Farmer Franklin Brito Rodríguez, who after a court order was put in a military hospital for treatment for the effect of a public hunger strike, is now able to see his family. He has now been returned to his bed on a regular ward of the military hospital in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas,

Franklin Brito Rodríguez had been sedated and taken from his hospital bed on 9 January. His family did not know where he was taken. However, it is now known that hospital staff transferred him to the intensive care department of the military hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since December. On 19 January he was taken back to his previous hospital bed. He is now able to receive visits from his family.

Franklin Brito Rodriguez's story

Franklin Brito Rodríguez a farmer from the village of La Tigresa, Bolivar state, southeastern Venezuela, has been on hunger strike since July 2009, outside the office of the intergovernmental body, the Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas. In December 2009, the Public Prosecutor's Office requested a court order to put him in hospital, as they feared for his health.This court order was granted, and Franklin Brito was placed in a military hospital under military guard on 10 December, a decision that he and his family contested, demanding that he be treated by a doctor of his choice. An appeal against the court order was rejected on 21 December.

On 9 January, hospital staff told Franklin Brito's daughter, who was visiting him, that he was being taken for therapy. She says that they sedated him before taking him away. His family has not seen him since or been told where he was, and they were concerned for his safety. On 11 January, after Franklin Brito was taken away from hospital, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on the Venezuelan government to allow him visits as well as access and treatment from a doctor of his choice, or one provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Franklin Brito began protesting in 2006 against a decision by the Instituto Nacional de Tierras (National Land Institute), a government body, to take ownership of some of his land. This decision appeared to be in reprisal for allegations he made that the mayor of the nearby city of Sucre was corrupt. His protests have included several hunger strikes. According to sources in Venezuela, the central government has given him back ownership of the disputed land and offered him compensation. However, the authorities have failed to evict a group of people who have occupied this land, leading Franklin Brito to begin his most recent hunger strike.

Many thanks to all who sent appeals. Amnesty International will continue to monitor Franklin Brito’s situation.