TOCUYITO, Venezuela — In a recent statement broadcasted nationwide, President Nicolás Maduro branded those opposing him as terrorists, leading to the detention of individuals from pharmacies, residences, and various sites. Many of these detainees spent months in confinement, where they suffered significant abuse, including beatings, insufficient food, and other forms of torment. A vast majority experienced health issues such as stomach infections and considerable weight loss, with three sadly losing their lives during captivity.
Following the civil unrest sparked by Maduro’s claimed victory in the July presidential election, over 2,200 individuals were arrested. As the situation stabilized, the government has gradually released nearly 1,900 of these mostly impoverished and politically neutral young adults. While their reunions with families have been emotional and filled with relief, the reality of their situation quickly becomes apparent—they are not truly free, both physically and mentally.
Home again, particularly the protesters from the post-election demonstrations, face the harsh truth that their efforts to challenge Maduro did not yield the change they had envisioned. A formerly detained man shared, “The joy of reuniting with family turned into a stark realization of the violations I endured. I remain vulnerable to the same regime.”
The personal accounts from this man and others reveal a painful aftermath of repression that has altered their lives profoundly since the election on July 28. Many recounted their experiences under the cloak of anonymity due to fears of retaliation from the government or allies who suppress dissent through intimidation and control of resources.
The impact of their experiences has left many ex-detainees with lasting trauma, including insomnia, anxiety in crowded spaces, and a heightened fear of law enforcement. Financially, they find themselves in a worse position than before, struggling to find employment due in part to the confiscation of their identification documents during their arrests.
Compounding their hardships, former detainees often rely on the government’s shaky health and welfare programs, even while feeling an additional sting of indignity. Their families have incurred debts to finance transportation, meals, and necessary supplies—basic needs not met by the penal system—leading some mothers to weep at night in despair while grappling with guilt knowing that their children returned home while others remain incarcerated.
Describing the deep psychological damage inflicted by the government’s actions, a mother of a former detainee stated, “The terror we are subjected to is perhaps the most destructive thing inflicted upon a population yearning for freedom. This is, without a doubt, terrorism.”
Notably, millions voiced their desire for governmental change during the July election, but electoral authorities, aligned with the ruling party, declared Maduro the victor shortly after the polls closed, failing to provide transparency in vote counting. In contrast, the primary opposition coalition gathered evidence indicating that their candidate, Edmundo González, won decisively by a margin exceeding two-to-one.
The discrepancies in the election results ignited widespread protests. In response, the government cracked down with excessive force, leading to over 2,200 arrests—even targeting those who didn’t partake in protests—while inciting citizens to report suspected opponents of the ruling party. Tragically, over 20 lives were lost amid the turmoil.
Throughout Maduro’s tenure, mass arrests have become commonplace, yet the scale and demographics of the recent detentions were unprecedented. Unlike previous protests predominantly led by educated, affluent Venezuelans, many demonstrators at the end of July included youths grappling with poverty and disappointments from the government. “They are the children and grandchildren of those who supported Hugo Chávez,” stated Oscar Murillo, a prominent human rights advocate. “Their grievances were driven by dissatisfaction with the administration’s handling of the election.”
Inside prisons, some detainees were subjected to wearing uniforms symbolically associated with the opposition. As days turned into weeks within overcrowded, oppressive cells, some individuals experienced suicidal thoughts, others turned to prayer, and many clung to the hope of freedom by January 11—the date when a new presidential term legally begins in Venezuela, hoping for Gonzalez’s return from exile.
Unfortunately, not only did González not return—his son-in-law was also arrested and remains detained. Now, released former detainees and their families find solace in hopes for health, employment, and a new leadership but have largely turned away from political engagement.
“The fears instilled in us against participating in politics have devastating effects on any society striving for progress and development,” remarked a former detainee, encapsulating the overall sentiment of despair and disillusionment.
