Name: Kenny Colmenares
Arbitrarily detained: July 2, 2017
Place of confinement: Prison 26 de Julio
Occupation: Student
In the early hours of July 2, 2017, policemen, soldiers and hooded men violated the autonomy of the Universidad Pedagógica Experimental Libertador (Upel) to forcefully remove a group of protesters who were protected from the repression inside the house of studies . In that ambush, Kenny Colmenares lost his freedom.
The case of students detained in the Upel has been plagued by arbitrariness, and serious violations of the human rights of young people. During his capture, Kenny and his companions were brutally beaten and threatened by their captors, who told them that they were part of the criminal gang known as “Tren de Aragua”.
Bloodied and with severe marks of physical violence, they were presented before a military court, despite of being civilians. Kenny was charged with possession of flammable material, rebellion and instigation.
On July 5, 2017, he was transferred to the 26 de Julio prison in Guárico state, where he is held with ordinary prisoners. On September 28 of that same year, when the release of the students was expected, the ninth judge of control of Aragua canceled the freedom of Kenny and four other comrades.
Today, he remains unjustly imprisoned in the jails of a common prison. He has been tortured and the conditions of his prison put his life at risk. He’s innocent.
