CARACAS, Tuesday August 31, 2010 | Update
Human Rights
Delsa Solórzano, the coordinator of the Human Rights Committee of the Democratic Unified Panel, on behalf of the democratic alternative, expressed sorrow for the death of Franklin Brito and regretted that the farmer "died victim of the outrageous government's agrarian policies."
In a press release from the Unified Panel, Solórzano held the government primarily accountable for the case. She added that the right to protest in Venezuela has become an offense.
"Brito opted for hunger strike in an attempt at enforcing his rights. Rather than being heard by the government and government agencies, he was repressed and subject to the jurisdiction of a criminal court, as if it he had committed some crime."
02:57 PM. HEAVY RAINS. Venezuelan Executive Vice-President Elias Jaua reported that the government is designing plans to support farmers, cattlemen and peasants of the state of Mérida who have been hit by heavy rains that have caused crop losses.