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Document #2015749
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ottawa
According to sources, Democratic Action (Acción Democrática , AD) is a Venezuelan political party founded in 1941 (AD n.d.a; Globovisión 26 Mar. 2017). However, the Political Handbook of the World 2015(PHW) states that AD was created in 1937 (PHW 2015, 1623). Sources indicate that AD is the one of the oldest political parties in Venezuela (Agencia EFE 25 Mar. 2017; RFI 5 Jan. 2016). According to BBC, AD "was one of two parties that alternated in power for four decades before President Hugo Chávez was elected president in 1998" (BBC 4 Jan. 2016a).
Sources indicate that AD is an opposition party (Jane's Intelligence Review31 July 2014; Miami Herald13 Nov. 2015). According to Agencia EFE , a Spanish international news agency, in March 2017 AD proclaimed itself the leading party of the opposition (Agencia EFE 25 Mar. 2017). Sources indicate that AD is part of the Table of Democratic Unity (Mesa de la Unidad Democrática , MUD) [1] (International Crisis Group 21 May 2014, 10; Jane's Intelligence Review31 July 2014). Jane's Intelligence Reviewreports that, as a member of the MUD, AD advocates for "dialogue with the government" and that it is a "moderate part[y]" compared to "more radical parties" (Jane's Intelligence Review31 July 2014). According to International Crisis Group, the MUD's "core steering group … usually includes representatives" of AD, among others (International Crisis Group 21 May 2014, 10). The same source also reports that MUD's "[d]ay-to-day decisions are taken by the G4, the four biggest opposition parties in parliament," which includes AD (International Crisis Group 16 Dec. 2016, 9).
Sources indicate that Isabel Carmona de Serra serves as the President of AD (PHW2015, 1623; Agencia EFE 25 Mar. 2017; AD n.d.b). Sources describe Henry Ramos Allup as the Secretary General (BBC 4 Jan. 2016a; PHW2015, 1623; Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015) or National Secretary General (AD n.d.b). According to the website of AD, the party's organizational structure also consists of the following:
The website of AD indicates that 15 mayors across Venezuela belong to AD (AD n.d.c). The same source indicates that there are 35 deputies in the National Assembly (Asamblea Nacional ) that belong to AD (AD n.d.d). Globovisión , a Caracas-based television network, reports that AD has 26 deputies in the National Assembly and 14 mayors across Venezuela (Globovisión 26 Mar. 2017). Sources indicate that Henry Ramos Allup was elected as President of the National Assembly in January 2016 (BBC 4 Jan. 2016b; Miami Herald3 Jan. 2016; RFI 5 Jan. 2016) and was replaced in January 2017 (Panorama5 Jan. 2017; El Nacional 5 Jan. 2017).
According to the website of AD, the party's objective is to [translation] "represent and defend the interests of the most vulnerable sectors of society and those of progressive people committed to a more just, egalitarian and democratic Venezuela" (AD n.d.e). According to the PHW, AD is "[a]n advocate of rapid economic development, welfare policies, and Western values" (PHW 2015, 1623). BBC reports that AD is a social-democratic party "which has long been opposing the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro and his predecessor in office, Hugo Chavez" (BBC 4 Jan. 2016a). Sources indicate that AD is a member of Socialist International [2] (Socialist International 7 Dec. 2015; El Nuevo País and Revista Zeta 1 Mar. 2017), whose Vice-president is Henry Ramos (RFI 5 Jan. 2016; El Nuevo País and Revista Zeta 1 Mar. 2017).
In correspondence with the Research Directorate, a representative of AD at the Trujillo branch of the party stated that to become a member of AD, the applicant must be Venezuelan by birth and 15 years of age or older (AD 8 June 2017). The same source explained that the applicant must fill out an official form at the local branch (AD 8 June 2017). The requirements and procedures are reviewed, processed and administratively approved by the Secretary General of the local branch before being sent to the [translation] "confidential national registry of party membership," which is managed by the National Executive Committee in Caracas (AD 8 June 2017). Further and corroborating information on the requirements and procedures to become a member could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to the representative of AD at the Trujillo branch, the membership card of AD provides the name of the party, the first and last name of the member, the date of the card's issuance, card number, and the issuing authority which is the one that signs the card (AD 8 June 2017). Further and corroborating information on the appearance of membership cards could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to the representative of AD at the Trujillo branch, in Trujillo the Secretary General of the branch issues proof of membership, which verifies that the person is a member of the political party (AD 8 June 2017). The proof of membership is sealed and signed by the Secretary General of the Trujillo branch (AD 8 June 2017). Further and corroborating information on the proof of AD membership could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to sources, a parliamentary election took place in Venezuela on 6 December 2015 (El Mundo 22 June 2015; Jane's Intelligence Review 26 Nov. 2015). Jane's Intelligence Reviewreports that, leading up to the 6 December 2015 parliamentary elections, pro-government armed groups known as colectivos were "mobilised to dissuade the MUD from campaigning in areas which the [ruling] PSUV [Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela or United Socialist Party of Venezuela] perceives to be pro-government strongholds" (Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015). For further information on the colectivos, including their relationship with authorities, see Response to Information Request VEN105785 of 17 May 2017.
Jane's Intelligence Reviewindicated, at the end of November 2015, that "[t]here [had] been at least five incidents in which pro-government armed groups [had] fired weapons during MUD rallies" since the beginning of the month (Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015). Infobae, an Argentinean news website, indicates that the opposition reported [translation] "at least" three attacks during the electoral campaign, including, in several cases, with firearms (Infobae 25 Nov. 2015).
Sources report that Luis Manuel Díaz, a leader of AD in Atagracia de Orituco, was killed on 25 November 2015 during a political rally (BBC 26 Nov. 2015; Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015) organized by the MUD in the lead-up to the parliamentary elections (Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015). Sources report that, according to Ramos Allup, Díaz was killed by pro-government armed groups (Jane's Intelligence Review26 Nov. 2015; BBC 26 Nov. 2015) of the PSUV (BBC 26 Nov. 2015; Infobae 25 Nov. 2015). According to CNN, Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), had stated that the assassination of Díaz was "organized by the regime" (CNN 26 Nov. 2015). BBC cites Almagro as stating that the killing of Díaz is not an [translation] "'isolated event, but that it is part of other attacks against political leaders of the opposition in a strategy to intimidate the opposition'" (BBC 26 Nov. 2015).
In contrast, Infobae reports that, according to Ramón Rodríguez Chacín, the governor of Altagracia de Orituco and supporter of the government, Díaz was part of Los Plateados, a criminal group dedicated to extortion and kidnapping (Infobae 27 Nov. 2015). Further information about Los Plateados could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Media sources report that President Maduro has denied the allegation that Díaz was killed by pro-government groups (BBC 26 Nov. 2015) and that the assassination was caused by a confrontation between gangs (CNN 26 Nov. 2015). Sources further report that President Maduro has launched an investigation into the killing of Díaz (BBC 26 Nov. 2015; CNN 26 Nov. 2015). CNN reports that the Public Ministry commissioned a federal prosecutor and a state prosecutor to lead the investigation into the death of Díaz (CNN 26 Nov. 2015). Further information about the investigation could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
According to the Miami Herald, Henry Ramos Allup has "been on the receiving end of attacks from a government that has painted him as the symbol of everything wrong with the 'Fourth Republic'" [3] (Miami Herald4 Jan. 2016). Sources report that Ramos Allup stated on his Twitter page that officials of the National Bolivarian Guard (Guardia Nacional Bolivariana , GNB) detained his car in April 2017 on a toll highway in the state of Carabobo and tried to arrest him (El Nuevo Herald 3 Apr. 2017; Panorama1 Apr. 2017). According to Ramos Allup, he had been followed up to that point by members of the Bolivarian Intelligence Services (Servicio de Inteligencia Bolivariano , SEBIN) who were in a taxi without license plates, and the GNB agents told him that he did not have parliamentary immunity (Panorama1 Apr. 2017; El Nuevo Herald 3 Apr. 2017). Further information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate within the time constraints of this Response.
Sources report the detention of Maria José Brito on 9 June 2017 by the police when she was painting a political graffiti in Anzoátegui (El Tiempo 10 June 2017; El Nacional 10 June 2017). El Nacional , a Caracas-based newspaper, reports that Brito is an AD student leader in the state of Anzoátegui (El Nacional 10 June 2017). El Tiempo , a Puerto La Cruz-based newspaper, reports that another version of Brito's detention is that she reportedly splashed a police officer with paint while she was arguing with the police officer (El Tiempo 10 June 2017). El Tiempo cites Carlos Andrés Michelangeli, a deputy of the National Assembly for AD, as stating that the police beat Brito while she was in detention (El Tiempo 10 June 2017). El Nacional also reports that, according to Elías Campo, Brito's legal representative, Brito was beaten while in detention (El Nacional 10 June 2017). Sources indicate that Brito was released the same day (El Nacional 10 June 2017; El Tiempo 10 June 2017).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Notes
[1] MUD is a coalition of opposition political parties (Jane's Intelligence Review31 July 2014; The Economist15 May 2017). International Crisis Group states that, according to the MUD website, the MUD is "an alliance of political parties at both national and regional levels" (International Crisis Group 21 May 2014, 10). According to The Economist, the MUD was "formed in 2008 to present a united front against the PSUV government," and the main parties that are part of the MUD are First Justice (Primero Justicia ), AD, A New Time (Un Nuevo Tiempo ), and Popular Will (Voluntad Popular ) (The Economist15 May 2017).
[2] Socialist International is the "worldwide organisation of social democratic, socialist and labour parties. It currently brings together 150 political parties and organisations from all continents" (Socialist International n.d.).
[3] According to the Miami Herald, the Fourth Republic refers to the "time before Hugo Chávez won office, embraced '21st Century Socialism' and rewrote the constitution in 1999" (Miami Herald4 Jan. 2016).
Acción Democrática (AD). 8 June 2017. Correspondence from a representative with the Research Directorate.
Acción Democrática (AD). N.d.a. "Nuestra Historia ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
Acción Democrática (AD). N.d.b. "Estructura Organizativa . " [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Acción Democrática (AD). N.d.c. "Nuestros Alcaldes ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Acción Democrática (AD). N.d.d. "Nuestros Diputados en la Asamblea Nacional ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Acción Democrática (AD). N.d.e. "Propósito y Visión ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Agencia EFE . 25 March 2017. "Partido Acción Democrática se autoproclama líder de oposición en Venezuela ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 4 January 2016a. "Venezuela Opposition Names Henry Ramos Allup Assembly Head ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 4 January 2016b. "Venezuela: la oposición elige a Henry Ramos Allup para presidir la Asamblea Nacional ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 26 November 2015. "Venezuela: denuncian muerte a tiros del político opositor Luis Manuel Díaz durante mitin electoral en Altagracia de Orituco . " [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Cable News Network (CNN). 26 November 2015. "Tintori culpa al Gobierno de violencia y el oficialismo dice que hay campaña de mentiras ." [Accessed 16 June 2017]
The Economist. 15 May 2017. "Venezuela: Political Forces at a Glance ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
El Mundo . 22 June 2015. Álex Vásquez. "Las elecciones en Venezuela serán el 6 de diciembre ." [Accessed 20 June 2015]
El Nacional . 10 June 2017. "Le lanzaron pintura y la detuvieron por pintar grafiti en Anzoátegui ." [Accessed 13 June 2017]
El Nacional . 5 January 2017. "Julio Borges es el nuevo presidente de la Asamblea Nacional ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
El Nuevo Herald . 3 April 2017. Johanna A. Álvarez. "Ramos Allup se le enfrenta a militares y los llama 'ladrones' ." [Accessed 16 June 2017]
El Nuevo País and Revista Zeta . 1 March 2017. Héctor Becerra Vidarte. "Internacional Socialista: Más de 166 años velando por el progreso de las naciones ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
El Tiempo . 10 June 2017. "Oposición rechazó la ANC en calles de Pozuelos ." [Accessed 13 June 2017]
Globovisión . 26 March 2017. Paola Ñáñez. "Especial: Acción Democrática y Primero Justicia 'eximidos' ante prueba del CNE ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Infobae . 27 November 2015. "Venezuela: dolor y reclamos en la despedida de Luis Manuel Díaz, el opositor asesinado ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
Infobae . 25 November 2015. "Responsabilizan al partido de Nicolás Maduro por el asesinato del dirigente opositor Luis Manuel Díaz ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
International Crisis Group. 16 December 2016. Venezuela: Tough Talking . Latin America Report No. 59. [Accessed 1 June 2017]
International Crisis Group. 21 May 2014. Policy Briefing. Venezuela: Tipping Point . Latin America Briefing No. 30. [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Jane's Intelligence Review. 26 November 2015. "Killing of Politician Belonging to Political Opposition in Venezuela Signals Rising Risks of Politically-related Violence Through 2016 ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Jane's Intelligence Review. 31 July 2014. "Venezuelan Government Consolidates its Grip on Power as Opposition Divisions Force a Renewal of MUD Coalition Leadership ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Local 10 WPLG. 3 June 2017. Cody Weddle and Andrea Torres. "Venezuelan Crisis Comes with Censorship, Mounting Death Toll ." [Accessed 13 June 2017]
Miami Herald. 4 January 2016. Jim Wyss. "Venezuela's New Congressional Leader: Maduro Should Consider Stepping Down ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Miami Herald. 3 January 2016. Jim Wyss. "Venezuela's Opposition Elects Seasoned Veteran as Next Congressional President ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Miami Herald. 13 November 2015. Jim Wyss. "Scarcity, Mistrust, Chaos Ahead of Venezuelan Vote ." [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Panorama. 1 April 2017. "Ramos Allup denunció que la GNB intentó detenerlo en peaje de Taborda, Carabobo ." [Accessed 16 June 2017]
Panorama. 5 January 2017. R. Peña and L. Martínez. "Julio Borges es electo nuevo presidente de la Asamblea Nacional para el periodo 2017 ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Political Handbook of the World 2015(PHW) . 2015. "Venezuela." Edited by Thomas Lansford. Washington, DC: CQ Press. [Accessed 1 June 2017]
Radio France internationale (RFI). 5 January 2016. Véronique Gaymard. "Venezuela: climat tendu pour l'investiture de la nouvelle Assemblée ." [Accessed 2 June 2017]
Socialist International. 7 December 2015. "A New Venezuela ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Socialist International. N.d. "About Us ." [Accessed 20 June 2017]
Oral sources:Acción Democrática – Seccional Bolívar, Seccional Caracas, Seccional Guárico, Seccional Zulia, Sede Nacional .
Internet sites, including:Al Jazeera; Amnesty International; Deutsche Welle ; ecoi.net; Fédération international des ligues des droits de l'Homme ; Freedom House; The Guardian; Haaretz; Human Rights Quarterly; Human Rights Watch; Institute for War and Peace Reporting; Interpress News; IRIN; Journal of Refugee Studies; Los Angeles Times; Minority Rights Group International; The New York Times; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty; Russia Today; Today Venezuela; UN – Refworld, Reliefweb; UPR Info; US – Department of State.
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