Venezuela-based prisoners' rights group Foro Penal said on Sunday it had verified the release of 16 people since an amnesty bill for political detainees was signed into law this week, a far lower number than that given by government officials.
On Saturday, National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez claimed that 1,557 applications were being processed and that hundreds of prisoners were already being released. However, Foro Penal’s count suggests a slower implementation.
The amnesty law was signed by acting President Delcy Rodríguez on Thursday, following last month’s US military raid in Caracas to capture former President Nicolás Maduro. It is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, and journalists, but excludes military personnel and those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking, or serious human rights violations.
Human rights organisations have reacted with distrust, calling the law insufficient. According to Foro Penal, 464 people have been released since Maduro’s capture, but over 600 remain detained. The releases are not full freedom; detainees are banned from speaking to the press, leaving the country, or participating in political activities.
The Venezuelan Red Cross said on Sunday it would accept the government’s invitation to monitor the release process.
