🔗 Share this article Demise of Venezuela's Opposition Figure in Custody Labeled 'Despicable' by US Representatives. The opposition figure passed away in his prison cell at the El Helicoide prison, according to human rights organisations and political opponents. The United States has lashed out at the administration in Caracas over the death of a jailed opposition figure, describing it as a "stark reminder of the vile essence" of President Nicolás Maduro's government. The political prisoner was found dead in his cell at the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, where he had been held for more than a year, according to rights groups and opposition groups. The Venezuelan government said that the man in his fifties showed signs of a heart attack and was taken to a hospital, where he passed away on Saturday. Escalating War of Words Between US and Venezuela This latest criticism from the United States is part of an escalating war of words between the White House and President Maduro, who has accused Washington of seeking a change in government. In the past few months, the US has increased its military presence in the Latin America and has conducted a succession of deadly operations on ships it asserts have been used for smuggling narcotics. US President Donald Trump has claimed Maduro himself of being the chief of one of the country's drug cartels—an claim the Venezuelan president categorically refutes—and has threatened the use of force "via a land invasion". "The detainee had been 'unjustly imprisoned' in a 'facility for mistreatment'," said the US State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Background of the Detention DÃaz was detained in that year after participating with many political opponents to contest the conclusion of that period's presidential election. Venezuela's state-run national electoral body announced Maduro the winner, notwithstanding counts by rivals showing their nominee had been victorious by a landslide. The electoral process were broadly rejected on the world stage as lacking in credibility, and triggered demonstrations across the nation. DÃaz, who led the island state, was indicted of "promoting hatred" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's electoral win. Responses from Rights Groups and the Political Rivals National advocacy group Foro Penal has raised concerns over worsening conditions for detained dissidents in the South American state. "One more detained dissident has passed away in Venezuelan detention centers. He had been incarcerated for a twelve months, in isolation," wrote Alfredo Romero, the body's president, on a social network. He noted that the detainee had only been granted one visit from his daughter during the whole time of his incarceration. He also mentioned that over a dozen detained dissidents have lost their lives in the nation since 2014. Opposition groups have also denounced the regime over the death of the former governor. MarÃa Corina Machado, a prominent dissident figure who won this period's Nobel Peace Prize but who is in hiding to evade arrest, commented that the governor's death was not a one-off event. "Unfortunately, it adds to an disturbing and painful series of fatalities of political prisoners imprisoned in the aftermath of the electoral crackdown," she posted. The Democratic Unitary Platform declared that the former governor "passed away unfairly". DÃaz's own political party, Democratic Action (AD), also remembered the former governor, saying he had been held without justice without due process and had remained in conditions "which violated his basic rights". Wider Geopolitical Strains Strains between the US and Venezuela have become progressively worse over what Trump has labeled attempts to stem the flow of narcotics and immigrants into the US. US bombings on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed dozens of people. Trump has accused Maduro of "releasing inmates from his jails and mental institutions" into the US. The US has labeled two Venezuelan trafficking organizations as terrorist organisations. Maduro has in turn alleged the US of using its war on drugs as an pretext to remove his socialist government and access Venezuela's vast oil reserves. The United States has also stationed a significant armada—its biggest movement in the area in decades—along with many military personnel. In a parallel development, the Venezuelan armed forces reportedly enlisted more than 5,600 recruits in a single event on the weekend, in reaction to what army commanders described as US "threats".
The opposition figure passed away in his prison cell at the El Helicoide prison, according to human rights organisations and political opponents. The United States has lashed out at the administration in Caracas over the death of a jailed opposition figure, describing it as a "stark reminder of the vile essence" of President Nicolás Maduro's government. The political prisoner was found dead in his cell at the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, where he had been held for more than a year, according to rights groups and opposition groups. The Venezuelan government said that the man in his fifties showed signs of a heart attack and was taken to a hospital, where he passed away on Saturday. Escalating War of Words Between US and Venezuela This latest criticism from the United States is part of an escalating war of words between the White House and President Maduro, who has accused Washington of seeking a change in government. In the past few months, the US has increased its military presence in the Latin America and has conducted a succession of deadly operations on ships it asserts have been used for smuggling narcotics. US President Donald Trump has claimed Maduro himself of being the chief of one of the country's drug cartels—an claim the Venezuelan president categorically refutes—and has threatened the use of force "via a land invasion". "The detainee had been 'unjustly imprisoned' in a 'facility for mistreatment'," said the US State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Background of the Detention DÃaz was detained in that year after participating with many political opponents to contest the conclusion of that period's presidential election. Venezuela's state-run national electoral body announced Maduro the winner, notwithstanding counts by rivals showing their nominee had been victorious by a landslide. The electoral process were broadly rejected on the world stage as lacking in credibility, and triggered demonstrations across the nation. DÃaz, who led the island state, was indicted of "promoting hatred" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's electoral win. Responses from Rights Groups and the Political Rivals National advocacy group Foro Penal has raised concerns over worsening conditions for detained dissidents in the South American state. "One more detained dissident has passed away in Venezuelan detention centers. He had been incarcerated for a twelve months, in isolation," wrote Alfredo Romero, the body's president, on a social network. He noted that the detainee had only been granted one visit from his daughter during the whole time of his incarceration. He also mentioned that over a dozen detained dissidents have lost their lives in the nation since 2014. Opposition groups have also denounced the regime over the death of the former governor. MarÃa Corina Machado, a prominent dissident figure who won this period's Nobel Peace Prize but who is in hiding to evade arrest, commented that the governor's death was not a one-off event. "Unfortunately, it adds to an disturbing and painful series of fatalities of political prisoners imprisoned in the aftermath of the electoral crackdown," she posted. The Democratic Unitary Platform declared that the former governor "passed away unfairly". DÃaz's own political party, Democratic Action (AD), also remembered the former governor, saying he had been held without justice without due process and had remained in conditions "which violated his basic rights". Wider Geopolitical Strains Strains between the US and Venezuela have become progressively worse over what Trump has labeled attempts to stem the flow of narcotics and immigrants into the US. US bombings on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed dozens of people. Trump has accused Maduro of "releasing inmates from his jails and mental institutions" into the US. The US has labeled two Venezuelan trafficking organizations as terrorist organisations. Maduro has in turn alleged the US of using its war on drugs as an pretext to remove his socialist government and access Venezuela's vast oil reserves. The United States has also stationed a significant armada—its biggest movement in the area in decades—along with many military personnel. In a parallel development, the Venezuelan armed forces reportedly enlisted more than 5,600 recruits in a single event on the weekend, in reaction to what army commanders described as US "threats".