8,191,132 rapists

Yesterday we learned that Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, Hugo Chávez’s most visible political prisoner, was tortured and raped while in jail. She bravely told her story in a...

Brave lady

Yesterday we learned that Judge Maria Lourdes Afiuni, Hugo Chávez’s most visible political prisoner, was tortured and raped while in jail. She bravely told her story in a book by Venezuelan journalist Francisco Olivares.

The situation at the INOF women’s prison – where sexual assault and prostitution are the norm – is nothing short of horrific.

But you know what the saddest part about this is? That the institutions will simply yawn while our red “public sphere” will not care.

Luisa Estella Morales will surely cast doubt on Afiuni’s words. Luisa Ortega Díaz will probably launch an investigation … on the journalist.

And the voters? Bien gracias. They couldn’t care less about Afiuni and the other political prisoners. Why, they have *rewarded* Hugo Chávez for locking them up!

These “citizens” are not mere passers-by. They cannot say “we like Chávez, but we don’t approve of this.”

Chavismo IS chaos. Chavismo IS tolerance toward crime. Chavismo IS a system that empowers criminals.This is not some regrettable side-effect we are talking about.

By voting for Chávez, they become accomplices of a system that dehumanizes innocent people, and even guilty ones. They are giving the thugs the tools to carry out their deeds with total impunity.

I have no qualms in accusing them – by rubber-stamping the rape and torture of Maria Lourdes Afiuni, they are also guilty.