Published at: 17/04/2024 09:00 PM

• At the time of the Government of Raúl Leoni, the deputy for the PRIN (Revolutionary Party for Nationalist Integration), José Vicente Rangel, reported to the Chamber of Deputies of the National Congress that the student Cornelio Alvarado Herrera died as a result of the torture that was inflicted on him in the cells of the General Directorate of Police (Digepol) in Maracay.
• José Cornelio “Nikita” was initially arrested, on March 17, 1968, in a sector of Bella Vista near San Martín Avenue where his residence was located. He was released and arrested again on April 11, days later Digepol agents reported that he had died of a heart attack in the cells of Maracay.
• During his speech, Rangel stated that the headquarters of this police institution was located 50 meters from the Miraflores Palace, making it unlikely that President Raúl Leoni was not aware of the torture and humiliation inflicted on detained students and left-wing leaders.
• The deputy pointed out that there was a team of tormentors who had killed several alleged guerrilla fighters. In turn, they had several women and men in custody without a court order.
• On that occasion, José Vicente Rangel said that “during the administration of President Raúl Leoni, more than 300 people disappeared, some of them shot.”
• On the same day that José Cornelio was arrested, his sister Mercedes' apartment in Caricuao was raided. A month later, police officers returned to inform him that his brother had died a natural death.
• The revolutionary fighter Lino Martínez stated that, while imprisoned next to the cell where Nikita was, he was able to hear the torture to which he was subjected and testified that his death resulted from them.
• This happened when the head of the Internal Relations office was adeco Reinaldo Leandro Mora. However, it is well documented that in reality Carlos Andrés Pérez continued to direct, from his seat as a deputy, all policies of State repression.

Mazo News Team