More than 200 Venezuelan individuals detained for political reasons initiated a hunger strike on Sunday to demand their release under a newly enacted amnesty law that does not cover many of their cases.
The detainees at Rodeo I penitentiary, situated approximately 40 kilometers east of the capital Caracas, vocally expressed their desires to their families during the protest, as observed by an AFP reporter.
Calls for “Freedom!”, “release us all!”, and “Rodeo I on strike” resonated from the prisoners within the facility, audible to those outside.
Venezuela’s congress passed the amnesty law last Thursday, following a series of reforms prompted by the United States after the removal and apprehension of former President Nicolas Maduro on January 3.
The hunger strike, which commenced on Friday night, arose from inmates’ concerns that they would not benefit from the law due to its exclusion of cases involving the military, which are predominant at that detention center.
Yalitza Garcia, the mother-in-law of a detainee named Nahuel Agustin Gallo, mentioned, “Approximately 214 individuals, including Venezuelans and foreigners, are partaking in the hunger strike.”
Gallo, an Argentine law enforcement officer accused of terrorism – another excluded category, is among those affected by the limitations of the law.
Shakira Ibarreto, the daughter of a policeman arrested in 2024, stated, “They opted for a hunger strike on Friday due to the limitations of the amnesty law, which do not encompass a significant number of them.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) team visited Rodeo I prison on Sunday for the first time, as confirmed by Filippo Gatti, the ICRC’s health coordinator for Venezuela, during discussions with family members.
Relatives indicated that not all inmates within the prison were participating in the hunger strike.
Criticism of the amnesty law emerged from opposition figures, highlighting perceived flaws in the legislation which seem to provide exceptions for offenses previously used to target Maduro’s political adversaries.
Although the law excludes security personnel convicted of actions the government considers as terrorism, it offers clemency to 11,000 political detainees who had been on parole or under house arrest over nearly three decades.
The head of Venezuela’s legislature disclosed that more than 1,500 political prisoners in the country have already sought amnesty under the law, with hundreds previously released by Rodriguez’s administration prior to the bill’s approval.
On Sunday, a few detainees were released from Rodeo I prison, greeted with applause as they exited holding their release documents.
“I’m free, my queen, I love you so much! I’m doing fine,” exclaimed Robin Colina, one of the freed individuals, speaking on a mobile phone.
Armando Fusil, another released detainee, shared, “There are currently many individuals on a hunger strike because they want their freedom.”
The 55-year-old police commissioner from Maracaibo in the western state explained his unjust arrest in October 2024 and the dedicated visits from loved ones every Friday during his detainment.
Now, as they come to take him home permanently, Fusil expressed gratitude, emphasizing the mutual support among detainees that fostered a sense of camaraderie.
The NGO Foro Penal, specializing in defending political prisoners, recorded 23 releases on Sunday.
Maduro, who governed Venezuela from March 2013 until January 2026, faced severe criticism for suppressing opposition and activists under his authoritative leftist regime.
Currently in US custody awaiting trial on drug trafficking charges, Maduro has maintained his innocence and asserted his status as a prisoner of war.
