On Tuesday, a draft law to punish politically-motivated state crimes from 1958-1998 was passed in first discussion by the Venezuelan National Assembly.

From 1958 to 1988, the period of so-called “representative democracy”, thousands of Venezuelans from leftist movements were tortured, disappeared, murdered and persecuted.

The draft law considers three main aspects; first, to discover what happened in each case of death and forced disappearance during that period; second, to apply justice so all those responsible are held accountable; and third, to honor victims’ families by including this part of Venezuelan history in curricula, making public the revolutionary struggle of the 70s, 80s and 90s in Venezuela.

The law also aims to create a Commission of Truth and Justice, an investigation initiative made up of 8 members of different government criminal investigationrelated agencies and 9 families or friends of victims of the 1958-1998 state crimes.

Additionally, the Law Against Silence and Oblivion, as it is known, includes declassification of documents archived in police and military agencies, which will clarify the executions of at least 4,000 people. The whereabouts of over 1,000 disappeared people are also expected to be revealed. Besides torture and execution, state crimes include forced disappearances, which were first implemented in Venezuela under the government of Raul Leoni (1964-1969, Acción Democrática party).

T/ YVKE

Source: Correo del Orininoco