The Maduro regime detained seven human rights activists, trade union leaders, and members of the Bandera Roja (BR) party between Monday, July 4, and early Thursday, July 7.
Reynaldo Cortes, secretary general of Bandera Roja in the state of Guárico state was “kidnapped by armed men” at 2:00 am on Thursday, July 7, according to information provided by the political organization.
Gabriel Blanco. That same morning, officials from the Strategic Intelligence Directorate (DIE) and the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) detained Gabriel Blanco, a humanitarian worker and husband of human rights defender Diannet Blanco, in Coche, southwest Caracas. Blanco was a member of Bandera Roja until 2017. The arrest occurred after several hours of harassment and siege of Blanco’s home by officials from the General Directorate of Military Counterintelligence (DGCIM), who were trying to arrest him without a Court order.
The early hours of July 7 also saw the holding of the presentation hearing of professor and social leader Alcides Bracho, a member of the Bandera Roja party, who had been arbitrarily detained by agents of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) on July 4. During the hearing, the prosecutor of the Public Ministry accused Bracho of the crimes of conspiracy, possession of a firearm, and association. The Fourth Judge on Terrorism ordered to maintain the deprivation of liberty.
Emilio Negrin. On Tuesday, July 5, the president of the Federation of Workers of the Judiciary, union leader, and human rights defender, Emilio Negrín, was detained by DGCIM and PNB officials in Caracas.
That same day, the home of Alonso Meléndez was raided. The member of the Bandera Roja party in the state of Falcón has been missing since then. His relatives denounced that two armed officials entered the house and “threatened with greater force if Alonso does not turn himself in for questioning.”
Nestor Astudillo. On the afternoon of Wednesday, July 6, the leader of Bandera Roja, Néstor Astudillo, was arrested in Charallave, Miranda state. Black-clad officials surrounded his home and terrorized the family. The officials seized some of the activist’s personal belongings during an operation that lacked a formal court order, record, or reported reason for the arrest.
Yeny Zoreliz Pérez Almeida disappeared on Monday, July 4, in the Barrio Central sector of Ocumare, Miranda state, when officials dressed in black and wearing vests arrived at her home in the Valles del Tuy in search of her husband, the member of Bandera Roja party, Jose Castro.
Translated by José Rafael Medina
