Venezuela: Twitter Users Detained After Socialist Party Deputy is Slain

http://advocacy.globalvoicesonline.org/2014/10/22/venezuela-twitter-users-detained-after-socialist-party-deputy-is-slain/


Over the last three weeks, several Twitter users have been detained by Venezuelan authorities for making online comments that police allege tie them to the murder of 27-year-old Socialist Party deputy Robert Serra, who was stabbed to death in his home on Oct. 1, 2014.

Serra's assassination shook the country's increasingly embattled political leadership and further stoked the already-high tensions between authorities and opposition party members. Although two men, both reportedly Serra's bodyguards, have been detained as suspects in his killing, numerous other citizens have been detained in connection with the incident.

At least two individuals were detained in connection with the @Hiipolita Twitter account, where an alleged fortune teller foresaw “mourning” in the National Assembly.

Several other individuals have been detained for tweets that authorities claim link them to Serra's death:
•On October 14, Ginette Hernández, community manager at the television channel E! Entertainment Television, and her uncle Lessy Hernańdez were detained in connection with the @Hiipolita account.
•Daniely Benítez (@pretinha76), a flutist with the Caracas Marching Band and vocalist of Brazilian music group Só Sambistas, was detained, also in connection with @Hiipolita. Benítez stands accused by Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly and a steadfast Chavez supporter. She has since been released and her detention declared wrongful.
•On Oct. 7, Scientist Inés Margarita González was detained and charged with inciting crime via messages published on her account regarding her opinion on the death of Serra. She has been incommunicado since her arrest.
•On Oct. 8, Abrahan David Muñoz (@abrahamdz) was arrested and detained. He faces the same charges as González, also concerning his comments regarding Serra’s death. Muñoz was taken to the intelligence headquarters (SEBIN) in Caracas, but was later released on probation.
•On Oct. 13, Víctor Ugas was detained for spreading pictures of Robert Sierra’s body, allegedly taken at the morgue. Ugas is being charged with improper disclosure of data and espionage.