Venezuela plans amnesty law for prisoners, vows to convert major prison center

Venezuela's interim president Delcy Rodriguez on Friday announced a proposed "amnesty law" for hundreds of prisoners in the country, and said the infamous Helicoide detention center in the capital Caracas will be converted into a center for sports and social services.



"May it be a law that serves to heal the wounds left by political confrontation, violence, and extremism. May it serve to restore justice in our country and restore peaceful coexistence among Venezuelans," Rodriguez said at an event at the Supreme Court of Justice.



The proposed law could affect hundreds of detainees who remain behind bars in the South American country, as well as former prisoners who have already been conditionally released. The new law will cover cases running from 1999 until today, but will exclude those who may have participated in killings, serious abuses of human rights and drug trafficking, Rodriguez said.



Rights group Foro Penal welcomed the announcement "with optimism, but with caution" in a statement, adding it hopes the law will contribute to justice, freedom, peace and national reconciliation. The group said that current prisoner releases announced earlier this month should continue while the law is being approved. It has tallied 711 remaining political prisoners.