Amnesty International on Tuesday condemned the January 3 attack by the US military on Venezuela and the prosecution of the Maduro government.

On January 3, the Trump administration claimed that it conducted a large strike on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.  US President Trump said he will “run Venezuela”, using the oil industry and wield leverage with Maduro’s successors. In January, Maduro and Flores pled not guilty in US Federal Court to charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons charges. 

Amnesty condemns the capture, stating that it was an unlawful use of force and violated the UN Charter, articles 2(3) and 2(4). Article 2(3) states that members shall “settle their international disputes by peaceful means.” Article 2(4) prohibits use of force, stating: “All Members shall refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the Purposes of the United Nations.”

Amnesty also alleged that the US violated UNGA Resolution 3314, stating “a state’s first use of armed force in violation of the Charter is prima facie evidence of an act of aggression, including bombardment or attacks on another state’s armed forces.” 

“Crimes against humanity do not end with Maduro’s removal. Venezuelan victims, survivors, and their families continue to carry physical and psychological scars. The fate and whereabouts of many people subjected to enforced disappearance remain unresolved. The state machinery responsible for those crimes is still firmly in place, now supported by the US authorities’ involvement,”

said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

Amnesty called for adherence to the UN Charter, and for the US to cease lethal force against drug boats and use of force or threat of use of force against Venezuela.