WASHINGTON.- The Inter-American Commission of Human rights (IACHR) presented before the Court the case against him regime of Nicolas Maduro for the “extrajudicial executions” of the agent Oscar Perez and six other people, by members of the State security forces, an event that occurred in January 2018, in Caracas, in the event known as the “El Junquito massacre”.
In its complaint, filed last October 11, the IACHR included the “situation of impunity” regarding these events, a press release stated.
Pérez, who was an active agent of the Scientific, Criminal and Criminal Investigation Corps (Cicpc), was considered critical of the regime after he issued statements against Nicolás Maduro. In addition, Pérez was co-founder of the National Balance Movement, a resistance movement to the regime.
The massacre
In mid-December 2017, the National Balance Movement entered a barracks of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB), located in San Pedro de Los Altos, a town on the outskirts of Caracas, where they took several rifles and pistols. Later, Oscar Pérez published a video of what happened through his (now X) Twitter account, in which he stated that he had carried out “Operation Genesis.” The same day, Maduro ordered the use of force against the group he described as terrorist.
On January 15, 2018, about 500 members of the security forces attacked a residence where Óscar Pérez and six other people were located, in the urbanization The Junquitoin the west of Caracas. Despite the fact that, as shown by various videos recorded by Pérez, the victims surrendered and expressed their willingness to start a negotiation, the state authorities entered the house, using heavy weapons. All victims lost their lives during the operation.
Autopsies and photos published in the media indicated executions with “grace shots.” Later, relatives faced intimidation and the State did not allow them to hold a proper funeral.
Conclusions of the IACHR
In the merits report, the IACHR concluded that the use of lethal force by the State was incompatible with international obligations and considered that the principle of absolute necessity was not complied with nor were less harmful measures adopted, which resulted in the “extrajudicial execution” of seven people who had already been neutralized.
The IACHR indicated that the victims were rounded up and subsequently executed, which evidenced the violation of the right to life and personal integrity.
Regarding judicial guarantees, the IACHR observed the lack of documentation regarding the opening of an investigation, along with the demolition of the scene of the events and the absence of preservation of evidence.
Likewise, the IACHR highlighted the persistent impunity and the violation of the rights of families due to the impossibility of holding funerals and wakes in accordance with their beliefs to say goodbye to their loved ones, which constituted an impact on their psychological and moral integrity, and a violation of the rights to personal integrity and freedom of conscience and religion.
The IACHR concluded that the Venezuelan State is responsible for the violation of the rights to life, personal integrity, judicial guarantees, freedom of conscience and religion, and judicial protection, included in the American Convention on Human Rights.
Consequently, the IACHR recommended that the Venezuelan State: comprehensively repair human rights violations in both material and non-material aspects; Carry out a diligent and timely investigation of the facts to identify the persons responsible and apply the corresponding sanctions.
Likewise, it recommended: establishing non-repetition mechanisms that include the training of police and military agents in international standards on the use of force, including lethal force; and establish adequate accountability mechanisms for abuses committed by members of such security forces.
Source: Press Release / Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
