The Human Rights Actions Network
www.derechos.org/human-rights/actions/
ACTION REQUEST
Case VEN 270799
The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your urgent intervention
in the following situation in Venezuela.
Brief description of the situation
The International Secretariat of OMCT has just been informed of the
killing of Mr. John Alejandro Linares Peña, aged 19, and the grave
concerns for the security and the physical and psychological integrity of
his family and witnesses in Caracas, Venezuela.
According to the "Red de Apoyo por la Justicia y la Paz", member
of the OMCT network, on 14 June 1999, at 5.45 p.m., several cars,
including a Fiat Ritmo and a white jeep drew up outside the
building where Mr. John Alejandro Linares Peña lived. Several
men in civilian clothes got out of their cars and drew weapons.
At the time, Mr. Linares Peña was crossing the street in front of
his house.
According to the reports, one of the individuals pointed his gun at
Linares Peña, who immediately ran off. He ran to a nearby district (called
Sucre) and ran into a house.
Other men, apparently members of the Metropolitan Police (belonging to
destacamento 21, Zona 2) arrived. When they opened fire on the
house, Mr. John Alejandro Linares Peña (who was unarmed) decided to
turn himself in. As he came out, one of the policeman apparently shot
him in the stomach.
When the police were putting Linares Peña into the car his sister,
Adriana Linares Peña, aged 13, who had arrived at the scene,
intervened; one of the policemen drew his weapon and fired shots into
the air to scare her. Furthermore, members of the police apparently made
death threats to his brother.
According to the information, the individuals took Mr. Linares
Peña away in the white jeep and then transferred him to a red
jeep. The body of Mr. Linares Peña was later found at the Catia's
Peripheric Hospital, with six gun shots wounds.
It has been reported that following this incident, the family has been
subjected to harassment. On 16 June 1999, the same red jeep that took
Mr. Linares Peña away was seen near the funeral. Moreover, on 16 July
1999, several neighbors were subjected to searches by individuals in
civilian clothes who afterwards left in the same red jeep. Police patrols
have been patrolling the area. The owner of the house were Mr. John
Alejandro Linares Peña sought refugee was warned to not cooperate in
the investigation of the case.
Action requested
Please write to the authorities of Venezuela urging them to
i. guarantee the security and the physical and psychological
integrity of Mr. John Alejandro Linares Peña's family, neighbors
and witnesses of the incident;
ii. ensure adequate reparation to his family;
iii.carry out a full and impartial investigation into the above-
mentioned events, in order to identify those responsible, bring
them before a competent court and impose upon them the penal,
civil and/or administrative sanctions required by law;
iv. guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental
freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national
laws and international standards.
Addresses
Fiscalía General de la República, Fiscal General, Dr. Ivan Darío Badell,
Parque Carabobo, Av. Universidad, Caracas, Venezuela, Fax00582
564.74.61
Gobernador del Distrito Federal, Contralmirante Hernan Gruber Odremán,
Plaza Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.
Fax00582 81.11.11
Ministerio de Relaciones Interiores, Ministro de Relaciones Interiores y
Justicia, Esq. Carmelitas, Caracas, Av. Urdaneta, Ignacio Arcaya, Fax
00582 8627516/ 8644334/5768719
Comandancia de la Policia Metropolitana, Director General Jesús
Camacho Kairuz
Fax00582 8643238
Congreso de la República de Venezuela, Sr. Presidente de la Comisión de
Política Interior, SubComisión de Derechos Humanos, Cámara de
Diputados, +58 2 5648250 / 5645157 / 5637273
Ministerio de la Secretaría de la Presidencia, Palacio de Miraflores,
Edificio Bicentenario, Nivel Plaza, of 206
Fax +582 801 39 42
Geneva, 27 July 1999
