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Venezuela crisis: UN says security forces killed hundreds Venezuela crisis: UN says security forces killed hundreds
(35 minutes later)
Venezuelan security forces have carried out hundreds of arbitrary killings under the guise of fighting crime, the UN's human rights body says.Venezuelan security forces have carried out hundreds of arbitrary killings under the guise of fighting crime, the UN's human rights body says.
In a report, it cites "shocking" accounts of young men being killed during operations, often in poor neighbourhoods, between 2015 and 2017.In a report, it cites "shocking" accounts of young men being killed during operations, often in poor neighbourhoods, between 2015 and 2017.
The UN's human rights chief said no-one was being held to account, suggesting the rule of law was "virtually absent".The UN's human rights chief said no-one was being held to account, suggesting the rule of law was "virtually absent".
Venezuela has in the past dismissed human rights allegations as "lies".Venezuela has in the past dismissed human rights allegations as "lies".
The country is going through a protracted political and economic crisis.The country is going through a protracted political and economic crisis.
Dozens of protesters were killed in clashes during anti-government protests last year and the country is also experiencing hyperinflation and food shortages. What is at the root of the crisis?
President Nicolas Maduro was re-elected in May after the opposition boycotted the vote. Venezuela has the world's largest proven oil reserves. When socialist President Hugo Chávez was in power, from 1999 until his death in 2013, he used oil money to finance social programmes.
In the report, the UN Human Rights Council says the alleged extra-judicial killings were carried out by officers involved with the Operations for the Liberation of the People, ostensibly a crime reduction initiative. But the opposition says much of the income was lost to mismanagement, patronage, and corruption.
These officers may have killed more than 500 people between July 2015 and March 2017 as a way to showcase crime-reduction results, it says. They are alleged to have faked evidence to make it look as though the victims died in an exchange of fire. Critics accuse Mr Chavez's successor, President Nicolás Maduro, of using increasingly authoritarian tactics as the economy collapsed, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to flee abroad.
The officers involved have immunity from prosecution. Last year dozens of protesters were killed in clashes during protests against hyperinflation and food shortages.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, called for an international investigation and has suggested the International Criminal Court could also become involved. Mr Maduro was re-elected in May, in a poll boycotted by the opposition and criticised by the UN and other international bodies.
UN investigators have been denied access to Venezuela - a current member of the Human Rights Council - and made their findings from interviews with witnesses and victims. What does the report say?
Some of the other evidence comes from former attorney general Luisa Ortega. She was fired by Mr Maduro last year and went into exile. The UN Human Rights Council alleges that extra-judicial killings were carried out by officers involved with the Operations for the Liberation of the People, ostensibly a crime-reduction initiative.
Earlier this week the US quit the UN Human Rights Council, having previously criticised the body for failing to act against a number of countries, including Venezuela. These officers may have killed more than 500 people between July 2015 and March 2017 as a way to showcase crime-reduction results, it says. They are alleged to have faked evidence to make it look as though the victims died in exchanges of fire.
Mr Hussein has also accused Venezuela of failing to acknowledge the depth of its crisis, which has seen hundreds of thousands of people flee abroad. UN investigators have been denied access to Venezuela. They made their findings from interviews with about 150 witnesses and victims contacted through "internet-based technologies", the report says.
A number of interview with exiles were also held in Geneva, it adds. Some of the other evidence comes from former Attorney General Luisa Ortega. She was fired by Mr Maduro last year and went into exile.
The report says that under her replacement, investigations into allegations of abuses have virtually stopped.
Impunity
Katy Watson, BBC South America correspondent
Reports of extrajudicial killings are worrying yet not surprising. The crackdown from government forces during last year's protests brought international criticism, and impunity is so prevalent that people fear for their safety every day, especially in big cities such as the capital Caracas.
The government's reaction to such criticism is also predictable - it either denies the problems exist, or blames the US.
Yet the problems don't go away. They just get worse.
I was in Venezuela for the elections last month and everybody recounted stories of not being able to get enough food or access medicines - they say it's a situation that's become impossible. Those who can leave.
Did the UN mention the country's economic problems?
Yes. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein accused Venezuela of failing to acknowledge the depth of its crisis.
"When a box of hypertension pills costs more than the monthly minimum wage and baby milk formula more than two months' salary, but protesting against such an impossible situation can land you in jail, the extreme injustice of it all is stark," he added."When a box of hypertension pills costs more than the monthly minimum wage and baby milk formula more than two months' salary, but protesting against such an impossible situation can land you in jail, the extreme injustice of it all is stark," he added.
Mr Hussein suggested the International Criminal Court could become involved.
Earlier this week the US quit the UN Human Rights Council, having previously criticised the body for failing to act against a number of countries, including Venezuela.