BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - SEVERAL days after the US Government spoke out against President Nicolas Maduro’s issuance of arrest orders for some 33 Venezuelans, the Organization of American States (OAS) has added its voice to the mix by condemning his actions.
Reports claimed that the dictator has prosecuted and imprisoned journalists, opposition members and members of civil society, and the OAS believes that such actions undermine the democratic elections process which is due to be held this year.
“The recent actions of the Venezuelan dictatorship of prosecution and political imprisonment of opponents, especially those linked to the majority opposition leadership, have made it clear that the dictatorship had no intention of allowing clean and transparent elections to be held,” the OAS said in a media statement.
“The clear objectives of political persecution that have been exposed were reaffirmed with the ratification of the disqualification of the candidate who won the primaries and who is first in the polls, María Corina Machado,” the statement added.
Maduro recently came in for heavy criticisms over his claim of two-thirds of neighbour Guyana.
Political pundits have asserted that the move by the President is because he is falling out of favour with the country over the economic turmoil and social poverty gripping the people currently.
“The leadership of María Corina Machado is irreplaceable, as is all leadership that arises from the convictions and interests of the people. It would be pathetic and repulsive if someone tried to take that position, ignoring the indisputable popular assertion that occurred in the country in the primaries.
“This dictatorial logic of political persecution and violation of the political rights of citizens - absolutely foreseeable and to be expected given the background of the regime - once again eliminates for Venezuela the possibility of free, fair and transparent elections,” the OAS added.
Just recently, the United States Department of States noted and expressed concern over the actions of Maduro, calling for the end of “politically motivated harassment, including attacks upon opposition campaign offices and all efforts to stifle the democratic aspirations of the Venezuelan people through fear and intimidation”.
“The United States is deeply concerned by the issuance of arrest orders and detentions against at least 33 Venezuelans, including members of the democratic opposition, civil society, former members of the military, and journalists,” the press statement said.
Meanwhile, the OAS statement said: “The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (OAS), which in recent years has shown that it will not accept any dictatorial ideology, will continue to speak out against and denounce the dictatorship and its authorities, and will never abandon the fight for the return of democracy to Venezuela. We must never believe that this dictatorship will fulfill agreements and commitments that it has made; the most persistent thing has always been their violation.”
