CARACAS — Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez announced on Friday a sweeping amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of prisoners and said the notorious Helicoide detention center in Caracas will be transformed into a facility for sports and social services. Rodríguez made the announcement during a ceremony marking the start of the new judicial year at the Supreme Tribunal of Justice.The proposed law would cover cases dating from 1999 to the present but would exclude individuals prosecuted for drug trafficking, homicide, corruption and human rights violations, according to the announcement.The amnesty initiative comes amid political tensions following the high-profile capture of former President Nicolás Maduro and his wife by U.S. authorities earlier this month.U.S. officials have signaled their intent to oversee Venezuela’s transition period, including management of the country’s substantial oil assets. Rights groups have responded with cautious optimism. Foro Penal, a Venezuelan human rights organization, said a broad amnesty could contribute to justice, peace and national reconciliation if its terms are inclusive and nondiscriminatory. Supporters of the move argue it might help dismantle the state’s mechanisms of political repression. The Helicoide complex — long condemned by rights organizations, including the United Nations, as a site of abuse and alleged torture — will be repurposed into a center serving community needs, with spaces for sports and social programs, the acting president said.
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