‘When these kinds of tensions persist, it is always the Venezuelan population that ends up paying the price.’
E.M.F.
E.M.F. supports victims of human rights abuses and uses international legal mechanisms – such as the Inter-American Human Rights System and the International Criminal Court – to ensure they have access to justice. He follows the escalation with concern, warning that the regime and external actors continue to undermine international law.
The population as a pressure tool
The recent tensions at sea and in the air are not isolated events. According to E.M.F., the government of Nicolás Maduro deliberately uses international confrontations to strengthen internal control. ‘In times of international pressure, we see more arrests, more intimidation, and it is the population that pays the price,’ he says.
Hundreds of political prisoners remain detained, including foreigners and several Dutch citizens. Their detention is used as a pressure tactic, and international tensions further worsen their situation.
According to E.M.F., this dynamic receives little attention in international debates on sanctions, military presence, or deterrence. ‘The focus is on states and power blocs, but rarely on what this concretely means for people who have lived for years in a context of structural lawlessness.’
Illegal actions and the right to life
Also of concern are attacks on alleged drug shipments in the Caribbean, often along routes used by Venezuelan migrants and refugees. The country has now produced over 7.7 million displaced people, one of the largest refugee crises worldwide. The actual circumstances remain unclear due to a lack of independent investigation and transparency.
‘Even if it were about drug trafficking, that does not justify extrajudicial executions. It is a blatant violation of international law.’
E.M.F.
Civilians are also at risk, as these routes are used by various groups involved in migration and human trafficking. Legal action requires arrest, investigation, and trial, not executions. Departure points are now tightly controlled by authorities and militias, making independent documentation virtually impossible.
Machado and the Nobel Prize
In this tense context, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado recently received the Nobel Peace Prize, recognising her role as a peaceful and legitimate figurehead of the opposition. E.M.F. emphasises: ‘Machado represents the opposition and deserves this recognition.’
The award provides political protection: ‘It acts as a shield and raises the political costs of detention.’ For many who have lived for years under intimidation, scarcity, and violence, the prize is also a sign that their struggle is acknowledged. It generates hope and confirms that peaceful action is internationally seen and supported.
At the same time, E.M.F. warns that the Nobel Prize alone does not change power dynamics. ‘Hope is important, but this recognition should not be used to justify violence or military action. That would only worsen the situation.’
Elections without a real choice
According to E.M.F., the core of the Venezuelan crisis lies in the lack of democratic legitimacy. Last year’s presidential elections offered no real alternative. ‘The population expressed itself, but those elections were stolen. That undermines any claim to legitimacy by those in power,’ he states.
After the announcement of the results, protests were harshly suppressed by armed groups, with fatalities. ‘It shows how vulnerable citizens are when they try to make their voices heard.’
Repression is not limited to formal state institutions. Over the years, the government has forged close ties with paramilitary groups, including the so-called “colectivos,” which actively suppress opposition and protests. The ELN, a Colombian guerrilla group, is also active on Venezuelan territory. These groups intimidate protests and control densely populated neighbourhoods, increasing the risk of violence during any political transition, especially if it occurs abruptly or in an uncoordinated manner.
A peaceful way out
For E.M.F., it is not about ideology but ending large-scale human rights violations. He advocates a peaceful, negotiated transition but warns that without real, coordinated pressure, it can become a mechanism for buying time and normalising abuse. ‘Only a process that provides guarantees to the population can halt the violence,’ he says. Reparation for victims is essential: ‘Without reparation, there can be no justice.’
The international community, and Europe in particular, has a role to play – not through military pressure, but through active engagement in a genuine democratic solution: guiding a transition and significantly strengthening the rule of law. ‘It is about reinforcing institutions, safeguarding rights, and preventing abuses from the past from recurring.’
Without this focus, Venezuela remains captive to geopolitics, and the population again pays. For E.M.F., a peaceful political transition is not a luxury but essential for justice and stability.
