Francisco Usón Explained

Francisco Usón is a former Venezuelan general who was arrested on May 22, 2004 after an interview with journalist Marta Colomina.[1] On December 24, 2007, he was freed on a conditional release.[2]

Career and arrest

After graduating from the military academy, Usón held a number of positions, including Brigadier General and Chief of the National Budget Office, and Minister of Finance of Venezuela in 2002.[3] On April 16, 2004, Usón appeared live on a Venezuelan television program hosted by journalist Marta Colomina. During his interview, Usón was questioned regarding the incidents surrounding the Fort Mara military base, where a fire in a punishment cell burned eight soldiers on March 30, 2004.[4] He was arrested after claiming that the use of a flamethrower to create the fire would have meant premeditation, saying that “This is very, very serious if it ends up being true.”[5]

Human rights groups have called the arrest biased, with the Human Rights Foundation calling it a violation of "his right to be free of arbitrary detainment, the right to speak freely, and the right to equal treatment and due process under the law."[6] On December 24, 2007, Usón was freed on the conditions that he not comment about his case; not participate in any political events, marches, protests, or gatherings; not run for public office; and that he submit to a psychiatric evaluation.[7]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lansberg-Rodriguez. Daniel. In Venezuela, Political Prisoners as Pawns. The New York Times. 23 January 2017.
  2. Web site: Biography: Francisco Uson. Human Rights Foundation. 23 January 2017. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160326172248/http://lahrf.com/reports/usonExecutiveSummary.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Ministerio del Poder Popular para Economía y Finanzas - Galería. April 26, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100426062037/http://www.mppef.gob.ve/inicio/ministerio/galeria. 2010-04-26.
  4. Web site: Octavio. Miguel. Venezuela: General Uson becomes a political prisoner. Vcrisis. April 8, 2013.
  5. Web site: Francisco Usón Full Report. Human Rights Foundation. April 8, 2013. August 13, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120813124747/http://www.humanrightsfoundation.org/reports/UsonFullReport.pdf. dead.
  6. Web site: Francisco Usón Political Prisoner and Prisoner of Conscience of the Venezuela government since May 22, 2004.. The Human Rights Foundation. April 8, 2013. March 12, 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312082858/http://www.thehrf.org/usonExecutiveSummary.html. dead.
  7. Web site: Godoy. Oswaldo. Francisco Usón was released.. Causes.com. April 8, 2013. https://archive.today/20130628205312/http://www.causes.com/actions/18528-francisco-uson-was-released. June 28, 2013. dead.

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