[Altamira Activist] tortured for a week [Venezuela]

POLITICAL VIOLENCE Silvio Merida tortured for a week, according to family members
Altamira Activist rescued and jailed

The Altamira Plaza activist who was illegally arrested on Friday October 31 octubre, was found as if by magic by CICPC agents, Thursday 11:00 pm in Valencia.

According to the police report by Silvio Daniel Mérida Ortiz, he was taken by his captors to a hut near Valencia, where he was forced to sit at gunpoint until the arrival of the CICPC Immediate Rescue Unit who rescued him but did not make any arrests.

Silvio Daniel Mérida Ortiz was captured, illegally, on Friday October 31 by civilians who arrived at Block 7 in the El Silencio [district] executing a police raid. Since that day, until Thursday November 6, he was held somewhere [outside Caracas].

During this week he was victim of constant torture. He was hung for 12 continuous hours by his wrists, they put a cigarette out on his skin, they whipped his back, applied electric shock to his feet, and shoved his head into a toilet, in order to make him reveal, according to his attorneys Guillermo Heredia and Rigoberto Quintero, if he had any knowledge of ties between the Altamira military dissidents and bombs detonated at diplomatic facilities, and possible insurrection by the opposition.

The reason for the liberation of Mérida Ortiz is questionable and still has no coherent answer.

The actions by police following the rescue have arroused questions. They interrogated him two hours after finding him, without his lawyers present, he slept cuffed to the legs of his cell bunk, and the forensic report made [in Valencia] made no mention of physical damage, but according to his mother... where, at the hearing to present charges, they could not even put the handcuffs on him "because his wrists were lacerated".

I haven't heard the name before. I wonder if his capture and torture had anything to do with the story below. I don't even know if these raids happened. Also, it's odd he got out alive, but that would serve the purpose to suppress the turnout for the recall.

Chavez Alleges Plot to Topple Government [full text] CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced an alleged plot to topple his government Friday after security forces reported seizing weapons, ammunition and camouflage uniforms in several raids.

Government agents seized caches of firearms, ammunition, plastic explosives, uniforms and cash in three cities, Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel said.

Chavez said two people were arrested, but he gave no details. The president repeated allegations that the opposition, which is seeking a recall vote next year, is preparing another attempt to overthrow his elected government.

Radicals are trying "to create problems inside the military," Chavez told soldiers at a central Venezuela military air base. He urged the armed forces "to respond with dignity, unity, conscience and leadership."

Chavez was briefly overthrown by dissident military officers in 2002.

Venezuela's opposition will stage a petition drive Nov. 28-Dec. 1 to demand a recall referendum next year on Chavez's term, which ends in 2007.

Government agents seized more than 144,000 assault-rifle bullets at a warehouse in Catia La Mar, near the Caracas international airport, on Friday, said Miguel Rodriguez, director of Venezuela's secret police. Agents also seized weapons in the central cities of Maracay and La Victoria, officials said. [end

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