The son of a jailed Venezuelan opposition leader has warned Donald Trump to not be fooled by the country's government, amid accusations it has not kept its promise to release a significant number of political prisoners.
Ramón Guanipa, the son of Juan Pablo Guanipa, said he believed the US president was unaware that only about 40 releases out of more than 800 political prisoners had reportedly been confirmed so far.
On Saturday, Trump thanked the Venezuelan authorities, saying they had started the process, in a BIG WAY. The Venezuelan government announced on Thursday it would release detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups as a goodwill gesture.
The move came after the US seized Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on the capital, Caracas, on 3 January, and took him to New York, where he has been charged with drug trafficking. Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela's National Assembly leader and the brother of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, announced that an important number of Venezuelan and foreign detainees would be released immediately.
On Monday, the government stated more than 100 prisoners had already been released, but this number is much larger than what human rights campaigners have confirmed. Among those confirmed released are several high-profile opposition figures, including human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel, as confirmed by Spain's foreign ministry.
Trump claimed credit for the releases, expressing hope that the freed prisoners would remember they were fortunate that the USA intervened. However, relatives of those still behind bars have expressed frustration regarding the limited number of prisoners who have been set free.
Ramón Guanipa, whose father is a close ally of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, told BBC Mundo: I want to tell President Trump that he must not be fooled and [should] keep pressure on these guys. He acknowledged gratitude towards Trump for the pressure he has exerted but cautioned that the situation is far from resolved.
His father's detention stems from accusations of terrorism and treason after contesting the results of the 2024 presidential election, which lacked transparency and integrity, according to the UN. Ramón Guanipa managed to visit his father only once since his arrest. The tension continues outside El Helicoide prison, where families of detainees gather, hoping for news of their loved ones.
Venezuela's opposition and human rights advocates have long accused the government of using detentions to quash dissent, although officials deny holding political prisoners and assert the detainees were charged with criminal activities. As of now, the small number of releases has raised doubts about the interim government's sincerity regarding cooperation with the US.
Ramón Guanipa, the son of Juan Pablo Guanipa, said he believed the US president was unaware that only about 40 releases out of more than 800 political prisoners had reportedly been confirmed so far.
On Saturday, Trump thanked the Venezuelan authorities, saying they had started the process, in a BIG WAY. The Venezuelan government announced on Thursday it would release detainees considered political prisoners by human rights groups as a goodwill gesture.
The move came after the US seized Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro in a raid on the capital, Caracas, on 3 January, and took him to New York, where he has been charged with drug trafficking. Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela's National Assembly leader and the brother of Interim President Delcy Rodríguez, announced that an important number of Venezuelan and foreign detainees would be released immediately.
On Monday, the government stated more than 100 prisoners had already been released, but this number is much larger than what human rights campaigners have confirmed. Among those confirmed released are several high-profile opposition figures, including human rights lawyer Rocío San Miguel, as confirmed by Spain's foreign ministry.
Trump claimed credit for the releases, expressing hope that the freed prisoners would remember they were fortunate that the USA intervened. However, relatives of those still behind bars have expressed frustration regarding the limited number of prisoners who have been set free.
Ramón Guanipa, whose father is a close ally of opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado, told BBC Mundo: I want to tell President Trump that he must not be fooled and [should] keep pressure on these guys. He acknowledged gratitude towards Trump for the pressure he has exerted but cautioned that the situation is far from resolved.
His father's detention stems from accusations of terrorism and treason after contesting the results of the 2024 presidential election, which lacked transparency and integrity, according to the UN. Ramón Guanipa managed to visit his father only once since his arrest. The tension continues outside El Helicoide prison, where families of detainees gather, hoping for news of their loved ones.
Venezuela's opposition and human rights advocates have long accused the government of using detentions to quash dissent, although officials deny holding political prisoners and assert the detainees were charged with criminal activities. As of now, the small number of releases has raised doubts about the interim government's sincerity regarding cooperation with the US.
