Photographers, drones and surveillance centers: the siege of the Argentine Embassy in Caracas escalates
The siege by the government of Nicolás Maduro against the six leaders who took refuge in the Embassy of Argentina in Caracas has been escalating as the days go by. The head of the Con Venezuela Command in the state of Anzoátegui, Omar González, who is at the diplomatic headquarters, has denounced the surveillance tactics implemented against the group.
«In recent days they have located surveillance and espionage centers, in the vicinity of this diplomatic headquarters. They have located cameramen and photographers in adjacent buildings, as well as carrying out drone flights for permanent surveillance of the movements of those of us who find ourselves asylum,” González said in a video.
Cut off of basic services, intimidation with armed men and now surveillance and harassment from neighboring houses. This is the reality that asylum seekers in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas are experiencing today, December 6.
🗣️Complaint of @omargonzalez6head of our Command in… pic.twitter.com/TD3ZQIFhPq
— ConVzla Command (@ConVzlaComando) December 6, 2024
That activity of the State security forces adds to what has been reported in weeks: raids on adjacent homes, cuts to electricity and drinking water services, as well as the closure of access to the area.
González recalled that the harassment measures against the refugees began 15 days ago. He said that they have also prevented the entry of food and medicine delivery people.
«The food and medicine deliverers who are sent to the Argentine Embassy in Caracas are detained by the checkpoints. They are accused of being suspected of terrorism and they are warned that they should not continue to collaborate with us,” he explained.
And he added: «We are not allowed to visit family members or even Argentine diplomats. This building is under their flag and they are not allowed access either. In recent days they have also located surveillance and espionage centers in the vicinity of this diplomatic headquarters.
Call to stop the siege
The leader called on the international community to intercede and stop the siege he is experiencing along with his five companions.
«They (the Maduro government) have ignored the voices of the international community, who ask for respect for human rights, respect for the Vienna Convention, respect for the Caracas Convention, which regulates international law of the asylum seekers in the diplomatic headquarters. All this has been ignored by the Nicolás Maduro regime and its agents in that community. Therefore, we make an urgent call to the governments of the world to act and prevent further violations of human rights of those politically persecuted in Venezuela,” he expressed.
The details of the siege come to light days after opposition leader María Corina Machado alerted the Brazilian Congress of this situation.
«They are turning the Argentine Embassy into a torture center and a true prison, and that is unprecedented. We want to ask you to raise your voices for this terrible injustice,” Machado said on Tuesday.
asked to the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to intervene to stop «this crime of the Nicolás Maduro regime” and take care of the lives of those who are refugees there.
The United States urged the government of Nicolás Maduro and its representatives on Wednesday to guarantee the necessary safe conduct to the six refugee opponents since march in the Argentine Embassy in Caracas.
“The hostile tactics against citizens, activists and defenders of freedom in Venezuela demonstrate the desperation to cling to power, despite the will of the Venezuelan people,” stated the United States Embassy for Venezuela in its X account.
Related News
Independent journalism needs the support of its readers to continue and ensure that the uncomfortable news they don’t want you to read remains within your reach. Today, with your support, we will continue working hard for censorship-free journalism!