Guaidó about Bachelet: "He told us that he is insisting on the release of political prisoners"

[Warlock-]

The Voice of America found that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, who arrived last Wednesday in Caracas, entered the parliamentary headquarters on Friday, June 21, 2019, but did not offer statements to the press.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, with the president in charge of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, who told him that "he is insisting on the release of political prisoners," as part of the visit that makes the nation submerged in a severe crisis The meeting took place on the last day of Bachelet's visit to Caracas. Guaidó said that the final report of the visit will be delivered by the Chilean president on July 5. "He has told us that he is insisting on the release of political prisoners," said Guaidó at the conclusion of the meeting. He also announced that, as the High Commissioner said, the installation of a Human Rights Office is being prepared, which will be occupied by two UN officials to continue the work in the country. Other details were not immediately disclosed. The Voice of America That Bachelet, who arrived in Caracas on Wednesday, entered the parliament building on Friday, but did not offer statements to the press. Outside, the deputies were waiting for her, who accompanied her to the interior of the building.

Guaidó also said that Bachelet's agenda does not include visits to hospitals and prisons this time, as requested by relatives and human rights groups, but he explained that two officials from his office will remain in Venezuela and that an office will be installed in Caracas to continue working. in the country. He said they will also go to the interior of the nation. "I understand that the objective of installing the Human Rights Office in Venezuela is precisely for field visits," he said, referring to the eventual installation of the office. To the question about whether Maduro approved the installation of said UN Human Rights Office in Venezuela, Guaidó replied: "That would have to be answered by the dictator, but we understand that the office remains." In that sense, said Guaidó, deputies explained to Bachelet that "today Caracas is a bubble", referring to problems such as the lack of electricity, drinking water, gasoline and other products of high demand is much more serious outside the capital Venezuelan He said that the visit of the High Commissioner is "relevant" and that it is not only about "making visible" but about "bringing solutions to the humanitarian catastrophe" that Venezuela suffers. Consulted by reporters about the scope of the visit, Guaidó said: "We would have liked more field visits," in reference to key sites such as hospitals, schools and prisons. Guaidó said that with Bachelet he also discussed the situation of political prisoner Juan Requesens, held at the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Intelligence Service (SEBIN) since August 7, 2018 for allegedly being involved in the "attack" on August 4 against the president in dispute Nicolás Maduro. They also talked about the imprisonment of Guaidó's chief of staff, Roberto Marrero, who is accused of allegedly smuggling weapons and explosives from Colombia. Maduro forces said after a search, after the arrest, that they found two military-type rifles and a grenade in their house. Prosecutors have accused him of treason, conspiracy and concealment of weapons and explosives. An eventual conviction if the charges were proven could mean up to 30 years in prison. The president in charge said that he dealt with Bachelet on issues related to the presence of the Colombian ELN guerrillas on the border with Colombia and on the foreign military presence in the country.

 

This Friday Bachelet also met with the leader of the Chavista National Constituent Assembly of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, according to photographs published by Reuters. He also meets on Friday with representatives of the Catholic Church and with relatives of political prisoners. Protests to get Bachelet's attention On Thursday, Bachelet met with senior officials of the Maduro government, including Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino and Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza. He also met with relatives of political prisoners and victims of repression.

 

At the end of his visit, on Friday night, Bachelet is scheduled to make a statement to the press. This has been a visit that generated great expectations inside and outside of Venezuela, where the political crisis has left more than four million displaced and an unprecedented lack of food and medicine in the rich oil country. Outside the headquarters of the UN in Caracas, Venezuelans from different sectors of society came to get Bachelet's attention, according to the VOA. "We are here for the light, for the water, for the violation of our fundamental rights that is life, to have good services (...) This government has run over us, we are here telling Mrs. Bachelet to put her hand in the heart and that please, reach for all Venezuelans suffering the serious crisis that Venezuela is experiencing, in hospitals children die (...) we do not have a decent salary, "said Eurides Urribarri.