TORTURED DETAINEES RELEASED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001155

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2013
TAGS: PHUM VE
SUBJECT: TORTURED DETAINEES RELEASED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE


CLASSIFIED BY: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (B
) AND (D)


1. (U) SEVEN YOUTHS (DAVID AMUNDARAIN, HEBER GUSTAVO PRADA,
JOSE PERALTA, RODRIGUO ALEGRETT, JOSE MOYO ROJAS, ANGEL KENT
DAVIOTT, AND JOSE RAMON MERLO) DETAINED DURING POLITICAL
DISTURBANCES FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5 WERE RELEASED FROM LA PLANTA
PRISON IN CARACAS MARCH 31, ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS.
PROSECUTOR ANGELA RAUSSEO REQUESTED THEIR RELEASE CITING LACK
OF EVIDENCE TO SUSTAIN CHARGES OF OBSTRUCTING A PUBLIC
THOROUGHFARE, POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVE/INCENDIARY DEVICES,
INCITEMENT TO COMMIT A CRIME, RESISTING AUTHORITY, AND
CONSPIRACY.


2. (U) ACCORDING TO CARLOS NIETO, DIRECTOR OF THE PRISONS
WATCHDOG GROUP "A WINDOW TO LIBERTY," ALL SEVEN DETAINEES
WERE "SAVAGELY AND INHUMANELY TORTURED" BY THE NATIONAL GUARD
WHEN THEY WERE DETAINED BUT WERE REASONABLY WELL TREATED
WHILE IMPRISONED. TORTURE REPORTEDLY INCLUDED SEVERE
BEATINGS, CHEMICAL BURNS FROM APPLICATION OF TEAR GAS POWDER,
AND HUMILIATION. NIETO ISSUED REPORTS MARCH 9 AND 15 WITH
UPDATES ON THEIR PHYSICAL CONDITION AND LEGAL CASES.

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COMMENT
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3. (C) THE RELEASE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS MAY REPRESENT A
CALCULATED ASSESSMENT BY THE GOV: THE WIDE REPORTS OF THEIR
TORTURE WOULD OUTWEIGH ANY BENEFITS THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT
EXPECT TO DERIVE FROM PURSUING THE CHARGES AGAINST THEM.
INCREASINGLY, THOSE WHO REMAIN IMPRISONED, OR UNDER THREAT OF
IMPRISONMENT, ARE NOTABLE MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITION OR SIMPLY
HAVE NO ONE TO PUBLICIZE THEIR MISTREATMENT BY THE GOV.
SHAPIRO

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2004CARACA01155 - CONFIDENTIAL