Disappearance of Venezuelan Aid Worker Ignites Fears of Growing Repression

The last communication from Edni López, a 33-year-old political science professor and poet, was on Sunday. She was at the airport, preparing to fly to Argentina, when she texted her boyfriend about an issue with her passport. "Migration took my passport because it's showing up as expired," she wrote. "I pray to God I don't get screwed because of a system error."

Climate of Fear in Venezuela

López's disappearance adds to the fear and repression in Venezuela following its disputed presidential election. Her mother, Ninoska Barrios, and friends searched detention centres when they realised she hadn't boarded the flight. They discovered on Tuesday that she was held by military intelligence police without access to a lawyer or family.

"Please, give back my daughter," a tearful Barrios pleaded outside Venezuela's top human rights office in a viral video. "It's not right that a Venezuelan mother has to go through all this."

Since the July 28 presidential election, security forces have detained over 2,000 people for protesting against President Nicolás Maduro or questioning his claim of winning a third term. Local human rights group Provea reports that 24 people have been killed during this period.

Widespread Arrests and Repression

The wave of detentions is unprecedented and surpasses previous crackdowns against Maduro's opponents. Those arrested include journalists, political leaders, campaign staffers, and even an attorney defending protesters. Some have had their passports annulled while trying to leave the country.

Maria Oropeza, an opposition campaign leader in Portuguesa state, livestreamed her arrest by military intelligence officers who broke into her home with a crowbar. "You're entering my home arbitrarily, without any search warrant," she said in the livestream that ended abruptly after three minutes.

Phil Gunson, an analyst for the International Crisis Group based in Caracas, noted that the repression is having a chilling effect. "It's not just discouraging protests. People are scared to go on the streets," he said. Parents of teenage boys are particularly worried as anyone can be stopped and detained as a suspected subversive.

Government's Tactics

Maduro has urged Venezuelans to report election doubters via a government-run app initially created for reporting power outages and state service complaints. He also announced plans to refurbish two gang-dominated prisons for an expected surge of jailed protesters.

"There will be no mercy," Maduro declared on state TV.

The government's opponents are changing. While demonstrations are smaller and less organised than before, they are now more spontaneous and often leaderless. Many protesters are young people from Caracas hillside slums who were once strong supporters of the government.

"I don't care how many people have to die," said Cleiver Acuna, a 21-year-old tattoo artist at a recent march where protesters tore down Maduro campaign posters. "What I want is my freedom."

Maria Corina Machado, an opposition leader who rallied support for a last-minute stand-in candidate after being barred from running against Maduro, has urged restraint. "There are times to go out and demonstrate our strength and determination," she said in an online message. "An operational pause is sometimes necessary."

Impact on Communities

In Catia, a low-income neighbourhood in Caracas once loyal to the ruling party, no one talks politics anymore. One woman closed her business when protests began nearby and ran home. She deleted videos of the demonstration from her phone out of fear that the government was tracking social media posts.

"I could get arrested just for having them," she said.

Before the current unrest, Venezuela's human rights record was already under scrutiny. Maduro is under investigation by the International Criminal Court for alleged crimes against humanity committed in the past.

Santiago Canton, secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists, compared Maduro's tactics to those used by military dictatorships in Central and South America during the 1970s. The goal of instilling fear remains the same.

Canton recalled a similar case from Argentina in 1977 when a female activist disappeared after being pulled off a plane bound for Venezuela. At that time, oil-rich Venezuela was a democratic refuge for exiles fleeing military regimes across South America.

"What happened 50 years ago is unlikely to occur again," Canton said. "But social media is a multiplier factor that didn't exist before so you can be more selective with the use of force and achieve the same results."

International Response

Machado has tried to pressure other nations to help end the oppression. "I feel that there has been a lack of firmness from all governments to demand an immediate end to the madness that is happening," she told reporters.

López's friends and family are puzzled about why she was targeted. Since 2020, she has been involved in humanitarian work in poor communities and was honoured as one of Venezuela's "100 Protagonist Women" by the Netherlands Embassy in Caracas.

Her social media profile contains whimsical drawings of butterflies, poems she wrote, and pictures from her travels across Venezuela but no anti-government content.

Cristina Ramirez, who moved to Argentina from Caracas eight years ago, bought López's ticket in May so her friend could enjoy a vacation after a difficult year. López's family is struggling financially, and she takes medicine for diabetes.

"It was going to be her first trip outside Venezuela," Ramirez said in a phone interview. "I'm still waiting for her."