MARUAH is deeply disconcerted by the organised military attack on 3 January 2026 by the United States of America (“America”, or the “US”) on Venezuela. We are also deeply concerned over the American capture of Nicolás Maduro, the sitting president of Venezuela, to stand trial in America. These actions in all likelihood constitute violations of international law, including the UN Charter as well as America’s own Constitution as shown in expressed concerns within Congress. We are disturbed by the expressed intentions of America to run Venezuela and to control its oil resources.
As a human rights organisation we condemn the approach, intentions and actions taken by the US as these are violations which can also dangerously disrupt national, regional and international peace and security, jeopardise commitments to the rules-based international order and most importantly endanger civil population. This attack has killed and injured a number of Venezuelans.
We call upon the international community to consider this attack as a human rights violation and to show support to the people in this aftermath by prioritizing protection of human dignity, restoration of democratic rights and provision of humanitarian support. The Venezuelan people have already, for years, endured much suffering from widespread violence, repression and severe economic hardship.
We hope that changes to Venezuela’s political situation will lead to an end of human rights abuses and ensure protection for the people. We urge the international community to work together in addressing the urgent needs of Venezuelans that “everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person” (Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“UDHR”)) and to ensure that everyone, in due course, “has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives” (Article 21 of the UDHR).
We hope that Venezuelan President Maduro, like any individual, will be tried fairly and impartially by an independent and impartial tribunal. The recent events, without due process or international consensus, can dangerously set a wrong precedent on how political leaders are to be held accountable. We reiterate that “everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him” (Article 10 of the UDHR).
MARUAH stands in solidarity with the people of Venezuela.
MARUAH Singapore 