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ePaper created 2015-11-10, 17:27:36 | version 1.33.00
REDACTED Page 60 of 190 As noted in the previous section, the available information indicates that a policy was designed at the highest echelons of the State to launch violent attacks against the civilian population on the basis of perceived political affiliation in order to retain power by all means. This policy was implemented across the Venezuelan territory using all the various organs of the state resulting in an alarming number of civilian casualties since February 2014: at least between 33 and 36 civilians have been killed. At least 878 civilians were injured according to official sources207 of which at least 138 were wounded by gunshot, 330 by pellets, 72 people by being beaten up, 34 people were injured by blunt objects and the remaining 280 wounded suffered injuries of various kinds.208 Furthermore, at least 638 individuals were arbitrarily detained without even being brought to court as required by law, and at least between 3,351 and 3,758 have been imprisoned. 209 As at 31 May 2015, there were still 77 political prisoners of which 12 were students and six were women. Moreover, at least 437 individuals arrested during the protests were victims of torture according to the UN Committee against Torture and 138 victims of cases of torture or cruel and inhuman treatment according to Foro Penal. 210 f)Nexus between the individual criminal acts and the attacks In light of the above, a nexus between individual criminal acts and the attack can be inferred from (a) the geographic and temporal overlap between the attack and the crimes; (b) the fact that the attackers were also the perpetrators of the crimes; (c) the fact that the targeted civilians were perceived dissidents; (d) the use of excessive and indiscriminate force against unarmed demonstrators showing a blatant disregard for the lives of civilians and the relentless use of live ammunition against peaceful demonstrators; and (e) the fact that the attacks happened during a protracted period of time, showing a pattern of conduct largely attributable to the official apparatus of the state, including the National Guard, the National Police, the local police and the intelligence services combined with the unofficial forces of the pro government armed paramilitaries. 207 AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (2015) Venezuela: the Faces of Impunity 208 PROVEA. (2014) Venezuela 2014: Protestas y Derechos Humanos 209 Figures by Amnesty International and Foro Penal Venezolano. Please note that while the AI figures relate to the period February 2014 to March 2015, the Foro Penal figures cover the period Ferbuary 2014 to May 2015. See: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL. (2015) Venezuela: Balance de derechos humanos tras un año de las protestas; and FORO PENAL VENEZOLANO. (2015) Politically motivated detentions, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and killings (2014-2015) 210 Foro Penal Venezolano, "Politically motivated detentions, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and killings (2014-2015)" (May 2015). See: FORO PENAL VENEZOLANO. (2015) Politically motivated detentions, torture, other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, and killings (2014-2015)