ME
MO
RY

Truth,
Justice
and Reparation

Luis Guillermo Espinoza

For 21 days, my son was in an induced coma before passing away—21 days where I watched his life slip away, with little I could do beyond listening to music and talking about football with him.

Juan Pablo Pernalete

A dreamer, smiling, optimistic, joyful, a protector of animals and nature, and a believer in God.

Daniel Quéliz

Today I speak of you, my son; because although you are no longer physically here, everyone deserves to know you as I did. I fight for you, and I remain standing to achieve Justice.

Diego Fernando Arellano de Figueredo

What does a smile hide? Sometimes it hides nothing; sometimes it hides everything. It is perhaps the most deceitful of all human expressions.

ME
MO
RY

Truth,
Justice
and Reparation

Yoiner Javier Peña Hernández

28 years old

Yoiner had a special condition due to having suffered from infantile cerebral palsy. He could not speak, but he participated in social demonstrations nonetheless. On April 10, 2017, while protesting, he was wounded by colectivos with a gunshot to his right ribcage. He was left paralyzed and with a colostomy. For 54 days, he suffered through the precarious conditions of the Venezuelan healthcare system until June 3, 2017, when he passed away due to a lack of medicine and septic instability. After four (4) years, the case is still in the investigation stage, and for this reason, there are no expectations of finding justice within the Venezuelan internal system.

Augusto Sergio Puga Velásquez

22 years old

Medical student murdered on May 24, 2017, by a gunshot wound to the head while he and other students were taking shelter at the Ciudad Bolívar campus of the Universidad de Oriente (UDO) after participating in a social demonstration. Members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana (GNB) and the Policía del Estado Bolívar violated university autonomy, and during the repression, Augusto was murdered. Although some individuals have been charged with his murder, Augusto's case faces procedural delays, and there are few expectations of finding justice

Neomar Lander

17 years old

A young student who died from a chest impact on June 7, 2017, while members of the Policía Nacional Bolivariana were repressing a social demonstration on Avenida Francisco de Miranda in the Chacao municipality, Miranda state. His case is currently in the investigation stage.

Roberto Enrique Durán Ramirez

24 years old

A cameraman’s assistant and father, murdered on June 28, 2017, by an officer of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana during a protest in Barquisimeto, Lara state. The case is currently in the investigation stage, where the GNB continues to withhold requested information. The latest communication received by his relatives indicates an intent to close the case. For these reasons, there are few expectations of finding justice within the Venezuelan internal system.

Eduardo José Orozco Porras

19 years old

A young Foreign Trade student murdered during a protest in Barquisimeto, Lara state, on August 7, 2017, by officers of the Comando Nacional Antiextorsión y Secuestro (CONAS) of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana. Eduardo received two gunshot wounds to one of his legs; while he was on the ground, the officers approached him and shot him in the head. Subsequently, the officers placed a weapon in his hand and fired several shots with the intent of accusing him of terrorism. His case is currently in the investigation stage.

Franklin Alfredo Caldera Martínez

28 years old

First Lieutenant of the Army who had taken up residence in Bogotá, Colombia. In that country, he was captured on February 11, 2019, by members of the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), transferred to Venezuela, and handed over to the Dirección General de Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM). Since then, he has been imprisoned in the Ramo Verde prison and is subjected to torture by DGCIM officers.

Marco Antonio Garcés

28 years old

A final-semester Engineering student arbitrarily detained on September 9, 2020, accused of being involved with a U.S. citizen allegedly implicated in espionage operations within Venezuelan territory. He was sent to Ramo Verde, where he was subjected to torture and other cruel treatments. In late 2021, he was transferred to El Rodeo II. To date, his court hearings have been repeatedly deferred.

Luis José Alviarez Chacón

18 years old

Student murdered during a protest in Palmira, Táchira state, on May 15, 2017, by officers of the Policía Nacional Bolivariana. Luis received a gunshot wound to the chest that caused his death by hypovolemic shock. Former officer Wilfredo Casanova was sentenced to five (5) years in prison. However, this sentence does not reflect the nature or the gravity of the crime. Therefore, his family appealed the court's decision and continues their search for justice.

Manuel Alejandro Sosa

33 years old

A young man who worked as a salesman, murdered on May 25, 2017, while participating in a social protest in Barquisimeto, Lara state. Members of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana caused a projectile wound in his infraclavicular region that led to his death. First Lieutenant of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana, Johnnuar José Pastor Arenas, was identified, and four (4) years later, no court has executed his arrest warrant. For this reason, there are few expectations of finding justice within the Venezuelan internal system.

Nelson Daniel Arévalo Avendaño

22 years old

Law student at Universidad Fermín Toro and agricultural worker. He was murdered by members of the Fuerzas Armadas on June 16, 2017, during a protest on Avenida Hernán Garmendia, Barquisimeto, Lara state. Currently, the case is in the investigation stage; however, the Fuerzas Armadas entities are failing to cooperate with the justice system by withholding requested information. His family continues to seek justice and demands that the case file be transferred to the Sección de Derechos Fundamentales of the Fiscalía, as it is currently assigned to the Sección de Delitos Comunes.

Rubén Darío González Jiménez

16 years old

A high school senior murdered by an officer of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana during a protest in La Isabelica, Valencia, Carabobo state, on July 10, 2017—the very day of his graduation. He wanted to study philosophy and become a pilot. His case is currently in the investigation stage by the Ministerio Público. His relatives regularly travel to Caracas to demand justice and progress in the investigation. To date, his case remains without real expectations of justice within the Venezuelan internal system.

Eduardo Luis Ramos Torbello

30 years ols

A worker extrajudicially executed on January 24, 2019, by officers of the FAES in the Calicanto neighborhood, Carora, Lara state. Days earlier, he had been protesting the lack of water supply in the area and had been accused of being a "guarimbero" by representatives of the local consejo comunal. To date, there are no detainees or charged officers from the FAES. His relatives believe there is no possibility of finding justice within the Venezuelan judicial system.

Luis Alejandro Pérez Yovera

28 years old

The primary provider for his family and father of two young girls, extrajudicially executed on April 8, 2019, by officers of the FAES in the Zajón Barrera sector, Barquisimeto, Lara state. Luis Alejandro was an active participant in protests. On the morning of his death, FAES officers were in the area interrogating residents to locate his home. In the afternoon, they arrived at his residence, took him outside, and shot him. His relatives allege that his case remains in total impunity, and for this reason, they do not see any possibility of finding justice within the Venezuelan judicial system.

Yorman Alí Bervecia Cabeza

19 years old

Student in the 4th and 5th year of educación parasistema (alternative adult education) murdered by colectivos on May 22, 2017, during a protest in Barinas state. The case is in the investigation stage, and the authorities provide no account of the case file, which has been missing since 2018. For this reason, there are few expectations of finding justice within the Venezuelan internal system.

Fabian Alfonso Urbina Barrios

17 years old

Second-semester Advertising and Marketing student at IUTAR, murdered during a protest at the Altamira distributor, Caracas, on June 19, 2017, by an officer of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana. On December 17, 2020, the 19th Trial Court sentenced the officer to 12 years and 10 months in prison. This sentence does not align with the crimes cited in the indictment; therefore, his parents are currently appealing the court's decision.

David José Vallenilla

22 years old

Nursing student murdered on June 22, 2017, during a protest on the Francisco Fajardo highway in the Distrito Capital. David was in front of the La Carlota military airbase when an officer of the Fuerzas Armadas shot him in the chest. He died from hypovolemic shock due to internal hemorrhaging caused by the perforation of his heart, liver, and lung. His case is currently awaiting trial, with no tangible hopes for justice.

Yaneth Coromoto Angulo Parra

56 years old

Retired Physical Education teacher. International judge and member of the Federación Venezolana de Canotaje (FVC), murdered on July 11, 2017, during a social protest in the Villa Colonial neighborhood in El Tocuyo, Lara state, when an officer of the Policía de Lara shot her in the head. Currently, there is one person charged; however, they are under house arrest and awaiting trial.

Cristian Ramos Escalona

18 years old

A low-income student extrajudicially executed on January 25, 2019, in the El Bosque hamlet, El Tocuyo, Lara state, by officers of the FAES. It is presumed he was executed for being accused of participating in a protest in front of the residence of Mayor Gisela Rodríguez. Members of the Fuerzas de Acciones Especiales detained him, and he was later found dead with a gunshot wound to the head. There are no detainees or charged officers from the FAES, and his relatives have been denied copies of his case file.

Jhon Jairo Gasparini

29 years old

An automotive mechanic arbitrarily detained on March 18, 2020, while leaving a pharmacy located in the El Hatillo municipality, Miranda state. He was missing for 10 days, and when his relatives were finally able to see him, he showed signs of physical and psychological torture. He was held at the DGCIM's "Casa de los Sueños" (House of Dreams) center until his transfer to the Ramo Verde prison. He was brought before the Tribunal 2do de Terrorismo (2nd Terrorism Court) on February 25, 2021, and to date, he is awaiting trial. He is accused of conspiracy and criminal association.