VENEZUELA: CALL FOR INQUIRY INTO ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE CORRUPTION

Описание: (15 Apr 1998) Spanish/Nat

Allegations of police corruption and abuse is turning into a national scandal in Venezuela.

The outcry is over a new law passed at the end of March which was supposed to ensure open access to records during trials.

But the law actually protects the accused and not the victim and the Venezuelan congress is now calling for an inquiry.

Venezuelan police say they have nothing to hide and welcome any investigation.

Venezuelan police are being put on the spot over allegations of corruption and abuse.

The Caracas based group "Support Network for Justice and Peace" has launched a campaign demanding transparency in all trials involving alleged police brutality.

The group consists of families of victims who died while in police custody.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"The Network for the Support of Peace and Justice for the victims of abuse by the police and the military- and their families, have come together to protest against impunity and to fight for the end of human rights violations and the end of officials who continue to terrorize citizens and continue to abuse their power."
SUPER CAPTION: Zoraya Anchor, representative of the Network for the Support of Peace and Justice.

A law passed on March 25 was supposed to ensure that there was public access to details surrounding cases involving police wrong doings.

But in fact the new law protects the accused, limiting access to them and their lawyers.

Relatives of victims of alleged police brutality are demanding a fair and equal treatment in police cases.

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"We need them to be punished, to be punished with the full weight of the law because look how I am- destroyed and finished. I don't eat, I don't sleep- I need to take pills and cry all the time for my son. I ask for justice for my son because this can't carry on like this."
SUPER CAPTION: Monica Gomez, mother of victim killed in police custody

SOUNDBITE: (Spanish)
"My son was killed by the Metropolitan Police on the 4th March 1995 - about three years ago. There is still no verdict from the courts, officials carry on enjoying their salaries and their positions of power, abusing citizens."
SUPER CAPTION: Ramon Pardo, father of victim killed in police custody

But despite this harsh criticism it seems that police continue to flash their badges and pester citizens at will.

As a result of the campaign the Venezuelan Congress has called on human rights organizations to launch an inquiry into the allegations of police brutality.

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