Venezuela's intel agencies committing crimes against gov't opponents: UN probe

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - Two of Venezuela's state intelligence agencies are committing "crimes against humanity" as part of a plan orchestrated at the highest level of government to repress opposition against the government of Nicolas Maduro, a UN investigation found Monday.

The UN Human Rights Council, at its 51st session, held an interactive dialogue with the Fact-finding Mission on Venezuela.

Marta Valinas, chair of the Independent International Fact-finding Mission on Venezuela, said it had conducted 246 in-person and remote interviews and had carried out three missions to areas near the border.

"As a result of our investigations, we have gathered solid information regarding the participation of officials from both the DGCIM and SEBIN (intelligence agencies) as well as from authorities of the highest political level in documented violations and crimes," said Valinas.

The mission has reasonable grounds to believe that people from those agencies are responsible for ongoing crimes and should be investigated, referring to the military agency, DGCIM, and the civilian agency, SEBIN.

"The DGCIM and SEBIN are part of machinery put in place and deployed for the execution of a government plan which aims to repress those that are perceived to be its opponents and to consolidate, thereby, its control of power," said Valinas.

"Its plan was therefore orchestrated from the highest political level."

The report outlines severe human rights violations committed by both state agencies that include allegations of torture, sexual and gender-based violence, arbitrary detention, enforced disappearance, and other ill-treatment.

The investigator examined activities in Venezuela's mining region, specifically Bolivar state in the south.

Venezuela's Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Hector Constant Rosales, rejected the report and said the Human Rights Council had become politicized.

He accused investigators of inventing facts for the "unreliable" report.

UK Human Rights Ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Rita French, expressed grave concern at the role of Venezuela's intelligence agencies outlined in the report.

"The UK is deeply concerned by the reports of violence in mining areas, including the Arco Minero de Orinoco. We condemn the killing of Virgilio Trujillo, an indigenous leader and environmental activist, and call on Venezuela to hold perpetrators to account and to protect the population," said French.