More Abuses from SEBIN, Maduro’s Repressive Police

A year ago, sound engineer Pablo Estrada Izaguirre was detained and imprisoned by the SEBIN, the Bolivarian Intelligence Service. Since his arrest, he has been in a jail known as “La Tumba”  (the Coffin), located in Caracas, leaving behind his girlfriend and newborn baby. In this jail, horrific acts of human rights violations are committed daily against the prisoners, who are mostly activists thrown in tiny cells in extremely cold temperatures and deprived of sun for many months.

The sad part of Pablo Estrada Izaguirre’s story is that, according to his lawyer, he has never engaged in political activities. This 37-year old man was detained in an arbitrary and oppressive manner by the Maduro regime last year, in reaction to the student protests against the regime that had spread throughout the country. The protests were due to the lack of security that exists in the country, in addition to high unemployment and long lines to purchase basic products.

Izaguirre suffers a very serious illness. Before his arrest, he was being treated for disseminated tuberculosis, “a contagious bacterial infection in which the tuberculosis bacteria spread from the lungs to other parts of the body through the blood. “

Pablo Estrada Izaguirre requires treatment and according with his lawyer the SEBIN has no access to this type of medical care, nor is it allowing doctors to provide related medical services to this man.

Pablo's condition continues to deteriorate without any hope for his release in sight. Once again, the Maduro regime will have blood on its hands if something happens to Pablo. 

Venezuela, a Terrorized Nation

The recent arrest of  Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma is an indication of how nervous the Maduro government is getting. The regime's paranoia has caused the people of Venezuela to live under terrorized conditions, not knowing what lies ahead for them.

This past week, Mayor Ledezma was forced out of his office and taken into custody by SEBIN, Maduro's Political Police. Mr. Ledezma is accused of plotting a coup with the United States to topple the current socialist government. This arrest is another example of the oppressive actions that are an attempt to create a distraction for Maduro's lack of leadership in solving the Venezuelan's immediate problems.

Maduro’s problems started last year.  Angry protests erupted after the senseless murder of the actress and model Monica Spear and her husband. Spear's murder, followed  by a rape attempt to a female University student, further infuriated students who took to the streets to protest the enormous insecurity problems that face the country.

The protests grew across the country, leaving over 50 students dead and  hundreds incarcerated.  In support of the students,  Leopoldo Lopez called for peaceful protests. This prompted the Maduro regime to exercise its dictatorship role, arresting Leopoldo Lopez in February. A year later,  Leopoldo Lopez remains Maduro's prisoner, now joined by Mr. Ledezma.

The fate of other Venezuelans with less notoriety is even worse. A few days ago

two students in police custody were found tortured to death. There is no explanation  for this heinous crime.

Maduro is using the same script that Chavez used, accusing the United States of attempting to overthrow him. Wouldn’t it be nice if Maduro’s fantasy - that the United States is trying to topple his government - comes to reality?