Human Rights Watch Issues Statement about Venezuela Government Abuses

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"The arrest of two prominent critics in retaliation for public statements that were critical of the government is a serious blow to freedom of expression in Venezuela, Human Rights Watch said today.

“To prosecute someone for speech, which should be protected under any standard of democracy, is a dangerous precedent,” said José Miguel Vivanco, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “The violations of free speech are likely to be compounded by a trial that falls far short of due process protections, given the government’s political takeover of the Supreme Court.”

http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2010/03/25/venezuela-end-prosecutions-dissenters