Clarinetist is jailed in Venezuela over a political tweet
mainKaren Palacio played principal clarinet at the National Philharmonic Orchestra for three months before being offered a contract, subject to a formal audition.
Soon after, she was told the offer had been withdrawn, ‘because I signed against the regime’.
She took to Twitter to complain.
Primera vez que abro un hilo
Les cuento por acá que tengo aproximadamente 3 meses tocando Clarinete (1er clarinete) en la orquesta Filarmonica Nacional. Esperando un contrato de tres meses, que ellos me ofrecieron, para luego presentar mi audición y poder quedar fija.
— Karen Palacios (@KrenClarinet) May 26, 2019
Karen was promptly arrested. She has been held in jail for almost a month by the Maduro regime.
Madre de la Presa Política Karen Palacios, reclama que durante la reclusion de Karen en DGCIM no dejaron que la viera durante 29 días, que teniendo boleta de excarcelación desde el 18/06 aún sigue presa, (ahora INOF) y que ha sido sometida a torturas psicológicas.#LiberenAKaren pic.twitter.com/Pfq8HjnSEN
— Foro Penal (@ForoPenal) July 13, 2019
Please share as widely as you can.
Save Karen.
Last week they shot out the eyes of a 16 year-old boy who was peacefully protesting fuel shortages (google it), on the same day that Bachelet’s UN report was published revealing thousands of extra-judicial killings (google it), and days after they tortured a Navy captain by crushing his bones, then burying him without his family’s consent (google it).
This is the same regime the opportunistic classical music industry has been trumpeting and white-washing for the past 20 lamentable years, despite warnings and protests from the knowing, informed, principled few.
Karen is in our hearts, and campaigns.
Latin America insists on its medieval affairs with authoritarian governments. Sometimes left, sometimes right. Arts do not prevail around here.
Before anyone complains, I’m latin american, born and raised.
The arts do prevail when the artists support the authoritarian government, as in Venezuela. Look at the rise of Dudamel and el Sistema.
This jailing is preposterous and an outrage. She should be immediately freed. At the same time, I hope people will consider history and the outside forces that are a significant part of Venezuela’s duress. The motives of these outside forces are anything but noble. Look at the whole picture.
Outside forces? I take it you mean Russia, China and Cuba?
Hey Dude! Would you give Maduro a phone call and ask him to leave her alone? Where is Gustavo when he is needed.
How despicable and horrible. It shows once again the sheer cruelty of the Maduro regime. I am so sorry for her and her family and wish them all the strength and persistence they can muster.
Does this mean the utopian socialist project doesn’t work, or are your just going to be “different”?
She was out of prision july 16th