|  National Institute of Feminine Orientation is a maximum security prison in Los Teques, a city dominated by poverty, an hour from Caracas. In the prison are held 600 women, mostly for crimes including ordering the killing or kill her husband, drug trafficking, infanticide.
is there that is also tied, since December 10, Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni to whom President Hugo Chavez called for a penalty of 30 years and over who said "be lucky to live today, because in other times would be shot. " The case, considered another of Chavez's political prison, has touched the public opinion and international human rights organizations. The GLOBE
spoke with the judge arrested and three other women that Chavez would certainly like to silence: the politics Delsa Solorzano, who emerges as a strong name of the opposition; Eveling Rosales, the wife of one of his main political opponents in exile, and the actress Fabiola Colmenares, former Miss away from TV after publicly criticizing the government. Of the 600
women who are being held in Los Teques, 24 were sentenced by Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni until December 2009 in possession of a court of Caracas. On the 10th of that month, Afiuni granted parole to the banker Eligio Cedeño, a dislike of Chavez "to fund political opposition and was on probation for three years without have been tried on corruption charges. Afiuni account which based its decision in the absence of evidence and the fact that the UN consider the arbitrary detention.
Soon after Cedeño leave the court - he is now in the U.S. - the judge was arrested on charges of receiving $ 8 million to release him. Photo: Reuters
According to the Reuters photo of Judge in prison was released by his lawyer, who must have done surreptitiously using a camera phone. - I never had an account abroad, have scoured the accounts of my family here, the money does not exist. Meanwhile, I turn to keep my sanity. Four months ago, do not leave this room, I see the sun - tells the judge of 46 years, whose case was strongly condemned and classified as a political prison by the UN Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, among others.
The cell is 4 feet long by 2 wide. Because other inmates deprived of their liberty in the past, Afiuni received several death threats - once tried to burn her alive. The solution is to never leave his cell, not participate in any activity with other prey, such as pottery class, music or exercise. His contact with the world is limited to visits from their family and friends weekly on Wednesday mornings and Sunday. Geraldine's daughter - a beautiful young woman of 17 years, says the judge - is the most affected.
- I've always been a single mother, she was used to me by your side. Moreover, it is a difficult phase that is adolescence, need me. Another problem is money: can not revoke my title of judge until I tried, but stopped my wages - said the magistrate.
She says she fears for her safety. The family says his older brother, Nelson Afiuni gets help from three lawyers who try to transfer her to house arrest in Caracas, at least until his trial that she did not know when. Nelson was in Washington last week, where he met with members of the IACHR.
- emocionadíssimos All were with the case, saying they had never seen anything like it in the world. A judge, a public servant, imprisoned as a criminal, without any evidence against her, without being judged. The justice and Venezuela are corrupted - Nelson protests, reporting that his home and the rest of the family were searched by agents - My sister always says one sentence: "To be good, it should not be a coward," and we try to apply it in everyday life. Photo: Associated Press
When he learned of Habeas Corpus, his opponent, Hugo Chavez barked on TV that the judge should be jailed for 30 years, with the caveat if necessary the law could be changed to achieve it and if they were other times she would be shot The magistrate waiting patiently a change. The voice is calm, but she says that sometimes gets very angry, and even angry. But then prays and seeks to entertain, basically reading: recently a biography of the Dalai Lama. Read the celebrity magazine "Hola", newspapers, novels, and have devoured "I think every self-help books that exist," as well as works devoted to the law. Anda very interested in learning more about the International Criminal Law.
- There comes a time in which to read for several hours is tiring, and I regret not being able to watch television or have Internet access. Everything here is prohibited.
least got permission to put a lock on his cell - "he who walks me ensuring more security and making me sleep a little better "- to paint the environment, which before was all stained with blood, making a bed and bathroom.
Even going through so much trouble, Afiuni not regret what you did because it assesses the arrest of a banker who freed as arbitrary. How hers?
- Yes, like mine, and all other political prisoners of Chavez. I knew that justice was being politicized in Venezuela. But I never imagined it would be arrested for doing my work independently and in accordance with my conscience.
- Play a judge in prison for doing their job, and make a decision to go through upon international and Venezuelan law is not something expected of a functioning democracy - criticized in the last week, Jose Miguel Vivace, Americas director for Human Rights Watch. - But once the government showed its disregard Chavez and his contempt for the principle of judicial freedom.
Vivanco also is worried because of the context of detention of Afiuni and "dramatic erosion of judicial independence" Venezuela's Chavez says and find it very difficult for the judge "has a fair trial."
María Afiuni says have hope, but confesses to rely more on international pressure than in the conduct of the Justice of his country. The word that best describes your state of mind, she says, is "deception." |
