Political Prisoner Francisco Usón – What Can You Do?

You can take action in several ways:

1) Express yourself. Write to Venezuelan authorities:

-Relay your concerns to the relevant authorities in Venezuela.
-Ask for a response to your concerns within a reasonable amount of time
-Express your profound concern over the facts of the case and the numerous violations of rights:

- Franciso Usón was imprisoned for slander. A prison sentence for an act of verbal expression is a violation of elemental principles of freedom of speech. It is also a violation of international treaties signed by Venezuela. The statements made by Usón were opinions protected by freedom of expression.
-Usón’s right to be free of arbitrary detainment, to speak freely, and to equal treatment and due process under the law – all denied.
-Usón was tried by a military court and is held in a military prison. He is a civilian. This treatment violates international treaties signed by Venezuela.

-Call for a full and impartial investigation into the medical error that almost cost Usón’s life while at the Carlos Arvelo military hospital
-Request that Usón be released from Ramo Verde prison
-Usón is demonstrably innocent of the charges

2) Raise awareness about the human rights situation in Venezuela

Tell your friends about Franciso Usón. E-mail this page and request that they spread the word.

3) Support the Human Rights Foundation

Make your voice heard by joining Human Rights Foundation’s network of activists around the globe. Sign up for our email list.

4) Make a donation

Donate now and help Human Rights Foundation promote and defend human rights in the Americas.

5) Get involved!

Contact Human Rights Foundation and find out how you can help!

Write to Venezuelan Authorities:

President Hugo Chávez
Palacio de Miraflores
Avenida Urdaneta
Caracas 1010
VENEZUELA
Email: msecretaria@venezuela.gov.ve

Bernardo Álvarez Herrera
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
1099 30th St., NW
Washington, DC 20007
USA
Email: embajada@embavenez-us.org and despacho@embavenez-us.org

Ambassador Francisco Arias Cárdenas
Permanent Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
335 East 46th Street
New York, NY 10017
USA
Fax. (212) 557 3528
Email: venezuela@un.int and farias@venezuelaonu.gob.ve

We want to know what you think! Please carbon copy (cc) Human Rights Foundation on all correspondence.