Venezuela security forces continue killings, torture

CARACAS: Venezuelan security forces carried out fewer extra-judicial killings in the 12 months through April, a U.N. report said Monday, but it accuses them of a continued pattern of torture or cruel treatment of individuals as well as enforced disappearances and incommunicado detentions.

The report from U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights calls on the government of President Nicolas Maduro to cease the use of excessive force during demonstrations, dismantle pro-government armed civilian groups and ensure effective and independent investigations of all killings by security forces.

"Accountability remains key to preventing and remedying human rights violations and strengthening the rule of law," said the report, which covers June 1, 2020, through April 30. "The protection and expansion of civic space is vital to strengthening democracy, fostering inclusive dialogue and addressing the root causes of current challenges."

Maduro's government issued a statement rejecting what it called the "fallacious content" in the report. It accused the U.N. agency of basing the report "on a handful of alleged allegations of human rights violations" with the intent of destabilizing Venezuela. "This report is the result of a Resolution promoted by a tiny group of governments with serious internal situations of human rights violations, which conspired to satisfy the policy of 'regime change' promoted by the USA against Venezuela.