🔗 Share this article Passing of Venezuela's Opposition Figure in Detention Labeled 'Despicable' by US Representatives. The opposition figure passed away in his prison cell at the El Helicoide facility, according to human rights organisations and political opponents. The American administration has condemned the Venezuelan government over the fatality of a detained opposition figure, labeling it a "reminder of the abhorrent nature" of President Nicolás Maduro's regime. Alfredo DÃaz was found dead in his detention cell at the El Helicoide facility in Caracas, where he had been held for in excess of twelve months, as reported by rights groups and political opponents. The Venezuelan government reported that the man in his fifties exhibited symptoms of a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital, where he died on the weekend. Escalating War of Words Between US and Venezuela This latest statement from the United States is part of an escalating war of words between the American government and President Maduro, who has claimed America of pursuing a change in government. In recent months, the America has expanded its troop levels in the region and has executed a number of fatal operations on boats it asserts have been used for smuggling drugs. US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro personally of being the leader of one of the region's narco-trafficking organizations—an allegation the Venezuelan president vehemently denies—and has hinted at military action "via a land invasion". "The detainee had been 'arbitrarily detained' in a 'facility for mistreatment'," declared the US foreign policy division. Background of the Detention He was taken into custody in that year after participating with numerous dissidents to contest the results of that year's presidential election. Venezuela's pro-government national electoral body declared Maduro the victor, despite counts by rivals suggesting their candidate had been victorious by a wide margin. The electoral process were largely criticized on the global scene as lacking in credibility, and triggered unrest across the country. DÃaz, who led the island state, was indicted of "promoting hatred" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's declaration of success. Responses from Rights Groups and the Opposition Venezuelan rights organization Foro Penal has raised concerns over worsening situations for jailed opponents in the country. "Yet another political prisoner has died in Venezuelan detention centers. He had been held for a year, in segregation," posted Alfredo Romero, the organisation's president, on a social network. He said that the detainee had only been allowed one meeting from his family during the whole time of his detention. He added that 17 detained dissidents have lost their lives in the country since 2014. Political rivals have also denounced the government over the demise of the former governor. MarÃa Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader who received this year's Nobel Peace Prize but who is in seclusion to escape arrest, stated that the governor's death was not a one-off event. "Tragically, it adds to an alarming and heartbreaking series of demises of jailed opponents imprisoned in the context of the post-election repression," she wrote. The opposition alliance said that the former governor "was an unjust death". His own faction, Democratic Action (AD), also honored the former governor, noting he had been held without justice without fair treatment and had been kept in conditions "which violated his fundamental rights". Wider International Tensions Strains between the US and Venezuela have become increasingly strained over what Trump has described as attempts to curb the movement of narcotics and migrants into the United States. US air strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have resulted in the deaths of over eighty individuals. Trump has claimed Maduro of "releasing inmates from his prisons and psychiatric facilities" into the US. The US has classified two Venezuelan trafficking organizations as extremist entities. Maduro has for his part claimed the US of using its drug enforcement efforts as an excuse to remove his socialist government and access Venezuela's huge petroleum resources. The America has also positioned a sizable naval force—its largest movement in the area in many years—along with numerous troops. In a parallel move, the Venezuelan army reportedly inducted thousands of recruits in one go on Saturday, in reaction to what defense officials termed US "aggression".
The opposition figure passed away in his prison cell at the El Helicoide facility, according to human rights organisations and political opponents. The American administration has condemned the Venezuelan government over the fatality of a detained opposition figure, labeling it a "reminder of the abhorrent nature" of President Nicolás Maduro's regime. Alfredo DÃaz was found dead in his detention cell at the El Helicoide facility in Caracas, where he had been held for in excess of twelve months, as reported by rights groups and political opponents. The Venezuelan government reported that the man in his fifties exhibited symptoms of a cardiac arrest and was rushed to a hospital, where he died on the weekend. Escalating War of Words Between US and Venezuela This latest statement from the United States is part of an escalating war of words between the American government and President Maduro, who has claimed America of pursuing a change in government. In recent months, the America has expanded its troop levels in the region and has executed a number of fatal operations on boats it asserts have been used for smuggling drugs. US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro personally of being the leader of one of the region's narco-trafficking organizations—an allegation the Venezuelan president vehemently denies—and has hinted at military action "via a land invasion". "The detainee had been 'arbitrarily detained' in a 'facility for mistreatment'," declared the US foreign policy division. Background of the Detention He was taken into custody in that year after participating with numerous dissidents to contest the results of that year's presidential election. Venezuela's pro-government national electoral body declared Maduro the victor, despite counts by rivals suggesting their candidate had been victorious by a wide margin. The electoral process were largely criticized on the global scene as lacking in credibility, and triggered unrest across the country. DÃaz, who led the island state, was indicted of "promoting hatred" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's declaration of success. Responses from Rights Groups and the Opposition Venezuelan rights organization Foro Penal has raised concerns over worsening situations for jailed opponents in the country. "Yet another political prisoner has died in Venezuelan detention centers. He had been held for a year, in segregation," posted Alfredo Romero, the organisation's president, on a social network. He said that the detainee had only been allowed one meeting from his family during the whole time of his detention. He added that 17 detained dissidents have lost their lives in the country since 2014. Political rivals have also denounced the government over the demise of the former governor. MarÃa Corina Machado, a prominent opposition leader who received this year's Nobel Peace Prize but who is in seclusion to escape arrest, stated that the governor's death was not a one-off event. "Tragically, it adds to an alarming and heartbreaking series of demises of jailed opponents imprisoned in the context of the post-election repression," she wrote. The opposition alliance said that the former governor "was an unjust death". His own faction, Democratic Action (AD), also honored the former governor, noting he had been held without justice without fair treatment and had been kept in conditions "which violated his fundamental rights". Wider International Tensions Strains between the US and Venezuela have become increasingly strained over what Trump has described as attempts to curb the movement of narcotics and migrants into the United States. US air strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have resulted in the deaths of over eighty individuals. Trump has claimed Maduro of "releasing inmates from his prisons and psychiatric facilities" into the US. The US has classified two Venezuelan trafficking organizations as extremist entities. Maduro has for his part claimed the US of using its drug enforcement efforts as an excuse to remove his socialist government and access Venezuela's huge petroleum resources. The America has also positioned a sizable naval force—its largest movement in the area in many years—along with numerous troops. In a parallel move, the Venezuelan army reportedly inducted thousands of recruits in one go on Saturday, in reaction to what defense officials termed US "aggression".