Published at: 20/11/2024 10:00 PM

(El Nacional and CLARÍN, November 15, 1962)

• On November 14, 1962, the Military Prosecutor of the Accidental War Council called for more than a THOUSAND years of conviction for alleged guerrilla fighters, in an expedited trial and out of disrespect for all the rules of the military process.
• The accidental court, which was constituted on that date, violating the fundamental rights of the alleged guerrilla fighters, administered justice to 230 defendants in just under 60 hours of hearing.
• President Romulo Betancourt's order was: “Speedy trial and maximum penalty... application of justice in times of war”.
• Among the 230 identified by the government as irregular were Fabricio Ojeda, Clodovaldo Russián Uzcátegui, Luben Petkof, José Manuel “Chema” Saher and Jonás Castellanos; 78 underage students were transferred to the corresponding juvenile jurisdiction and 61 guerrilla fighters were tried in absentia.
• 106 peasants, workers and trade unionists were also prosecuted, without any type of crime having been proven for military rebellion.
• Finally, Fabricio Ramón Ojeda and 12 others were sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison; 132 defendants were dismissed, 78 minors were transferred to INAM and 31 received acquittal.
• The alleged guerrilla fighters were being held in the Libertador Castle in Puerto Cabello, in the San Carlos Barracks and in the Fortín El Vigía de La Guaira, from where they were all transferred to the White Rabbit Indoor Gym in Fuerte Tiuna.
• The vast majority of the defendants were arrested inside their homes, schools or at the headquarters of peasant federations located in the states of Sucre, Lara, Portuguesa, Falcón, Barinas, Mérida, Yaracuy, Miranda and Caracas.

Mazo News Team