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place. She has not received any information whatsoever about her nephew after his
detention.
4.
Edgar Román Arias, friend to José Francisco Rivas-Fernández
He was held at the same place where José Franciso Rivas-Fernández was, but has no
knowledge about the circumstances in which his friend was detained.
5.
Alfredo Enrique Vásquez-Loureda, legal representative of Mrs.
Alejandra Josefina Iriarte de Blanco in the criminal proceedings
regarding the forced disappearance of her spouse, Mr. Oscar José
Blanco-Romero
The delays and irregularities of the criminal proceedings regarding the forced
disappearance of Mr. Oscar Blanco-Romero were evident. The DISIP did not
efficiently collaborate to relieve the accused parties from their police duties for the
duration of the criminal proceedings against them. Judicial authorities also acted in a
dilatory manner. Mrs. Alejandra Josefina Iriarte de Blanco's right to be heard was
violated during the proceedings in which he represented her, and so was his right to
intervene on her behalf, in spite of his having duly evidenced he was authorized to
do so. Up to this date, nobody has been convicted for Mr. Oscar José BlancoRomero's disappearance.
6.
Oswaldo José Domínguez-Florido, Thirtieth National Prosecutor
with full federal prosecuting jurisdiction
In August 2001, he was commissioned to intervene in the investigation conducted by
the Office of the General Prosecutor regarding the disappearance of Mr. Oscar José
Blanco-Romero. He participated in the preliminary hearing held at the Fifth Court in
Vargas State, where serious violations of the victim’s rights and due process rules
were committed. On account of the foregoing, he filed a formal report against the
judge in charge of said Court, as well as an appeal against the Court decision
delivered by said judge dismissing the accusation. However, the Court of Appeals for
Vargas State, instead of rectifying the mistakes, regarding both substantive and
procedural aspects, validated them and confirmed dismissal of the accusation by the
prosecution. Consequently, he filed a petition for a writ of amparo (remedy for the
protection of constitutional rights) before the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme
Court of Justice, which declared it admissible and ordered the accusation to be
rectified.
7.
Raúl Cubas-Lisandro, member of the Programa Venezolano de
Educación-Acción en Derechos Humanos (Venezuelan Program of
Education-Action on Human Rights) (PROVEA)
In 1999, he was General Coordinator of PROVEA. His duties were to lobby and
monitor the proposals regarding human rights brought before the Constituent
Assembly. During his involvement in said organization, he became familiar with the
claims and field investigations regarding the possible violations of human rights
committed after the landslide that occurred in Vargas State in December of 1999.