Death of Venezuela's Opposition Figure in Detention Called 'Vile' by US Officials.

The American administration has lashed out at the administration in Caracas over the death of a jailed opposition figure, calling it a "stark reminder of the vile nature" of President Nicolás Maduro's government.

The political prisoner passed away in his detention cell at the El Helicoide prison in Caracas, where he had been incarcerated for more than a year, according to advocacy organizations and dissident factions.

The Venezuelan government reported that the former governor exhibited indicators of a myocardial infarction and was rushed to a hospital, where he passed away on the weekend.

Escalating War of Words Between Washington and Venezuela

This latest criticism from the US is part of an intensifying war of words between the White House and President Maduro, who has claimed America of attempting a change in government.

In the last several months, the America has increased its military presence in the Latin America and has conducted a series of deadly operations on ships it claims have been used for trafficking illegal substances.

US President Donald Trump has accused Maduro directly of being the chief of one of the region's narco-trafficking organizations—an accusation the Venezuelan president categorically refutes—and has threatened the use of force "via a land invasion".

"He had been 'arbitrarily detained' in a 'facility for mistreatment'," declared the US foreign policy division.

Background of the Arrest

The opposition figure was detained in that year after participating with several dissidents to contest the results of that year's national vote.

Venezuela's pro-government national electoral body proclaimed Maduro the victor, notwithstanding opposition tallies indicating their candidate had won by a wide margin.

The electoral process were broadly rejected on the world stage as flawed and unfair, and triggered protests across the country.

Díaz, who was in charge of the island state, was indicted of "incitement to hatred" and "terrorism" for challenging Maduro's electoral win.

Reactions from Rights Groups and the Political Rivals

Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal has expressed alarm over deteriorating circumstances for jailed opponents in the country.

"One more detained dissident has lost his life in Venezuelan prisons. He had been incarcerated for a twelve months, in segregation," posted Alfredo Romero, the body's director, on a social network.

He added that Díaz had only been granted one visit from his family during the whole time of his imprisonment. He added that over a dozen detained dissidents have lost their lives in the country since 2014.

Dissident factions have also criticized the government over the death of the former governor.

María Corina Machado, a well-known opposition leader who won this period's Nobel Peace Prize but who stays in hiding to avoid capture, said that the governor's death was not a one-off event.

"Unfortunately, it joins an concerning and heartbreaking chain of demises of jailed opponents held in the aftermath of the electoral crackdown," she posted.

The opposition alliance said that the former governor "passed away unfairly".

Díaz's own political party, Democratic Action (AD), also honored the former governor, stating he had been wrongly imprisoned without due process and had stayed in circumstances "that should never have violated his human rights".

Broader Geopolitical Strains

Strains between the United States and Venezuela have become progressively worse over what Trump has labeled efforts to curb the influx of narcotics and immigrants into the US.

• US aerial attacks on ships in the Caribbean and Pacific have killed more than 80 persons.
• Trump has alleged Maduro of "releasing inmates from his jails and insane asylums" into the US.
• The US has designated two Venezuelan trafficking organizations as terrorist organisations.

Maduro has for his part alleged the US of using its war on drugs as an justification to overthrow his socialist government and access Venezuela's vast petroleum resources.

The United States has also stationed a large naval force—its biggest presence in the region in many years—along with many soldiers.

In a related move, the Venezuelan military according to reports inducted thousands of recruits in one go on Saturday, in reaction to what military leaders termed US "intimidation".