NGO denounces 30-year prison sentences for three individuals allegedly linked to Tancol operations
The judicial system handed down a 30-year prison sentence, the maximum penalty in the country, against María Laura Rondón and brothers Richard and Luis Alejandro Domador. These citizens were prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the so-called Tancol operations, an acronym invented by Nicolás Maduro's government, which stands for Colombian Armed Terrorists Narcotraffickers. Since 2021, this term has been used to designate Colombian irregular groups operating in the country, accused of drug trafficking, violence, and destabilization. However, analysts and human rights defenders describe it as a "false positive."
TL;DR
- María Laura Rondón and brothers Richard and Luis Alejandro Domador received 30-year prison sentences, Venezuela's maximum penalty.
- They were prosecuted for alleged links to "Tancol operations," a term used by the Venezuelan government for Colombian irregular groups.
- Human rights groups and families describe the "Tancol operations" and subsequent convictions as "false positives," citing torture and lack of evidence.
- Previous maximum sentences have been handed down to other individuals identified as rural workers and farmers.
- Families report that detainees were tortured by military counterintelligence officials to force confessions.
- The Committee for the Freedom of False Positives Tancol has registered 67 similar cases in the past two months.
- Accused individuals are often from economically vulnerable backgrounds, including peasants and rural laborers.
- Families have reported testimonies to various human rights and peace organizations, but maximum sentences persist in terrorism courts.
- The NGO Surgentes advocates for amnesty as a resolution, proposing that those convicted be granted full freedom.
- The group of families is urging the Public Defense to appeal the sentence and the Public Ministry to conduct a technical review.