Amnesty International
Urgent Action Bulletin

EXTRA 170/96   Prisoners of conscience / Fear of torture     1 November 
1996

VENEZUELA               Juan Bautista Moreno
                 		 Carlos Julio Alvarez
                  		 Marin de Jesus Madrid Restrepo
                 		 Jose Moreno Flores
                  		 Jose Adolfo Peluco Prado            -       all 
human rights activists

On 28 October 1996 the five human rights activists named above were 
arbitrarily arrested by members of the Direccion de Inteligencia y 
Prevencion, DISIP, Directorate of Intelligence and Prevention Services, a 
police intelligence agency, in Guasdualito, Apure state. They were held 
incommunicado for at least two days in the police station in Guasdualito, 
 where they are still held. Amnesty International fears that they may be 
facing torture in police custody.

The arrests took place at the home of Juan Bautista Moreno, who is the 
President of the Comite para la Defensa de los derechos Humanos 
(CODEHUM), a human rights non-governmental organization (NGO) based in 
Guasdualito.  While raiding the house, without a warrant, the DISIP 
members threatened, insulted and accused the five of been subversives, 
and of having in their possession extensive human rights information and 
documentation, in particular the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  

Amnesty International is seriously concerned about the arbitrary 
detention of human rights defenders working in the region bordering 
Colombia. They appear to be the last and only resource of the local 
population against
human rights violations.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION
An Amnesty International delegation, including the Secretary General, 
recently visited Venezuela to present a memorandum addressed to President 
Rafael Caldera in which it summarized the organization's concerns about 
the deteriorating human rights situation in the country.  During the 
visit, the AI delegation held a meeting with several Venezuelan human 
rights organizations, which supported AI's concerns. The human rights 
defenders participating in that meeting also expressed the increasing 
pressure and even threats they are suffering from local authorities as a 
result of their work. Among those present were representatives of 
CODEHUM, which updated the organization about the sharp increase in 
serious human rights violations by the security forces - including dozens 
of recent cases of torture - in Guasdualito and other areas of Apure. 

They also reported recent incidents of threats against their members by 
local authorities. Two members of CODEHUM have been arbitrarily arrested 
and their houses were raided without a warrant. Documentation on human 
rights issues were stolen (including the information that the AI 
delegation provided to them during their meetings) by members of DISIP.