. It also provides for the protection of human rights, and states that international human rights treaties and conventions are an integral part of the rule of law in Venezuela. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail letters: - expressing concern about reports that Juan Ramon Lezama was detained and beaten by soldiers on 29 December 2000 in San Rafael de Kaimoran in the municipality of Gran Sabana, Bolivar state; - urging that if he is still in custody, he be charged with a recognizable criminal offence or be immediately released; - calling for a prompt and independent investigation into his alleged ill-treatment, for the findings to be made public and for those responsible to be brought to justice; - expressing concern for the safety of all members of San Rafael de Kaimoran, including Juan Ramon Lezama and Silviano Castro, and urging the authorities to take the necessary steps to guarantee their safety. APPEALS TO: President of the Republic
Fax: 011 582 806 3101/ 3325 (It may be difficult getting through to this number. Please be patient and keep trying) Minister of the Interior and Justice:
Fax: 011 582 861 1967/0363
COPIES TO:
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after February 15, 2001. This information is from Amnesty International's research headquarters in London, England. A.I. is an independent worldwide movement working for the international protection of human rights. It seeks the release of people detained because of their beliefs, color, sex, ethnic origin, language or religious creed, provided they have not used nor advocated violence. These are termed prisoners of conscience. It works for fair and prompt trials for all political prisoners and works on behalf of such people detained without charge or trial. It opposes the death penalty, extra-judicial executions (political killings), 'disappearances' and torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of all prisoners without reservation. Amnesty International promotes awareness of and adherance to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally recognized human rights instruments, the values enshrined in them and the indivisibility and interdependence of all human rights and freedoms. Please do not repost this appeal to any part of the Internet without prior permission from Amnesty International. Thank you for your help with this appeal. Urgent Action Network Amnesty International USA PO Box 1270 Nederland CO 80466-1270 Email: sharriso@aiusa.org Phone: 303 258 1170 Fax: 303 258 7881 END |