2023-10-18 07:00:00
To begin with, Medea Benjamin, a renowned American activist, comments that it was not easy to enter the Miami prison where the Colombian-Venezuelan businessman Álex Saab is being held, accused in the US of money laundering and being a front man for President Nicolás. Ripe.
(Also read: Is the US promoting new negotiations with the government of Nicolás Maduro?)
His defense assures that these accusations are false and that Saab – whom they consider a diplomat – is a “victim” of the US, where he was extradited in 2021 after 16 months imprisoned in Cape Verde.
Benjamin, co-founder and member of the Code Pink organization, tells EL TIEMPO that after almost two months and “a lot of paperwork,” she was able to talk in person with Saab, who would be willing to accept a humanitarian exchange.
(Also read: UN Rapporteurs ask the United States to release Álex Saab: why?)
What was the process like to visit Saab if only his lawyers have been allowed to see him?
I asked for the visit, I filled out a lot of paperwork and then they gave me permission. I was in prison for two hours and we talked about many things.
What things did they talk about?
Medea Benjamin, American activist.
He wanted to talk about his stay there, how he was treated in Cape Verde and he cried for the things they did to him in that country. But not only the things that have been done to him but to his family, the sanctions against his oldest children that have nothing to do with Venezuela.
What have they done to Saab’s family?
They have harassed the family, Camila his wife, whom they have blackmailed trying to break him, saying that if he signs a paper, if he says in front of the camera that he ignores the Government of Venezuela, he can be a free man. But he has a commitment to the people of Venezuela and remains very firm.
What do you mean by standing firm?
I was surprised by the courage he has, the sense of honor he has with his people.
There are accusations against him…
He told me the maneuvers he had to do just to get the food to Venezuela, taking ships, covering the names of the ships and other things to be able to get food, as he says, to 6 million people.
Well… What other things did Saab say?
He also talked about his health and that he hasn’t really been able to have a serious medical visit, that he has seen the doctor in prison, but he just says that he does have very high blood pressure and that he should relax and put his feet up.
What diseases do you have?
He has serious stomach problems and depression problems and wants to be seen by a doctor.
How did you see him physically?
By appearance, good. He was very happy to have the visit, he smiled a lot. But the health problems he has are not entirely visible. He was a cancer patient, he still has stomach problems, he must have a special diet and of course in prison he doesn’t have it. He needs special medications and they don’t give them to him.
Why do you defend Álex Saab?
We have always been in the campaign for the freedom of Álex Saab, but I confess that I had not found out many details, and one thing is a protest and shouting freedom and another thing is entering such a gray prison and seeing this man and the evil that the United States Government is doing against him.
He had no need to be working for Venezuela. He had a good business in Colombia with 50,000 employees, he was a very successful man in his business and to see a man who at one time had everything and now is reduced to a man in prison.
But what do they do to Saab in prison?
The mistreatment they give to all prisoners. I have a lot of resentment against the United States Government that has created a case against Saab just because some money passed through US banks. The United States is exerting its force by getting into a case that has nothing to do with the United States , but we have seen how they recognize Juan Guaidó and everything they have done to try to change the Maduro Government. I understood very well what a case of a political prisoner is like.
What is the prison like? Are you alone? Is it isolated?
Saab places his hope in improving relations between Venezuela and the United States.
No, he is not alone, he is close to other prisoners. But he does remember when he was in Cape Verde. The lawyers have told me that he has a good relationship with the other prisoners and it is interesting because it seems that he now functions as a mediator when there are fights between the prisoners, they have a lot of respect for him.
At least he has the possibility of speaking on the phone with his wife, he has contact with his lawyers who are the only ones who go to prison.
But you managed to enter…
In my case it was an exceptional case, and I got permission through a lawyer and it took a while.
When you talk about torture, what are those tortures?
He was talking about what happened in Cape Verde, electric shocks. He says that Americans were in Cape Verde and after a long time he was able to see Venezuelans. He said that at first they even threw his food on the floor.
Banners with the request for the freedom of Alex Saab in Venezuela.
Since you had the opportunity to speak with Saab, did you give him a message? How do you see her situation?
He said he is very happy that economic conditions are improving in Venezuela despite everything the United States is doing. He said Guaidó was a clown now in Miami.
He said that we had to continue fighting for the sanctions to be lifted. He has also found Venezuelans in prison and that many of them want to return to Venezuela because they thought that by coming to the United States they would find the American dream and what they found was a nightmare.
He also talked about his family, that they are going to meet again. He assured that the Government of Venezuela was doing everything possible to obtain his freedom. We talked about what was done almost a year ago with a prisoner exchange between the United States and Venezuela and he hopes that it can happen in his case, because he has no faith in the US justice system.
How does Saab know about the news you comment on?
He does not have access to the Internet, when he sees the lawyers they show him. She receives news through the radio, but it is the most conservative in Miami. She has one call a day.
So he considers himself a political prisoner…
He knows this case is political. With all the arguments they gave the judge that he is a diplomat and everything is still against him. Now with the appeal process he knows that in Miami he will not have justice and that is why he places his hope in an improvement of relations between Venezuela and the United States.
ANA MARÍA RODRÍGUEZ BRAZÓN
TIME CORRESPONDENT
CARACAS
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