Luis Camacaro (activist)

Luis Camacaro
Spanish: Luis Enrique Camacaro Meza
OccupationPolitician
Political party
Vente Venezuela

Luis Enrique Camacaro Meza is a Venezuelan opposition politician and the regional coordinator of Vente Venezuela in Yaracuy state.[1] He was detained on 23 January 2024 in connection with the so-called "White Bracelet" conspiracy case against María Corina Machado's presidential campaign and held without external contact for about 27 days before being located at the El Helicoide detention centre in Caracas. Camacaro was released on 8 February 2026 in a group exchange of political prisoners.[2]

Career

Before joining Vente Venezuela, Camacaro served as an adviser to the Yaracuy state legislative council and led the music ensemble LEF.[3] He took over as Vente Venezuela's regional coordinator in Yaracuy from Francisco Ferrer, becoming Machado's campaign manager in the state.[3][4]

Arrest and detention

On 23 January 2024 Camacaro was detained by officers of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) and charged with terrorism in the "White Bracelet" case. On the same day, two other Vente Venezuela coordinators were arrested: Juan Freites in La Guaira and Guillermo López in Trujillo.[3][4]

According to media reports, on 25 January Camacaro and Freites were taken to the Caracas Palace of Justice without their private lawyers or relatives present. More than thirty armed SEBIN officers reportedly cordoned off the building and removed family members and counsel of other detainees awaiting transfer; the hearing went ahead with court-appointed lawyers.[5]

Reactions

Vente Venezuela rejected the charges and demanded the coordinators' immediate release.[3][6] María Corina Machado said the arrests violated the 2023 Barbados Agreement between the Venezuelan government and the opposition.[7]

Camacaro's defence team petitioned the United Nations, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to investigate the case. On 27 February they filed a brief with the Defensoría del Pueblo seeking "the defence of the constitutional and procedural rights of these persons".[6] On 16 February the lawyers stated that the three politicians had been held for 25 days without any disclosure of their place of detention.[8] Relatives and counsel reportedly visited every known holding facility in the relevant states and in Caracas without confirmation of the coordinators' whereabouts.[6] After 27 days—what Vente Venezuela described as a forced disappearance—Camacaro was confirmed to be held at El Helicoide.[9][10]

Personal life

Camacaro suffers from hypertension, gout (uric-acid related) and liver problems requiring continuing medication, and his wife has reported that he is allergic to common anesthetics.[3][11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "El chavismo acusó a tres jefes de campaña de María Corina Machado de estar vinculados en las supuestas conspiraciones". Infobae (in Spanish). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  2. ↑ Foro Penal (8 February 2026). Presos políticos excarcelados el 8 de febrero de 2026 (PDF) (Report) (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 February 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Guillermo López, Luis Camacaro y Juan Freites: los tres coordinadores de Vente Venezuela detenidos". El Pitazo (in Spanish). 24 January 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 "La dictadura de Maduro detuvo al dirigente opositor Luis Camacaro". Infobae (in Spanish). 23 January 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  5. ↑ "Los jefes de campaña de Vente Venezuela detenidos por el régimen fueron presentados ante la Justicia sin sus abogados". Infobae (in Spanish). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "La oposición venezolana denunció la desaparición forzada de tres jefes de campaña de María Corina Machado". Infobae (in Spanish). 1 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  7. ↑ "María Corina Machado denuncia vandalismo y arresto de dos militantes en Venezuela". El Comercio (in Spanish). AFP. 23 January 2024. ISSN 1605-3052. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  8. ↑ Aulino, Carmenmilagro (16 February 2024). "Vente Venezuela denuncia 25 días de desaparición de Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro y Guillermo López". El Impulso (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  9. ↑ "Denuncian que Juan Freites, Luis Camacaro y Guillermo López cumplen un año en El Helicoide". La Verdad (in Spanish). 23 January 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  10. ↑ "Luis Camacaro: un año preso, enfermo y sin juicio en El Helicoide". El Pitazo (in Spanish). 23 January 2025. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  11. ↑ ""Está secuestrado desde el #23Ene": Esposa de dirigente de Vente Venezuela exige saber de su paradero". Runrunes (in Spanish). 1 February 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
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