For the Truth and Justice Committee of Victims of the Guarimba and the Continued Coup d’État Caracas, 2014 For the Truth and Justice Committee of Victims of the Guarimba and the Continued Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 The Why of Our Struggle Since the next day after Nicolás against public facilities aimed at Maduro was democratically elected providing essential public services as President of the Republic, on such as health and nutrition. April 13, 2013, our country has been the victim of violent acts that violate This political action, direct human rights. responsibility of the losing candidate in the elections, caused the death of These are actions of political violence nine (9) people and dozens injured made by sectors of Venezuelan most of whom were in the streets society, which are intended to ignore to express their joy by the obtained the majority will of the people electoral victory. It is important expressed in elections, and force a to note that these violent actions breakdown of constitutional order. included the use of firearms, and in These actions have been articulated many cases were premeditated. and accompanied by people, parties and foreign governments, including Later, between February and June by terrorist and organized crime 2014, our country suffered another organizations. onslaught of political violence aimed at generating a rupture of On the same April 13, 2013, the the constitutional order. This new opposition candidate who lost the offensive, called “The Exit” was elections, Mr. Henrique Capriles publicly called by political parties Radonski, called on supporters and opposition leaders, including to release their “arrechera” in the Mr. Leopoldo López Mendoza, Mrs. street against the elections results María Corina Machado and Mr. that were adverse. In Venezuela, the Antonio Ledezma. word “arrechera” is synonymous of anger, hatred and violence. During this period, legitimate peaceful demonstrations expressing This public call to generate the views of a democratic sector of violence for political purposes was the Venezuelan population were conducted via television, radio combined with riots, terrorist and other media, and generated an actions and crimes against people onslaught of his supporters against in general, and particularly against those who celebrated the election those supporters to the government victory of President Maduro and of President Maduro. 4 Committee of Victims of the Guarimba and the Continued Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 Perhaps the worst part at that time To describe the level and type was that the violence acts were of violence performed by these accompanied or supported by sectors is worth noting that were opposition governors and mayors, killed by gun fire nine (9) members including their police forces. This and officers of police forces and behavior was remarkable with the the Bolivarian National Armed participation of the mayor of San Forces, some of them while they Cristóbal (Táchira) Daniel Ceballos, cleared obstacles of streets when and the municipality of San Diego demonstrations had ceased. (Carabobo), Enzo Scarano. Additionally, there were hundreds of wounded and injured. Even, a Under this action, in various parts public preschool center was torched of the country were developed while more than ninety-four (94) “guarimbas” scenarios in the children under six (6) years old were roads. That means barricades there; also, public health centers and road blocks with all kinds of whose health staff was kept inside waste material, in order to hinder under death threats and physical the movement of vehicles and assaults, and in units of public mass people. It should be noted that in transportation while banned from some places were used steel wires leaving their drivers and users. on the road to tear down those attempting to overcome road blocks Also, it should be noted that was on motorcycles. A retired General destroyed and burned infrastructure issued instructions for this criminal aimed at providing essential public action in Twitter. services, such as: health centers, schools, universities, libraries, During all these events that occurred food storage and distribution from February to June 2014, a total centers, electricity infrastructure, of forty-three (43) persons died, water treatment plants and public of which twenty-nine (29) died of transport. These actions threatened wounds from firearms, seven (7) and violated the collective human by traps on public roads and nine rights of the population. (9) when they were clearing road blocks. Most of the people killed Unfortunately, all these facts have are the responsibility of those been silenced or distorted by some who were exercising the political media and other political actors, and violence to achieve “The Exit”, i.e. by some international human rights the constitutional rupture and the organizations, claiming to show overthrow of President Maduro. the instigators and perpetrators 5 Committee of Victims of the Guarimba and the Continued Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 of violence as victims of the State Therefore, we are committed power, forgetting those who really and determined to demand an suffered from the call to violence. investigation to establish the truth of the facts occurred, who were the We, the members of the Committee masterminds and perpetrators of of Victims of the Guarimba and these violations of human rights, the Continued Coup d’État, have what were their true motivations, directly suffered these serious and above all, to be issued violations of human rights. We have appropriate sanctions. lost our loved ones, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, We are confident and convinced partners, husbands and wives. that justice will not be held until the We have directly experienced the truth of what happened is known violence unleashed by political by everyone, inside and outside our ambitions, and we are living the country. consequences. 6 Committee of Victims of the Guarimba and the Continued Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 Stories of some of the victims. ELVIS DURÁN DE LA ROSA. 29 years old. On February 21, 2014, Elvis was driving home aboard his motorcycle by Rómulo Gallegos Avenue, Sucre Municipality, Miranda State, and tried to pass a barricade placed by “guarimberos”, but unfortunately hit a tensioned galvanized wire he could not see in time. This wire slaughtered him. RAMZOR BRACHO BRAVO. Captain of the National Guard, 36 years. On March 12 at 3:35pm, Ramzor Bracho was trying to dissolve a violent manifestation in the Feo La Cruz de Mañongo Avenue, Naguanagua Municipality, Carabobo State, where vandalism groups started a fire with trash near a station service, which represented an imminent risk to neighboring communities. Criminal groups began shooting at military troops, wounding one partner. Captain Bracho tried to rescue his partner when he was hit by a bullet which killed him instantly. 7 For the Truth and Justice Committee of Victims of the StoriesGuarimba of some and theof the Continued victims Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 ROSIRIS REYES RANGEL. 44 years. Rosiris dies on the night of April 14, 2013, after being shot while defending the facilities of the Integral Diagnostic Center (CDI) Piedra Azul, located in La Limonera, Municipality of Baruta, Miranda State. Supporter of Chávez, Rosiris was protecting the site of this health center implemented by the Bolivarian government, with the support of doctors, nurses and Cuban personnel, which was being destroyed by vandalism opposition groups. GERMAN OSCAR CARRERO. Equipment Operator. 46 years. On February 23, 2014, around 2:00pm, Germán Carrero gets a call from revolutionary comrades that live in San Cristóbal, Táchira State, asking a support to protect ambulances and boxes filled with medicines that violent groups wanted to burn. Oscar and his companions went to the place, manage to rescue THE ambulances and medicines and decide to transfer them to the deposit of Corposalud located in the industrial area of Paramillos. On the way they begin to seek alternate routes, since various avenues and streets were closed by barricades. On the España Avenue, Oscar and his companions are intercepted by “guarimberos”, who began throwing stones and explosives to the ambulance. Oscar tries to shelter, but at this point they throw an explosive he tries to avoid with his hand. Unfortunately, he lost his forearm. 8 For the Truth and Justice Committee of Victims of the StoriesGuarimba of some and theof the Continued victims Coup d’État. Caracas, 2014 GIOVANNI JOSÉ PANTOJA. Sergeant of the Bolivarian National Guard. 29 years. On February 28, 2014, Giovanni was appointed, along with other colleagues, to remove the barricades that had been placed in sector El Trigal of Valencia, Carabobo State, where main roads were blocked by opposition groups. Once at the site, they tried to remove the debris stopping free movement, but were ambushed by violent subjects (suspected snipers) who started shooting without mercy. One of the officers is shot in the leg and Giovanni tries to help him. At that time, he received a bullet in his eye that took his life. JULIO GONZÁLEZ PINTO. Third Assistant Prosecutor of Superior Prosecutor´s Office in Carabobo State, 46 years. On February 18, 2014, Julio was appointed special prosecutor on duty, in view of the acts of vandalism that were happening in Carabobo State. At approximately 11:20 pm he left home and went to a hospital to verify the health of those affected by terrorist acts. At 2 miles from home, he was surprised by a barricade that was raised by opposition groups to the Government of Nicolás Maduro, specifically in the Cuatricentenaria Avenue, at the height of Altos de Mirador. This wall was made of old beds, trash, rocks and tree trunks, which Julio tried to dodge, but lost control of his vehicle and hit a tree, dying instantly. 9 For the Truth and Justice Committee of Victims of the StoriesGuarimba of some and theof the Continued victims Coup d’État.