Urgent Action 4-15-10

URGENT ACTION APPEAL
- From Amnesty International USA

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http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/newslett.html
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For a print-friendly version of this Urgent Action (PDF):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa08110.pdf

15 April 2010

UA 81/10 - Arbitrary detention/Abduction

VENEZUELA
Gabriel Antonio Ramirez (m), aged 23
Jose Leonardo Ramirez (m), aged 21
Nedfrank Xavier Cona (m), aged 19

Three young men were abducted, apparently by police officers, from a construction site where they were working in Venezuela on 12 March. They have not been seen since and their families have no idea where they are or whether they are still alive.

Gabriel Antonio Ramirez, aged 23, Jose Leonardo Ramirez, aged 21, and 19-year-old Nedfrank Xavier Cona, were all working as laborers on new university buildings in the city of Barcelona in Anzoategui state, north eastern Venezuela. According to local human rights organization Fundacion de los Derechos Humanos del Estado Anzoategui, eyewitnesses have described how at around 6.50 am on 12 March, a group of between 17 and 20 police officers jumped over the back of the construction site and bundled all three men into an unmarked car. Eyewitnesses could not see the occupants of the car, but saw it drive away, escorted by the officers on their police motorbikes.

Relatives of the three men have visited a number of police stations to try and find out what has happened to them, but there is no information on the men's whereabouts. Their families and the Fundacion de los Derechos Humanos del Estado Anzoategui are not aware of any arrest warrant having been issued against the three men. The Public Prosecutor's office in Anzoategui has apparently opened an investigation into the abduction.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible:
- expressing concern for the safety of Gabriel Antonio Ramirez, Jose Leonardo Ramirez, and Nedfrank Xavier Cona who were seen being detained by police officers on 12 March 2010 in Barcelona, Anzoategui state;
- urging the authorities to make every effort to locate Gabriel Antonio Ramirez, Jose Leonardo Ramirez and Nedfrank Xavier Cona;
- calling on them to order an independent and impartial investigation into the apparent unlawful detention of Gabriel Antonio Ramirez, Jose Leonardo Ramirez and Nedfrank Xavier Cona, and bring those responsible to justice;
- calling on the authorities to immediately acknowledge the detention of Gabriel Antonio Ramirez, Jose Leonardo Ramirez, and Nedfrank Xavier Cona, if they are in custody, and ensure that they are given access to their families, lawyers and any medical attention they may require, and are charged with a recognizably criminal offense or released;
- calling for effective measures to ensure police operations are carried out in accordance with the law and international human rights standards, and that any alleged abuses are promptly and impartially investigated.


APPEALS TO:

Minister of the Interior and Justice
Sr. Tarek El Aissami
Ministerio del Poder Popular para
Relaciones Interiores y Justicia
Av. Urdaneta, Edif. Sede MIJ, Piso1
Carmelitas, Caracas
VENEZUELA
Fax: 011 58 212 506 1557
Salutation: Senor Ministro/Dear Minister

Governor of Anzoategui state
Sr. Tarek William Saab
Palacio de Gobierno
Av. 5 de Julio
Diagonal a la Plaza Barrio
Barcelona, Anzoategui
VENEZUELA
Fax: 011 58 281 275 1671
Email: tarek@gobernaciondeanzoategui.com
tarek@psuv.org.ve
(please copy both)
Salutation: Senor Gobernador/Dear Governor


COPIES TO:

Human rights organization
Fundacion de los Derechos Humanos del Estado de Anzoategui
Calle Buenos Aires cruce con calle Las Flores, 19-73
Barcelona, Anzoategui
VENEZUELA
Fax: 01158 281 276 3531
Email: fdhanzoategui1@gmail.com

Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez Herrera
Embassy of the Republic of Venezuela
1099 30th St. NW
Washington DC 20007
Fax: 1 202 342 6820
Email: prensa@embavenez-us.org


PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY.
Check with the AIUSA Urgent Action office if sending appeals after 27 May 2010.

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This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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