"The bill would provide clemency for opposition members and protesters who have been charged with crimes under Nicolas Maduro and Hugo Chavez. The path of this law is going to be full of obstacles, full of bitter moments, said Jorge Rodriguez, the head of the National Assembly. But he added that it would be necessary to swallow hard in order to help the country move forward. We ask for forgiveness, and we also have to forgive, Rodriguez said."
"But critics nevertheless pointed out that the text of the bill has yet to be made public, and it offers no clemency for individuals accused of serious crimes, including drug trafficking, murder, corruption or human rights violations. Instead, media reports about the legislation indicate that it focuses on charges often levelled against protesters and opposition leaders. The bill would grant amnesty to individuals accused of crimes like treason, terrorism, rebellion, resisting authorities."
An amnesty law named the Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence passed an initial unanimous vote in Venezuela's National Assembly. The measure aims to provide clemency to opposition members and protesters charged under the Maduro and Chávez administrations. The bill focuses on charges linked to political activism, including treason, terrorism, rebellion, resisting authorities, instigation of illegal activities and spreading hate when committed in protest contexts. The law would lift candidacy bans for opposition figures and lists demonstrations from 2007, 2014, 2017, 2019 and 2024 as qualifying events. The bill excludes clemency for serious crimes such as drug trafficking, murder, corruption and human rights violations.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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