Venezuelans tortured by Posada Carriles present their cases

CARACAS, October 3.—Venezuelans tortured by terrorist of Cuban origin are today preparing the files of their cases and those of disappeared comrades in order to support the demand for the criminal’s extradition.

Jesús Marrero, coordinator of the group of victims affected by Posada during the years in which he had a high position in the Venezuelan political police (DISIP), explained to Prensa Latina that the initiative is an attempt to bring about justice.

Marrero, who was tortured at the orders of Posada, considers the decision of the U.S. judge not to hand the criminal over to Venezuelan authorities under the pretext that he may be tortured, an insult to Posada’s victims.

Regarding Venezuela’s extradition application Marrero noted that the judge only heard the testimony of Joaquin Chafardet, the defendant’s current lawyer and one of his colleagues in the DISIP.

He pointed out that this judge should call as a witness Brenda Esquivel, who was beaten on Posada’s orders until she lost the child she was carrying because the criminal thought that "the bad seed" must be done away with.

Marrero detailed other cases for which they are gathering testimonies and evidence, including the murder of Pancho Alegría and the disappearance of Noel Rodríguez, who was detained by the DISIP and whose family is still searching for his remains.

The human rights activist hopes that assembling these cases will contribute to the Venezuelan government’s extradition application.

He also warned that these are only a few of the many deaths and disappearances committed under the criminal’s orders.

The evidence is to be presented to the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Relations to support the extradition demand submitted to the United States under an extradition agreement between the two countries.

"We are collecting testimonies and statements from those affected and we want the same judge that called Chafardet to testify on Posada’s behalf to listen to us, the people who were tortured, maltreated, and disappeared," affirmed Marrero.