Venezuela’s landmark amnesty bill is postponed as lawmakers clash over requiring dissidents to appear in court to request the reprieve.

CARACAS: Venezuelan lawmakers have postponed the adoption of a landmark amnesty bill after failing to agree on its application.

The bill, designed to end the use of courts to crack down on dissent, hit a snag during its second reading.

Pro-government and opposition lawmakers clashed over an article requiring would-be beneficiaries to appear in court to request the amnesty.

Opposition member Nora Bracho called the requirement “completely unnecessary” and argued the amnesty should apply automatically.

Pro-government lawmaker Iris Varela countered that beneficiaries must “acknowledge crimes they have committed” before their cases are closed.

Lawmakers voted to continue the debate on February 19.

The bill is the centrepiece of reforms undertaken by acting President Delcy Rodriguez since Nicolas Maduro’s capture.

It aims to turn the page on nearly three decades of state repression and covers charges of “treason,” “terrorism” and spreading “hate”.

The amnesty is expected to lead to the release of hundreds of activists still imprisoned six weeks after Maduro’s downfall.

More than 400 political prisoners have been released so far but over 600 remain, according to rights group Foro Penal.

Thousands of opposition supporters poured into the streets of Caracas to demand the release of all remaining political prisoners.

“We are not afraid,” demonstrators chanted in their biggest show of force in years.

“We spend a lot of time underground, silent in the face of all the repression Venezuela experienced… but today we are rising up,” geography student Dannalice Anza told AFP.

The ruling socialist party organised a counter-demonstration attracting thousands of pro-Maduro youths.

Rodriguez has also ordered the closure of the notorious Helicoide prison, denounced as a torture centre by rights groups.

The bill lifts bans on several opposition members, including Nobel Peace laureate Maria Corina Machado, on running for office.

Venezuela’s attorney general told AFP the amnesty should apply to opposition members and “chavistas” alike.

Rodriguez took Maduro’s place with the consent of US President Donald Trump, provided she does Washington’s bidding.

Trump has taken over control of Venezuela’s oil sales, which he says will benefit both Venezuela and the United States.

His administration has also pressured Rodriguez to release political prisoners.

On Thursday she toured oil fields with visiting US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who pushed for a “dramatic” increase in Venezuela’s oil output.

Rodriguez faces possible resistance to her reform effort from within her administration.

Opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa was released from prison on Sunday only to be rearrested hours later after calling for free elections.

He has since been placed under house arrest.

 The Sun Malaysia