Venezuela on Saturday released 17 political prisoners from a jail in the capital, Caracas, as a new law granted amnesty for crimes historically used to lock up dissidents.
The landmark law, which was adopted last month, is one of the most significant reforms championed by Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodriguez, who succeeded Nicolas Maduro after his Jan. 3 capture by US forces.
The non-governmental organization Foro Penal said that more than 621 political prisoners have been released since Maduro’s ouster, but about 500 remain behind bars.
Photo: EPA
Family members have been clamoring for their release for weeks, including a group of women in Caracas who staged a nearly week-long hunger strike.
Outside the capital’s national police facility, known as Zone 7, family members had chained themselves to prison gates, while some had spent weeks sleeping in tents.
“Get dressed; everyone’s leaving,” a guard told the freed detainees, according to Omar Torres, a political activist who spoke to reporters as he walked free.
“I feel very happy,” he said. “I don’t think this is the time to blame anyone. I’m happy to be free.”
The Venezuelan government claims that more than 7,000 people have been granted full freedom, including prisoners in jail and those on parole.
However, unlike prisoners from other jails who had their cases dismissed, Zone 7 detainees must appear in court to reinstate their full freedom.
“We will continue seeking improvement and freedom for the other political prisoners,” said Brayan Orozco, son of former Venezuelan lawmaker Fernando Orozco, both of whom were released from Zone 7.
“Thanks to the people of Venezuela,” Brayan Orozco said, amid cries of “freedom, freedom,” hugs and tears of joy.
Four contenders are squaring up to succeed Antonio Guterres as secretary-general of the UN, which faces unprecedented global instability, wars and its own crushing budget crisis. Chile’s Michelle Bachelet, Argentina’s Rafael Grossi, Costa Rica’s Rebeca Grynspan and Senegal’s Macky Sall are each to face grillings by 193 member states and non-governmental organizations for three hours today and tomorrow. It is only the second time the UN has held a public question-and-answer, a format created in 2016 to boost transparency. Ultimately the five permanent members of the UN’s top body, the Security Council, hold the power, wielding vetoes over who leads the
South Korea’s air force yesterday apologized for a 2021 midair collision involving two fighter jets, a day after auditors said the pilots were taking selfies and filming during the flight and held them responsible for the accident. “We sincerely apologize to the public for the concern caused by the accident that occurred in 2021,” an air force spokesman told a news conference, adding that one of the pilots involved had been suspended from flying duties, received severe disciplinary action and has since left the military. The apology followed a report released on Wednesday by the South Korean Board of Audit and Inspection,
Young Chinese, many who fear age discrimination in their workplace after turning 35, are increasingly starting “one-person companies” that have artificial intelligence (AI) do most of the work. Smaller start-ups are already in vogue in Silicon Valley and elsewhere, with rapidly advancing AI tools seen as a welcome teammate even as they threaten layoffs at existing firms. More young people in China are subscribing to the model, as cities pledge millions of dollars in funding and rent subsidies for such ventures, in alignment with Beijing’s political goal of “technological self-reliance.” “The one-person company is a product of the AI era,” said Karen Dai
About 240 Indians claiming descent from a Biblical tribe landed at Tel Aviv airport on Thursday as part of a government operation to relocate them to Israel. The newcomers passed under a balloon arch in blue and white, the colors of the Israeli flag, as dozens of well-wishers welcomed them with a traditional Jewish song. They were the first “bnei Menashe” (“sons of Manasseh”) to arrive in Israel since the government in November last year announced funding for the immigration of about 6,000 members of the community from the states of Manipur and Mizoram in northeast India. The community claims to descend from
RSS