The former leaders also called for the “immediate capture and arrest” of their number two, Diosdado Cabello, and the entire chain of command in the country.
“For the first time, 31 former presidents, former heads of state of Latin America and Spain, sign a document (…) calling for the immediate capture and detention of Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello and the entire chain of command in Venezuela,” he told EFE Former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana, who on behalf of the signatories submitted a six-page legal report to the Court’s Prosecutor.
The signatories also include Spaniards Felipe González, José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy; as well as Colombians Álvaro Uribe and Iván Duque; Argentine Mauricio Macri; Mexican Vicente Fox and Bolivian Carlos Mesa.
“It is important to note that in Spain Felipe González, José María Aznar and Mariano Rajoy signed it. The only former president who did not sign it is (José Luís Rodríguez) Zapatero,” Pastrana said after meeting with prosecutor Karim Khan’s team at the ICC headquarters.
The signatories, who are part of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA-Democrática), denounced in their legal report “widespread and systematic violations of human rights,” including “crimes against humanity” by the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, which they accuse of “state terrorism.”
This complaint, which extends to members of the Venezuelan Army as the fundamental support of the Maduro regime, is added to the case opened against Venezuela at the ICC in 2021.
Read more: Maduro brought forward Christmas in Venezuela: “It will come with peace, happiness and security”
In November of that year, the ICC prosecutor opened a formal investigation against Venezuela after having examined the complaints of Peru, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile and Paraguay, stating that crimes against humanity had been committed in the country since February 12, 2014.
For now, the investigation is being carried out against Venezuela and not against any senior officials from the Latin American country.
The “core” of the legal report presented by the former Ibero-American leaders focuses on the existence of the Constitutional Law of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, which was sanctioned on January 29, 2020, which names Maduro commander in chief, such that since then he is the highest hierarchical authority of the Army, as contemplated by law.
“It is important because, according to that document, Venezuela ceases to be a civilian state and becomes a military state,” said Pastrana, and Maduro, in his role as supreme commander, is “directly responsible for what is happening through the operational chain of command,” as well as the other positions, since “due diligence today is no longer an excuse to exempt you from investigations.”
Read also: Why did the US confiscate Nicolás Maduro’s official plane?
“There is state terrorism promoted directly by the President of the Republic,” said Pastrana, who offered the International Criminal Court the cooperation of the IDEA group to obtain “evidence, proof, legal support” so that it can act “quickly” in the case against Venezuela.
In his meeting with prosecutor Khan’s team, Pastrana also wanted to “draw attention to what was happening” in the country and to the “concern” for the safety of Colombian opposition leaders Edmundo González and María Corina Machado, whose situation is “very fragile,” as well as the “more than 1,200 political detainees.”
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#IberoAmerican #leaders #ICC #capture #arrest #Maduro
What actions are former Latin American leaders advocating for regarding Nicolás Maduro and the Venezuelan government?
Table of Contents
- 1 What actions are former Latin American leaders advocating for regarding Nicolás Maduro and the Venezuelan government?
- 2 What legal frameworks support the international community’s demand for the arrest of Venezuelan leaders Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello in light of alleged human rights violations?
Former Latin American Leaders Unite to Demand Justice for Venezuela
In a historic move, 31 former presidents and heads of state from Latin America and Spain have joined forces to demand the immediate capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and the entire chain of command in Venezuela. This unprecedented show of unity comes as the International Criminal Court (ICC) continues its investigation into crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Venezuela.
The former leaders, who are part of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA-Democrática), have submitted a six-page legal report to the ICC prosecutor, denouncing “widespread and systematic violations of human rights” and “crimes against humanity” committed by the Maduro regime. They accuse the Venezuelan government of promoting “state terrorism” and have called for the ICC to take swift action.
The Case Against Venezuela
The ICC investigation into Venezuela was opened in 2021, following complaints from several countries, including Peru, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay. The ICC prosecutor has stated that crimes against humanity have been committed in Venezuela since February 12, 2014.
The legal report presented by the former Ibero-American leaders focuses on the Constitutional Law of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, which was sanctioned in 2020 and names Maduro as commander in chief. This law, according to the report, makes Venezuela a military state, with Maduro directly responsible for the actions of the Army and other security forces.
A Call to Action
The former leaders are urging the ICC to act quickly to bring those responsible for the alleged crimes to justice. They have offered the cooperation of the IDEA group to obtain evidence, proof, and legal support to aid in the investigation.
In addition to Maduro and Cabello, the signatories have called for the immediate capture and arrest of the entire chain of command in Venezuela, including members of the Venezuelan Army, who are seen as fundamental supporters of the Maduro regime.
International Support
The ICC investigation into Venezuela has received international support, with countries such as the United States and Canada invoking the Montreal Principles, which allow countries to take action against human rights violators.
Background
Venezuela has been plagued by political and economic instability in recent years, with widespread human rights abuses and violations reported. The country’s once-thriving economy has been decimated, and millions of Venezuelans have fled the country in search of better living conditions.
What’s Next?
The ICC investigation into Venezuela is ongoing, and the prosecutor’s office is expected to continue gathering evidence and testimony from witnesses. The former leaders’ call to action has added pressure on the ICC to take decisive action against those responsible for the alleged crimes.
As the international community continues to grapple with the crisis in Venezuela, one thing is clear: the demand for justice and accountability is growing louder by the day.
Sources
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InternationalCriminalCourtinvestigationin_Venezuela”>[2]
What legal frameworks support the international community’s demand for the arrest of Venezuelan leaders Nicolás Maduro and Diosdado Cabello in light of alleged human rights violations?
International Community Calls for Arrest of Venezuelan Leaders, Including Maduro and Cabello
In a significant development, 31 former presidents and heads of state from Latin America and Spain have come together to demand the immediate capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Diosdado Cabello, and the entire chain of command in the country. This unprecedented move is a response to the widespread human rights violations and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by the Maduro regime.
The call for action is backed by a six-page legal report submitted to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) by former Colombian President Andrés Pastrana, who represented the signatories. The report accuses the Venezuelan regime of “state terrorism” and highlights the role of the Constitutional Law of the Bolivarian National Armed Forces, which appoints Maduro as commander-in-chief and makes him directly responsible for the actions of the military.
The signatories, including prominent leaders such as Felipe González, José María Aznar, and Mariano Rajoy of Spain, as well as Álvaro Uribe and Iván Duque of Colombia, Mauricio Macri of Argentina, Vicente Fox of Mexico, and Carlos Mesa of Bolivia, are part of the Democratic Initiative of Spain and the Americas (IDEA-Democrática). They have denounced the Venezuelan regime’s “widespread and systematic violations of human rights” and “crimes against humanity”[[[1]].
This move comes as the ICC has already opened a formal investigation into Venezuela in 2021, following complaints from Peru, Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Chile, and Paraguay. While the investigation is currently focused on the country as a whole, the new report adds pressure on the ICC to hold senior officials accountable for their actions.
The call for action is not limited to Maduro and Cabello. The former leaders have also expressed concern for the safety of Colombian opposition leaders Edmundo González and María Corina Machado, whose situation is “very fragile,” as well as the “more than 1,200 political detainees” in Venezuela[[[1]].
Interestingly, a Venezuelan judge has recently issued an arrest warrant for former opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González, highlighting the tense political climate in the country[[[2]][[[3]].
The efforts of the former leaders and the ICC are crucial in holding the Venezuelan regime accountable for its actions. As Pastrana noted, “there is state terrorism promoted directly by the President of the Republic”[[[1]]. The international community must come together to support the people of Venezuela and ensure that those responsible for human rights violations are brought to justice.
References:
<a href="https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2024/09/03/venezuela-prosecutors-seek-arrest-of-opposition-presidential-candidate67245424.html”>[3]
