Our brother, Leopoldo López, has been a political prisoner in Venezuela since February 18th, 2014.  He was arbitrarily detained for exercising his right of freedom of speech, right to peaceful congregation and right to participate in the campaign for a better Venezuela. 

Since being arrested, he has been denied numerous legal and human rights; legal due process has been violated, evidence has been denied, and he has been held in isolation for much of his imprisonment. 

On May 22nd, 2015 Leopoldo and his fellow political prisoner, Daniel Ceballos (arbitrarily detained while Mayor of San Cristóbal) announced a hunger strike as a form of peaceful protest.  The hunger strike calls on the government to set a date for parliamentary elections, and for the liberation of political prisoners. 

More than 34 people have since joined the hunger strike, including fellow political prisoners as well as students.

We are concerned about the health of Leopoldo and Daniel.  They have shown signs of physical deterioration and have lost considerable weight.  They have been denied medical attention by doctors of their choice, they are isolated and visits by their family members and lawyers have been restricted. 

We have reached out to the Venezuelan Government but it has been completely non-responsive.  Respected institutions such as the Catholic Church have called on the government to respond – but with no success. We therefore appeal to international organizations such as the Organization of American States and UNASUR to intercede for the human rights of our loved ones.

We are asking to allow the International Committee of the Red Cross to enter the prisons where our brother and the rest of the political prisoners are being held.

As part of their humanitarian work, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) safeguards that the prisoners receive appropriate treatment and that the conditions under which they are detained are humane. They also visit the locations where there are detainees holding a hunger strike to verify that their treatment is appropriate and that they are receiving proper medical attention. 

 These are very difficult times for us, and we need your support.

 Thank you,

Adriana López Vermut and Diana López

*photo by Lisbeth Salas