Nicolás Maduro's regime in Venezuela intensified its authoritarian and repressive tactics with the arbitrary detention and forced disappearance of renowned human rights defender Rocío San Miguel, as well as five members of her family.
San Miguel's arrest occurred as she was trying to board a plane to leave Venezuela through the Maiquetía Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas. The Venezuelan regime has accused her of allegedly being linked to a conspiracy case against Maduro.
"The Public Ministry reports the arrest of citizen Rocío del Carmen San Miguel Sosa, this by virtue of an arrest warrant against her for allegedly being linked and referenced in the conspiracy and attempted assassination plot called 'Brazalete Blanco,' whose objective was to attack the life of the head of state Nicolás Maduro and other senior officials," wrote Attorney General Tarek William Saab, a day after the dissidents denounced the activist's disappearance.
el Ministerio Público #informa la detención de la ciudadana Rocío del Carmen San Miguel Sosa, ello en virtud de una orden de aprehensión en su contra por estar presuntamente vinculada y referenciada en la trama conspirativa y de intento de magnicidio denominada…
— Tarek William Saab (@TarekWiliamSaab) February 11, 2024
Several relatives of the activist are also missing
Following the news, San Miguel's lawyer, Juan González, claimed that there no information on her whereabouts, nor is there any information available on the location of her daughter, also an activist, Miranda Díaz San Miguel.
González explained that Miranda was with her mother at the time of the arrest and that she reported what was happening at the airport. However, after a while, she stopped communicating. "We haven't heard from her for more than 48 hours now. She is not answering calls or messages," González claimed.
#12Feb ¡ATENCIÓN! 🚨🗣️
Juan Luis González, abogado de Rocío San Miguel, asegura que están preocupados por la integridad de la hija de Rocío, Miranda Díaz San Miguel, quien no responde los mensajes desde hace más de 48 horas y fue la que informó todo el procedimiento de la… pic.twitter.com/uwBUFIcW5U
— ImpactoVenezuela (@ImpactoVE) February 12, 2024
Later, the NGO Amnesty International confirmed that two of San Miguel's brothers, her ex-partner and Miranda's father were also arbitrarily detained.
Amnistía Internacional confirma la detención arbitraria de la defensora de derechos humanos Rocío San Miguel y de su grupo familiar
Amnistía Internacional pide la libertad inmediata e incondicional de:
Rocío del Carmen San Miguel Sosa
Miranda Díaz San Miguel, hija
Miguel Ángel… pic.twitter.com/7UJuPQ2pLJ— amnistia . org 🕯 (@amnistia) February 12, 2024
Opposition leader speaks out
María Corina Machado, the main opposition leader, maintained that this is an attack by the Chavista regime and asked the international community to keep an eye on the case.
"We alert the world that the repressive onslaught of the Maduro regime continues. Rocío San Miguel, human rights defender and president of the organization Citizen Control, was arrested. We call for national and international solidarity with her and with all political prisoners and persecuted people in Venezuela," Machado wrote on X.
Alertamos al mundo que la arremetida represiva del régimen de Maduro continúa. Fue detenida Rocío San Miguel, defensora de Derechos Humanos y presidenta de la organización Control Ciudadano.
Llamamos a la solidaridad nacional e internacional con ella y con todos los presos y… https://t.co/FUhANaqxWT
— María Corina Machado (@MariaCorinaYA) February 11, 2024
More than 200 organizations demand the activist's release
In a strong gesture of solidarity and defense of human rights, 204 organizations issued a strong rejection of the recent forced disappearance of San Miguel, a prominent human rights defender and president of the NGO Citizen Control.
Through the joint statement, the organizations demanded the immediate release of Rocío San Miguel and made an urgent call to the different instances of the United Nations and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to make a firm statement and act in defense of the fundamental principles.
"We urge the democratic governments and civic organizations of the world to condemn this unacceptable and grave conduct and to show solidarity with the immediate release of Rocío San Miguel," the statement reads.
204 organizaciones de la sociedad civil rechazan la desaparición forzada de Rocío San Miguel.
➡️Exigimos el respeto a la integridad física y psicológica de Rocío San Miguel y la de toda su familia, y su inmediata liberación.
➡️ Exigimos a las distintas instancias de las… pic.twitter.com/XjqmdC7eJe
— PROVEA (@_Provea) February 12, 2024
Other politicians and journalists warn of escalating persecution by the regime
La desaparición forzada de la defensora de DDHH Rocío San Miguel, constituye crimen atroz contra los derechos fundamentales. Evidencia una escalada de persecución contra quienes defendemos DDHH. Rocío San Miguel debe ser liberada de inmediato y sin restricciones . pic.twitter.com/gAIMCyTPk0
— Theresly Malave W (@theresly) February 11, 2024
No se sabe dónde está recluida Rocío San Miguel, ni sus abogados ni familiares han tenido acceso a verla y hablar con ella… por lo tanto, se encuentra bajo desaparición forzada. Es más, sus abogados no han podido volver a contactar a su hija, su ex esposo tampoco aparece. pic.twitter.com/7yPKwQJNHn
— Nazly Escalona 🇻🇪 (@nazlyescalona) February 12, 2024
Desde las afueras del #Sebin #Helicoide, Declaraciones de Juan González, abogado de Rocío San Miguel, quien denuncia que aún se encuentra en desaparición forzada y que desconocen también el paradero de su hija Miranda Díaz San Miguel.
Estos graves hechos constituyen violación a… pic.twitter.com/r6k12LM598
— Delsa Solorzano (@delsasolorzano) February 12, 2024
