The slow release of Venezuelan political prisoners
Several days ago, the Venezuelan government, “presided over” by Delcy Rodríguez, announced the release of political prisoners in the country, a group that was said to number around eight hundred at least.
However, as hours and days passed, the hopes of many families fell into a kind of limbo.
At the time of writing these lines, Friday the 16th, opposition organizations have counted roughly eighty-four people released.
This figure does not include the alleged one hundred sixteen or one hundred seventeen prisoners who, according to the government’s version, were conditionally released between Christmas and New Year.
All of them, of course, remain subject to control measures, such as travel bans and mandatory weekly appearances before police authorities.
They are very few, absurdly few.
One does not need to be a logistics expert to empty a prison holding fewer than a thousand inmates.
Moreover, according to press reports, the releases so far have been somewhat selective.
Foreign nationals, Venezuelans with dual citizenship, journalists, and similar profiles.
Many of them had not been detained for particularly long periods.
But when it comes to ordinary citizens who have spent years behind bars, there is an ominous silence.
Strange, isn’t it?
The most reasonable approach would have been to start with the longest-held prisoners, who are likely the most physically and psychologically affected.
At least one death has already been reported.
It is difficult to conduct a sound analysis from a distance and with such scarce information.
Still, it inevitably leads to troubling thoughts.
Could it be that the number of deaths is far higher, perhaps going back much further in time?
The appalling living conditions described by some of those released make this question entirely legitimate.
If that were the case, authorities would find themselves unable to respond.
One or two deaths are tragic, without question.
But fifteen, twenty, or more would be a full-blown scandal.
Not only because of the deaths themselves, but also because families were not notified in due time.
An explosive combination.
Under these circumstances, the blond president of the North should be far more focused on the issue.
Not necessarily personally, but certainly through his closest collaborators.
But no.
He has now turned his attention back to Denmark.
Obsessive, without a doubt.