Advocates Appeal to Brazil on Venezuela's Political Prisoners and Mercosur

Representatives for political prisoner Eligio Cedeno visit Brazil to raise
awareness

SAO PAULO, Oct. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Representatives of the Venezuelan political
prisoner Eligio Cedeno are visiting Sao Paulo and Brasilia this week to seek
urgent support against the ongoing abuses of human rights and political
persecution by the Venezuelan government. The situation for Cedeno, who is
just one of dozens of high profile political prisoners in the country, is
currently in legal limbo, as an appeals court of the Supreme Court of Justice
has ordered his immediate release while the 38th control court has so far
refused to fulfill its legal obligation to execute the order.

"Brazil is a prestigious and respected regional leader, and part of the
responsibility of this role is the defense of basic, universal rights," said
Robert Amsterdam, international lawyer for Cedeno. "Right now we are
witnessing the Venezuelan government's open interference in the judicial
process, which poses enormous risks to Brazil as Venezuela's ascension to
Mercosur is under consideration."

The pre-trial detention of Cedeno was first ordered in February, 2007 after he
voluntarily reported to the authorities as part of an investigation into an
alleged foreign exchange fraud. Though under Venezuelan law, the maximum term
for pre-trial detention is two years, Cedeno has been held at the headquarters
of the secret police (DISIP) for two years and eight months without full trial
or conviction. His lawyers believe that the attack was motivated by Cedeno's
financial support of key members of the opposition.

In the recent past, some high profile Brazilian leaders have taken note of
Venezuela's political prisoners. On June 17th, Amsterdam was received by the
President of the Brazilian Senate Jose Sarney to discuss the Cedeno case and
how Venezuela's human rights abuses bear upon Mercosur negotiations.
President Sarney and others have expressed their concern over these cases.

When there is a case involving the dismissal of 17 prosecutors, harassment of
judges and even attempting kidnappings to discourage positive rulings, there
is simply no way that the Brazilians can take any promise from Miraflores with
sincerity, said Amsterdam. "With the latest illegal conduct by the court, the
mask is coming off of the Chavez regime, and Brazil must be made aware that
these same politically manipulated courts are often applied in business
disputes."

More information about the Eligio Cedeno case and the situation of political
prisoners in Venezuela can be found in the white paper entitled "Bolivarian
Rule of Lawlessness," available on www.eligiocedeno.com and
www.robertamsterdam.com/venezuela.

CONTACT: James T. Kimer
+1 (917) 355-0717
james.kimer@ksocialmedia.com

SOURCE Amsterdam & Peroff

James T. Kimer, +1-917-355-0717, james.kimer@ksocialmedia.com