Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed a humanitarian agreement for a prisoner exchange with Venezuela, offering to repatriate 252 Venezuelans in return for political prisoners detained by Maduro’s regime. Bukele emphasizes the criminal nature of detainees in El Salvador, while claiming political prisoners in Venezuela are unjustly imprisoned for their opposition.
On Sunday, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele proposed an agreement with Venezuela for a prisoner exchange. He suggested repatriating 252 Venezuelans deported to El Salvador by the United States in exchange for an equal number of political prisoners currently held by President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
Bukele articulated his proposal on X, stating, “I want to propose to you a humanitarian agreement calling for the repatriation of 100 percent of the 252 Venezuelans who were deported, in exchange for the release and handing over of an identical number from among the thousands of political prisoners that you hold.”
He reiterated that all detainees in El Salvador were implicated in gang activities, particularly the Tren de Aragua, labeled as a terrorist organization by Washington. Since the Trump administration’s crackdown, 288 individuals suspected of gang affiliations have been sent to El Salvador.
This arrangement involved the United States financially supporting Bukele’s administration to detain these individuals in the notorious CECOT prison. However, the Trump administration has faced legal challenges, with recent Supreme Court rulings halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.
In contrast to the detainees in El Salvador, Bukele stressed that the political prisoners in Venezuela have not committed any crimes but are jailed due to their opposition to Maduro. He is advocating for the release of several prominent Venezuelan figures, stressing their unjust detention as politically motivated.
Among those Bukele mentioned are notable individuals such as journalist Roland Carreno and human rights activist Rocio San Miguel. Additionally, he referenced the cases of 50 foreign nationals from various regions, including the Americas and Europe.
The proposal by President Bukele of El Salvador for a prisoner exchange with Venezuela highlights ongoing tensions regarding human rights and political repression. By comparing the allegations against Venezuelan detainees with the status of political prisoners in Venezuela, Bukele aims to underscore the humanitarian aspect of his proposal. The situation reflects complex international relations, especially amid the Trump administration’s deportation policies.
Original Source: www.rfi.fr
