Death of Venezuela's Political Dissident in Detention Labeled 'Despicable' by United States Authorities.
The US government has criticized the administration in Caracas over the passing of a imprisoned political dissident, describing it as a "clear indication of the vile character" of President Nicolás Maduro's rule.
The former governor died in his cell at the El Helicoide detention center in Caracas, where he had been detained for over a year, as reported by human rights organisations and political opponents.
The officials in Venezuela reported that the man in his fifties displayed indicators of a heart attack and was taken to a hospital, where he passed away on the weekend.
Growing War of Words Between US and Venezuela
This new criticism from the United States is part of an growing diplomatic spat between the White House and President Maduro, who has claimed the US of attempting his overthrow.
In the last several months, the US has expanded its armed forces deployment in the region and has carried out a number of fatal strikes on boats it says have been used for moving illegal substances.
US President Donald Trump has alleged Maduro himself of being the head of one of the country's drug cartels—an claim the Venezuelan president categorically refutes—and has threatened armed intervention "on the ground".
"He had been 'held without cause' in a 'torture centre'," declared the US State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Background of the Arrest
The opposition figure was taken into custody in that year after joining several political opponents to dispute the results of that year's election for president.
Venezuela's state-run national electoral body proclaimed Maduro the victor, notwithstanding figures from dissidents indicating their candidate had won by a landslide.
The vote were broadly rejected on the world stage as lacking in credibility, and sparked unrest throughout the nation.
The former governor, who led the coastal region, was charged of "stoking division" and "extremism" for challenging Maduro's claim to victory.
Responses from Advocates and the Political Rivals
Local rights organization Foro Penal has expressed alarm over deteriorating circumstances for political prisoners in the South American state.
"Yet another political prisoner has lost his life in Venezuelan jails. He had been held for a twelve months, in isolation," wrote Alfredo Romero, the organisation's president, on a social network.
He said that DĂaz had only been permitted one encounter from his child during the full duration of his imprisonment. He further stated that 17 political prisoners have passed away in the country since 2014.
Dissident factions have also denounced the administration over the death of the former governor.
MarĂa Corina Machado, a well-known dissident figure who was awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize but who remains in seclusion to escape arrest, commented that DĂaz's demise was not a one-off event.
"Unfortunately, it adds to an alarming and painful series of demises of political prisoners detained in the aftermath of the after the vote crackdown," she said.
The coalition of rivals declared that DĂaz "died unjustly".
DĂaz's own political party, Democratic Action (AD), also remembered the ex-leader, stating he had been unjustly detained without due process and had been kept in conditions "that should never have violated his fundamental rights".
Wider International Tensions
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela have become increasingly strained over what Trump has called actions to curb the movement of drugs and immigrants into the United States.
- US bombings on ships in the Caribbean and Pacific have resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people.
- Trump has alleged Maduro of "clearing out his jails and psychiatric facilities" into the US.
- The US has designated two Venezuelan drug cartels as terrorist organisations.
Maduro has for his part claimed the US of using its anti-narcotics campaign as an pretext to depose his socialist government and get its hands on Venezuela's enormous petroleum resources.
The United States has also stationed a significant armada—its biggest deployment in the region in many years—along with many troops.
In a parallel action, the Venezuelan military according to reports swore in over five thousand six hundred troops in a mass ceremony on Saturday, in answer to what army commanders described as US "intimidation".
