Two of the women relatives of political prisoners who have been on a hunger strike outside a police command in Caracas since Saturday have suffered health problems this Sunday. One of them fainted twice and collapses every time she tries to get up, while another had headaches and blood pressure problems, and in general, a weariness is already perceived among the protesters, who demand the release of their relatives. The ten women began the strike on Saturday at 6:00 local time (10:00 GMT) outside the headquarters of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) known as Zone 7, in the Venezuelan capital. Petra Vera, who is not participating due to being in remission from cancer, told EFE that the relatives are willing to continue even though 'there is a possibility that they may start to have certain crises from so many hours without eating.' 'We will not rest until we free each of our political prisoners,' she added. The opposition party Primero Justicia (PJ) held the government of Acting President Delcy Rodríguez responsible for 'any damage that the families may suffer.' On February 6, the president of the Parliament, the chavista Jorge Rodríguez, promised the release of 'all' once the amnesty law — still under discussion — was approved, which he estimated would happen 'no later than' last Friday. However, the Legislature, controlled by chavism, postponed on Thursday to next week the second and final debate necessary for the approval of the law, due to differences over an article that requires the accused and convicted to appear before Justice. The head of Parliament reported on Saturday 17 releases in Zone 7. The process of releases and the discussion of an amnesty are happening in a 'new political moment,' announced by the acting head of state, who took office after the United States captured Nicolás Maduro in a military operation in Caracas last January. 'One of the girls has fainted,' Vera said, whose brother-in-law is imprisoned. She indicated that unofficially they learned that inside Zone 7, they are 'forcing to eat' the group of political prisoners who began a hunger strike on Friday and that they are even threatened with 'punishment cells' if they do not do so. On X, the Human Rights Committee of Vente Venezuela (VV), party of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner María Corina Machado, denounced that a police official 'obstructed the entry of serums intended for the political prisoners on hunger strike.' 'Faced with the refusal, two young people who are also on strike entered personally to ensure delivery. Impeding them is a direct violation of fundamental rights,' it expressed. Also on X, Machado said that 'people who are demanding freedom for their relatives are collapsing after maintaining a hunger strike outside the Zone 7 prison'.
