The Voluntad People’s Party blames the Maduro government for the death of co-founder Edwin Santos.
A Venezuelan opposition leader has been found dead after being taken into state custody, according to his political party.
Voluntad Popular (People’s Will), a center-left party opposed to the government of President Nicolás Maduro, is linked by local leader and co-founder Edwin Santos to the neighboring Venezuelan states of Apure and Tachira. It was announced that his body was found on the bridge.
Voluntad Popular news agency, citing local witnesses, said Santos was detained by state security agents two days ago while on his way to the community of El Pinal, Tachira state.
The party accused the “Maduro regime” of “murdering” Santos and said it was a clear act of “political revenge.”
“What happened to Edwin Santos confirms the continued policy of repression, persecution and murder by a criminal regime,” Voluntad Popular posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). said in a statement.
“There is no doubt that this is a political crime.”
An image of what appears to be Santos’ body was also posted.
“Yesterday, we condemned the kidnapping of Edwin Santos by the Maduro dictatorship,” exiled opposition leader Leopoldo López wrote on social media.
He added: “Today he looked dead. He was murdered, but there is no doubt that this was a political crime.”
The party described Santos as an important activist who spoke out for the community. He said he had a wife and two children.
URGENT: Edwin Santos, denounce President Maduro’s secrets. Hello, apparecio sin vida. Blame Asesinado, there is no criminal politics involved.
Edwin founded one of the most popular volunteer foundations in Venezuela. Deja a su esposa i… pic.twitter.com/f6IXuD4k2t
— Leopoldo Lopez (@leopoldolopez) October 25, 2024
Carlos Vecchio, a former Venezuelan ambassador to the United States, told Al Jazeera that he knew Santos well and described him as a “great man” and a “leader.”
Vecchio said there were signs that Santos had been “tortured” and “abandoned” on the roadside where he was found.
The report follows a growing crackdown on opposition voices in Venezuela, where Maduro was named the winner of a disputed election at the end of June.
In its report on post-election repression, Human Rights Watch (HRW) found that Venezuela’s National Guard, police, and armed groups known as “colectivos” carried out attacks during the July 28 post-election protests. It was announced that 23 people had been killed.
President Maduro’s opponent Edmundo González fled to Spain after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Yesterday, the European Union awarded Gonzélez and opposition leader María Colina Machado its highest human rights award.
Gonzalez vowed in a statement Thursday that Venezuela’s “struggle is not over yet.”
“The regime continues to block political change and commits an increasing number of human rights violations and crimes against humanity,” Gonzalez said. “Democratic parties in Venezuela and abroad must work together to ensure that the sovereign mandate of the Venezuelan people is respected.”
