UN censures Venezuela for ‘crimes against humanity’

Human rights chief calls for an international probe on use of force by Maduro’s government

The UN human rights chief voiced alarm yesterday at widespread rights abuses in Venezuela, warning of possible “crimes against humanity” in the crisis-wrecked country.

“My investigation suggests the possibility that crimes against humanity may have been committed,” Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussain said at the opening of the 36th session of the Human Rights Council, calling for an international probe.

Venezuela’s crisis has caused food and medicine shortages, deadly unrest and calls for President Nicolas Maduro to quit.

Clashes with security forces at antigovernment protests left 125 people dead from April to July. “There is a very real danger that tensions will further escalate, with the government crushing democratic institutions and critical voices,” Zeid warned.

He said an investigation by his office had noted the widespread use of “criminal proceedings against opposition leaders, recourse to arbitrary detentions, excessive use of force and ill-treatment of detainees, which in some cases amounts to torture.”

Late last month, Zeid echoed international concerns that Venezuela was slipping into dictatorship, cautioning that democracy in the country was “barely alive, if still alive”.

His office has previously criticised Venezuela’s allpowerful constituent assembly and its “truth commission”, which has been tasked with investigating several opposition leaders for treason.