Chavez Illegally Jails Judge, Contradicts UN Order

TRNS Congressional Correspondent Geoff Holtzman speaks with international attorney Robert Amsterdam about a case involving a client of his named Eligio Cedeno. Cedeno, a Venezuelan citizen who had peacefully opposed President Hugo Chavez, spent almost three years in jail as a political prisoner.

Earlier this year, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations handed down an opinion to Venezuelan Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, which declared that Cedeno's incarceration was unlawful. Based largely upon that opinion, the judge then decided to release Cedeno. According to Amsterdam, within minutes of granting Cedeno's conditional release, Judge Afiuni was arrested by Venezuelan intelligence police officers. Her ruling was reversed by another judge, and a new arrest warrant was issued for Cedeno, who now finds himself on the run.

Additionally, just one day after the arrest of Judge Afiuni, President Chavez appeared on national television to denounce her as a criminal, and instructed his Attorney General and other high-ranking state officials to ensure that she is convicted and sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Click the audio icon below to listen to Geoff Holtzman's full conversation with Robert Amsterdam. (4:30)


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