The program Peace Effect #21, broadcast on the night of this Thursday, April 9, analyzed in detail and critically the appointments of Larry Daniel Devoe Márquez as Attorney General of the Republic and of Eglée González Lobato as Ombudsman.
The moderators of the space, Luz Mely Reyes, director of Estudio Cocuyo, and Rafael Uzcátegui, director of the NGO Laboratorio de Paz, had as guests lawyers Ali Daniels, from Acceso a la Justicia, and Clara Ramírez, from the Human Rights in Action Network.
The panelists agreed that the appointments do not meet the constitutional requirements of suitability, independence and manifest competence in human rights. They described them as a continuity of political control over the institutions of Citizen Power.
Daniels explained that the process violated article 279 of the Constitution from the first minute. He pointed out that the Nomination Evaluation Committee was never made up of representatives from various sectors of society, as required by the rules, but was instead reduced to a body made up only of deputies.
“The process was never public. There were no public interviews, the evaluation scales were not published, the deadlines for challenging were not known and nor was a shortlist presented for each position,” denounced Daniels.
Daniels described Devoe Márquez as “an absolutely trusted official” of Delcy Rodríguez and a political operator who has dedicated his career to denying or minimizing human rights violations before the IACHR and the UN.
Regarding González Lobato, he questioned that he does not demonstrate “manifest and proven competence” in human rights.
Clara Ramírez, for her part, acknowledged that expectations are moderate because the process was flawed. However, he insisted that organizations and victims must continue to activate institutions.
“We have to continue reporting, because at some point we will have to sit down with the State and show them what is documented,” he stated.
He proposed concrete signals that could generate credibility: “That the new prosecutor call a press conference and announce that any security official who asks for a citizen’s phone number will be charged. That would be a good start.”
He also suggested that he immediately investigate the attack suffered that same day against defender Marino Alvarado and that he announce full collaboration with the International Criminal Court.
The panelists concluded that, without concrete and immediate actions that demonstrate independence, it will be very difficult for victims and citizens to regain trust in these institutions.
