- Roberta Clarke, commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), opened the meeting with a message in support of the Venezuelans
The Organization of American States (OAS) held an extraordinary session on Wednesday, August 28, to discuss the post-electoral situation in Venezuela.
The OAS members presented their views on the events that occurred in the country following the presidential elections of July 28 and proposed joint measures with the aim of promoting political reconciliation in Venezuela.
Roberta Clarke, commissioner of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), sent a message of support to Venezuelans to begin the extraordinary session.
“I want to express my deepest solidarity with Venezuelans inside and outside the country. We recognize their demands for accountability and understand their call to restore democracy and the rule of law,” Clarke said.
The commissioner argued that the IACHR has received information on patterns of “violations of personal liberty.” She explained that since July 29, at least 1,674 people have been detained, including 138 adolescents.
“Furthermore, arrests are being made selectively (…) against those who question the election results announced by the CNE,” Clarke said.
Roberta Clarke, president of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, reported that they have received complaints about illegal cancellations of passports of 36 human rights defenders, journalists and their families.
The most critical voices
The Uruguayan ambassador to the OAS categorically rejected the events that occurred in Venezuela after the presidential elections. He urged the member countries of the organization to have greater empathy with the situation of Venezuelans, especially those who are persecuted for political reasons.
“There are 30 million Venezuelans who are begging for peace, respect and democracy. Can anyone hear them? Or are they condemned to live in hell?” said Washington Abdala, Uruguay’s representative to the American organization.
Abdala criticized those who ask that efforts not be made to solve the crisis in Venezuela.
“Don’t make those arguments with us, we don’t accept them. Venezuelans inside the country or those outside when they receive these comments feel that their achievement, their struggle, their sacrifice are being devalued. Either we put ourselves on the side of courage or we put ourselves on the side of weakness,” he added.
Luis Almagro, Secretary General of the OAS, reported that he has strengthened his contacts with the office of the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the request for charges and arrest warrants “against the main leaders of the Venezuelan authoritarian regime, including Nicolás Maduro.”
Almagro suggested that in the last few hours the Venezuelan authorities have taken measures that could increase the repression: “They hammered the final nail in the coffin with the appointment of Diosdado Cabello as Minister of the Interior and Justice,” he stressed.
The nations spoke
Stuart Savage, Canada’s representative to the OAS, said that his country supports the idea of a negotiated solution as the only way out of the post-electoral crisis. He also urged the Venezuelan authorities to respect the civil and political rights of their citizens.
Raúl Florentín Antola, Paraguay’s representative to the OAS, said that “the events that have occurred in Venezuela over the past month are not new, and he regretted that the repression is repeating itself and even getting worse.
The various reports issued by the IACHR and its special rapporteur give us an account of the serious violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the country (…) We call on the Venezuelan authorities to fulfill their obligations and duties under international law, respecting and protecting the human rights of all Venezuelans without distinction of any kind,” said Antola.
The Chilean delegation held a position similar to that of Canada and urged the promotion of an inclusive and good-faith dialogue in Venezuela. The spokesperson said that “there is no easy way out” and that the Venezuelan people must pave the way to a solution.
“We are closely following the reports and statements of the IACHR and national and international civil society organizations that are documenting this escalation of repression. Once again, authoritarian repression in our hemisphere has already claimed dozens of lives, and criminal charges have been used to persecute dissidents,” said Sebastián Kraljevich, Chile’s representative to the OAS.
Rejection of the TSJ ruling
The Peruvian delegation rejected the ruling of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) that ratified the results of the presidential elections announced by the CNE, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner.
“We have rejected the decision of the Venezuelan Supreme Court to validate the results announced by the National Electoral Council without providing any evidence to support it. This only shows how broad and deep the Venezuelan institutional crisis is,” said José Luis Sardón, Peru’s delegate to the OAS.
The United States delegation to the OAS also reported that its country condemned the ruling of the Electoral Chamber of the TSJ. In addition, it strongly rejected the repression and violence that has been recorded since the day after the presidential elections.
“It is time for Venezuelan parties to begin discussions on a respectful and peaceful transition in accordance with Venezuelan electoral law,” said Frank Mora, U.S. representative to the international organization.
Alejandra Solano, Costa Rica’s representative to the OAS, said that the presidential elections had “clearly violated international democratic norms and standards,” and reiterated her rejection of the TSJ ruling.
“The announcement by the TSJ is an act that undermines the most fundamental principles of democracy. It attempted to validate election results without any basis, endorsing the questioned proclamation of the National Electoral Council,” Solano said.
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2024-08-29 19:43:19
