International Criminal Court investigation in Venezuela: Difference between revisions
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=== 2021 === |
=== 2021 === |
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In May 2021, Maduro's Attorney General, [[Tarek William Saab]], admitted that [[Fernando Albán]], [[Caracas]] councilman who died in 2018 while he was detained in the headquarters of the [[Bolivarian Intelligence Service]] (SEBIN), did not commit suicide as initially reported by government officials, but killed, and that during the [[2017 Venezuelan protests]] student [[Juan Pablo Pernalete]] was killed with a [[tear gas canister]] by security forces, something initially denied by |
In May 2021, Maduro's Attorney General, [[Tarek William Saab]], admitted that [[Fernando Albán]], [[Caracas]] councilman who died in 2018 while he was detained in the headquarters of the [[Bolivarian Intelligence Service]] (SEBIN), did not commit suicide as initially reported by government officials, but killed, and that during the [[2017 Venezuelan protests]] student [[Juan Pablo Pernalete]] was killed with a [[tear gas canister]] by security forces, something initially denied by senior officials.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Justicia maniobra en casos de Albán y Pernalete para esquivar actuación de la CPI|url=https://supremainjusticia.org/2021/05/05/justicia-maniobra-en-casos-de-alban-y-pernalete-para-esquivar-actuacion-de-la-cpi/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Suprema Injusticia|language=es}}</ref> William Saab would also accuse the ICC "process of lacking transparency".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-01|title=Tarek Saab asegura que hay «falta de transparencia» en proceso de CPI|url=https://www.analitica.com/actualidad/actualidad-nacional/sucesos/tarek-saab-asegura-que-hay-falta-de-transparencia-en-proceso-de-cpi/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=Analítica|language=es}}</ref> Maduro's Vice President, [[Delcy Rodríguez]], described the case against Venezuela in the ICC as a "great farce".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-07|title=Gobierno de Maduro tilda de "gran farsa" caso contra Venezuela en la CPI|url=https://www.france24.com/es/minuto-a-minuto/20210507-gobierno-de-maduro-tilda-de-gran-farsa-caso-contra-venezuela-en-la-cpi|url-status=live|access-date=2021-05-12|website=[[France24]]|language=es}}</ref> The opposition [[National Assembly (Venezuela)|National Assembly]] headed by [[Juan Guaidó]] declared that William Saab sought to prevent the ICC from acting and condemned that [[Command hierarchy|command chain]] was not being investigated.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-04|title=AN de Guaidó asegura que Tarek William Saab intenta eludir a la CPI|url=https://runrun.es/noticias/442865/an-de-guaido-asegura-que-tarek-william-saab-intenta-eludir-a-la-cpi/|access-date=2021-05-12|website=[[Runrunes]]|language=es}}</ref> |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 18:50, 25 May 2021
A preliminary examination by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to analyze possible crimes against humanity committed in Venezuela is currently open. In February 2018, the ICC announced that it would open preliminary probes into alleged crimes against humanity performed by Venezuelan authorities since at least April 2017. A preliminary examination was previously opened in 2006, but closed after concluding that the requirements to start an investigation had not been met.
History
Background
By 2006, the Office of the Prosecutor received twelve communications concerning the situation in Venezuela, most of them related to crimes allegedly committed by the Venezuelan government and associated forces and one to crimes alleged to have been committed by opposition groups, but the examination was closed on 9 February 2006 because it was concluded that the Rome Statute requirements to seek authorization to initiate an investigation in the country had not been satisfied.[1]
2018
In February 2018, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it would open preliminary probes into alleged crimes against humanity performed by Venezuelan authorities.[2]
In May 2018, a Panel of Independent International Experts appointed by the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) concluded that reasonable grounds existed to believe that crimes against humanity had been committed in Venezuela dating back to at least 12 February 2014 and recommended that; the Secretary General of the OAS, Luis Almagro, should submit the report and the evidence collected by the General Secretariat of the OAS to the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, that he should invite States Parties to the Rome Statute to refer the situation of Venezuela to the Office of the Prosecutor and to call for the opening of an investigation into the facts set forth in the report, in accordance with Article 14 of the Rome Statute.[3]
On 27 September 2018, six states parties to the Rome Statute: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay and Peru, referred the situation in Venezuela since 12 February 2014 to the ICC, requesting the Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to initiate an investigation on crimes against humanity allegedly committed in the territory. On 28 September, the Presidency assigned the situation to Pre-Trial Chamber I.[4] This was the first time that member States had sought an investigation of potential crimes that took place entirely on the territory of another country.[5]
2020
Nicolás Maduro's Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, filed a complaint in the ICC against the United States on 13 February 2020, arguing that policy of sanctions has resulted in crimes against humanity.[6] Prosecutor Bensouda stated that she informed the ICC Presidency of the referral pursuant to the regulations of the court to enable the assignment of the situation to a Pre-Trial Chamber, noting that the two referrals "appear to overlap geographically and temporally and may therefore warrant assignment to the same Pre-Trial Chamber", but "that this should not prejudice a later determination on whether the referred scope of the two situations is sufficiently linked to constitute a single situation".[7]
In September 2020, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela published their findings and cited evidence of unlawful executions, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions and torture in the country since 2014. The authors called for further action by the International Criminal Court, along with justice and reparations for the victims and their families.[8]
On 2 December 2020, the Organization of American States General Secretariat released a 145-page report expanding on the 2018 report by the Panel of Independent Experts that concluded there was a reasonable basis to believe crimes against humanity were being committed in Venezuela, noting that since 2018 the crimes against humanity in Venezuela had increased in scale, scope, and severity, while criticizing the failure of the Prosecutor of the ICC to conduct her preliminary examination expeditiously and to open an investigation "despite overwhelming evidence of crimes within the Court’s jurisdiction".[9] Two days afterwards, the Office of the Prosecutor responded that it was aware and that it would study the Organisation of American States report and assuring the Office tht it seeked to "complete preliminary examinations within the shortest time possible", but regretting "the tone and manner of the report" and that Prosecutor and the Office "would not allow external attempts" to interfere with the process. OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro replied shortly after, declaring that the OAS understood due process and that they had "the utmost respect" for the International Criminal Court, but that three years was far too long "not for the OAS", but for the victims in Venezuela.[10]
On 14 December, the Office of the Prosecutor released a report on the office’s year activities, stating that it believe there was a "reasonable basis" to believe that "since at least April 2017, civilian authorities, members of the armed forces and pro-government individuals have committed the crimes against humanity." and that it expected to decide in 2021 whether to open an investigation or not.[11]
2021
In May 2021, Maduro's Attorney General, Tarek William Saab, admitted that Fernando Albán, Caracas councilman who died in 2018 while he was detained in the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN), did not commit suicide as initially reported by government officials, but killed, and that during the 2017 Venezuelan protests student Juan Pablo Pernalete was killed with a tear gas canister by security forces, something initially denied by senior officials.[12] William Saab would also accuse the ICC "process of lacking transparency".[13] Maduro's Vice President, Delcy Rodríguez, described the case against Venezuela in the ICC as a "great farce".[14] The opposition National Assembly headed by Juan Guaidó declared that William Saab sought to prevent the ICC from acting and condemned that command chain was not being investigated.[15]
See also
References
- ^ "OTP letter to senders re Venezuela 9 February 20061.doc" (PDF). International Criminal Court. 9 February 2006. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
- ^ "ICC to open preliminary probes in Philippines, Venezuela". ABC News. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ OAS (2009-08-01). "OAS - Organization of American States: Democracy for peace, security, and development". OAS - Organization of American States. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
- ^ "Venezuela". International Criminal Court. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Venezuela: Six States Request ICC Investigation". Human Rights Watch. 26 September 2018. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- ^ "Venezuela asks ICC prosecutor to investigate U.S. officials". Reuters. 13 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Statement of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Mrs Fatou Bensouda, on the referral by Venezuela regarding the situation in its own territory". Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "Venezuela abuses amounted to crimes against humanity: UN-appointed panel". UN News. 2020-09-16. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
- ^ "OAS General Secretariat Report Reaffirms Crimes against Humanity in Venezuela". Organization of American States. 2020-12-02. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Fiscal de la CPI y Almagro se enfrentan en Twitter por caso venezolano". Crónica Uno (in Spanish). 2020-12-05. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "ICC prosecutor sees 'reasonable basis' to believe Venezuela committed crimes against humanity". Reuters. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Justicia maniobra en casos de Albán y Pernalete para esquivar actuación de la CPI". Suprema Injusticia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Tarek Saab asegura que hay «falta de transparencia» en proceso de CPI". Analítica (in Spanish). 2021-05-01. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
- ^ "Gobierno de Maduro tilda de "gran farsa" caso contra Venezuela en la CPI". France24 (in Spanish). 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2021-05-12.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "AN de Guaidó asegura que Tarek William Saab intenta eludir a la CPI". Runrunes (in Spanish). 2021-05-04. Retrieved 2021-05-12.