Parents of Juan Pablo Pernalete demand justice from new Attorney General: 'We don't want revenge, we want justice'
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- The parents of Juan Pablo Pernalete, a youth killed in 2017 anti-government protests, are demanding the new Attorney General reopen cases of victims from that year that remain unpunished.
- They seek comprehensive justice, including accountability for the chain of command, not just material perpetrators, and public recognition of the events for symbolic reparation.
- The family highlights that the case of Juan Pablo Pernalete, who died from a tear gas canister fired by the National Bolivarian Guard, has seen incomplete judicial processes and calls for action from the new ombudswoman.
The Venezuelan Program of Education-Action in Human Rights (Provea) stands in solidarity with the parents of Juan Pablo Pernalete, Elvira Llovera and José Gregorio Pernalete, as they bravely demand justice nine years after their son's tragic death. Their call to the new Attorney General, Larry Devoe, to reopen the cases of victims from the 2017 protests is a powerful reminder that impunity cannot be the final word.
Le exigimos que actúe con independencia e imparcialidad. Reabrir el caso de Juan Pablo Pernalete y de todos los jóvenes asesinados en las manifestaciones del año 2017
Provea supports the Alianza de Familiares y Víctimas 2017 (ALFAVIC) in their insistence that investigations must extend beyond those who pulled the triggers to encompass the entire chain of command responsible for the human rights violations during those demonstrations. The Pernalete family's fight for comprehensive justice, including symbolic reparation through public acknowledgment by the Venezuelan state, is a testament to their resilience.
La justicia no se negocia
It is deeply troubling that, despite the Fiscalía's eventual recognition of military responsibility in Juan Pablo's death, the judicial process remains incomplete. The archiving of investigations against eleven officers and the dismissal of the family's accusation underscore the systemic obstacles to justice in Venezuela. This situation is not unique to the Pernalete case; it reflects a broader pattern of unaddressed violations documented by the UN Fact-Finding Mission and under scrutiny by the International Criminal Court.
Eso no es justicia
As international outlets may focus on the broader geopolitical implications or the actions of the International Criminal Court, here in Venezuela, this is a deeply personal and urgent matter of accountability. The Pernalete family's plea, "We don't want revenge, we want justice, and justice is not negotiated," resonates with countless other families seeking closure and an end to the cycle of violence and impunity. We echo their call to the new ombudswoman, Eglée González Lobato, to uphold her constitutional mandate to combat impunity and stand with the victims.
No queremos venganza, queremos justicia, y la justicia no se negocia
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by El Nacional in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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