Human Rts Fdtn Researcher Shot in Venezuela - Car Robberty?

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Human Rights Foundation Press Release 
via Standard Newswire  - Jan 7, 2008
http://www.standardnewswire.com/news/287352102.html

HRF Researcher Shot in Venezuela

Contact:

Thor Halvorssen, Human Rights Foundation, (212) 246.8486,
info@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 Venezuela, Jan. 7 /Standard Newswire/ -- Monica Fernandez,
former judge and one of the leaders of the Foro Penal Venezolano, was
shot Saturday afternoon in circumstances that, prior to a full
investigation, the government of Venezuela has declared a "car
robbery." Ms. Fernandez directs the Venezuelan research division of the
Human Rights Foundation (HRF).

Ms. Fernandez was kidnapped and shot at point-blank range while loading
her car with plants she had bought with her fianc(c), Javier Herrera. Mr.
Herrera, a police officer, was shot five times while trying to prevent
the attack. Mr. Herrera killed one of the aggressors; the other drove
off with Ms. Fernandez. He later released her and left the car parked
nearby. Both Ms. Fernandez and Mr. Herrera are hospitalized in Caracas.

Ms. Fernandez began supervising investigations of human rights
violations for HRF in July of 2007. Her current duties consist of
documenting the cases of political prisoners as well as exposing
political discrimination and persecution of dissidents committed by the
government of Venezuelan president Hugo Ch!vez.

The night before she was shot, Ms. Fernandez was the subject of "La
Hojilla" ("The Razor"), a government-funded TV news program that airs
on the state-run Venezolana de Television. The host of the program,
Mario Silva, showed Ms. Fernandez's photograph and repeatedly attacked
her as an "enemy" of the state. This was not the first time that Silva
has attacked HRF and its work in Venezuela, nor was it the first time
he has shown photographs of HRF personnel.

"Human rights defenders cannot work where their lives are threatened.
Some organizations refuse to work in certain countries because of this.
HRF will not be ceasing its activities in Venezuela anytime soon," said
Thor Halvorssen, HRF's president, from Caracas.

He added, "We do not know if the attacks on Ms. Fernandez and Mr.
Herrera are linked to the incitements made by Mario Silva on Venezuelan
television. However, in line with the UN Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, the Venezuelan government is obliged to condemn,
investigate, and punish promptly and thoroughly attacks, threats, or
intimidation of human rights defenders. The Venezuelan government must
ensure that human rights defenders can carry out their legitimate
activities without fear of reprisal and with the full cooperation of
the authorities."

HRF is an international nonpartisan organization devoted to defending
human rights in the American hemisphere. It centers its work on the
twin concepts of freedom of self-determination and freedom from
tyranny. These ideals include the belief that all human beings have the
rights to speak freely, to associate with those of like mind, and to
leave and enter their countries. Individuals in a free society must be
accorded equal treatment and due process under law, and must have the
opportunity to participate in the governments of their countries; HRF's
ideals likewise find expression in the conviction that all human beings
have the right to be free from arbitrary detainment or exile and from
interference and coercion in matters of conscience. HRF's International
Council includes former prisoners of conscience Vladimir Bukovsky,
Palden Gyatso, Armando Valladares, Ramn J. Vel!squez, Elie Wiesel, and
Harry Wu.

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