In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Diana Tique’s hopes of reuniting with her brother, Manuel Tique, a 33-year-old humanitarian worker detained in Venezuela, were dashed last week. Despite rumors that Venezuela’s government would release several Colombians held without trial, Manuel was not among the 18 individuals freed on Friday. “It was devastating,” Diana lamented in Bogota, Colombia, where she has only been allowed two brief phone calls with her brother since his detention in September 2023.
Human rights organizations, including New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), have raised alarms over Venezuela’s alleged use of foreign nationals as political bargaining chips. According to HRW, approximately 80 foreign citizens from countries such as Spain, France, Colombia, and the Czech Republic are being held without trial. Many of these individuals, including Manuel Tique, were detained while entering Venezuela as tourists and are now held in Rodeo One prison, where conditions are described as “tantamount to torture.”
Manuel, who worked for the Danish Refugee Council, was detained in Apure, Venezuela, while en route to conduct a workshop for local aid groups. Venezuelan Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello later accused him of recruiting mercenaries to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro, a claim vehemently denied by his family. “My brother is not a terrorist,” Diana asserted, emphasizing his lack of prior international travel.
The situation underscores Venezuela’s strained relations with countries that have refused to recognize Maduro’s controversial reelection in 2023. Colombia, despite strengthening diplomatic ties with Venezuela, has not acknowledged the election results and continues to advocate for the release of its citizens. In July 2023, the U.S. secured the release of 10 American citizens through a prisoner swap, highlighting the international dimensions of this issue.
As Diana Tique struggles to find legal representation for her brother, fears grow that Manuel could face a lengthy prison sentence unless a bilateral agreement is reached. The Venezuelan human rights group Penal Forum reports that 20 Colombians remain detained without trial, further complicating diplomatic efforts.