Julio Borges, a candidate to the Venezuelan National Assembly for opposition Primero Justicia party (Justice First, PJ) for electoral district 4, state of Miranda, requested ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), on behalf of opposition umbrella group Democratic Unified Panel (MUD), to address "seriously and respectfully" the issue of insecurity in Venezuela.

Borges termed "electioneering" the initiative of the PSUV to pass hastily a law on disarmament that is not a part of state policies.

A few days ago, the PSUV, which is the majority party in the Venezuelan Parliament, resumed the discussion of the reform to the law on disarmament, which was due for revision for five years. The ruling party expects to pass the law in a special session of the National Assembly.

Elections to the Venezuelan Parliament will be held next September 26, Borges reminded. He added that pro-government legislators, aware that they will not be reelected, are rushing into passing a legal instrument "after they have been in control of the National Assembly for 10 years and have disregarded the fact that thousand Venezuelans have died (in violent events) over this time."

Borges said that the Unified Panel platform comprises a "plan to improve citizens' security based on the pedagogy of non-violence, social organization, control of risk factors, strengthening law enforcement agencies and integration of police activities at municipal, state and national level," unlike the PSUV draft law which, according to Borges, is an isolated move.

Borges warned that the law "could become a weapon of repression for the poor in Venezuela, if it is not accompanied by a state policy."

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas