Mario Silva, host of the “La Hojilla TV” program, has issued a strong call to Venezuelan authorities for an immediate and thorough investigation into the allegations of kidnappings and murders of farmers in Barinas state, allegedly carried out by hitmen or paramilitaries linked to landowners.
Silva underscored the seriousness of the situation, noting that the data journalism platform “La Tabla” has been persistently documenting these incidents, which he believes necessitates a resolute response from the state. “La Tabla is doing it, because I don’t care. No, that’s not it. With just one complaint, just one, it’s vital,” Silva emphasized, highlighting the significance of each individual case.
He drew a parallel with police actions, stating, “When a police officer is reported for committing a crime, it’s true that this officer doesn’t represent the entire police force. This officer is trying to tarnish the National Police’s reputation, and action must be taken against him.” Similarly, Silva argued that the death of a single farmer should trigger mobilization from all relevant authorities, including the Attorney General’s office, to clarify the events and establish accountability.
Silva warned about the dire consequences of inaction: the feeling of impunity among landowners, who, if involved in hiring armed groups, would feel “powerful, owners, as if we were… in the wild west, applying the law, which is the law of the strongest, the law of the gunslinger.” He also expressed concern about potential paramilitary infiltration, a phenomenon that “isn’t our nature, it doesn’t belong to our country.”
The “La Hojilla TV” host urged that we should not wait for a surge in victim numbers, recalling past instances when a high number of farmers were killed. “After the death of a farmer, what should we expect? 10, 15, 20, 150, just because a landowner whimsically decides to kill our farmers?” Silva declared.
Lastly, he reiterated that we “cannot accept this” under any circumstances and demanded action against the responsible landowners, as well as thorough investigations into the potential existence of paramilitary networks operating in the region.