Charles alarmed at alleged human rights violations in Venezuela

MP for Naparima Rodney Charles. -
MP for Naparima Rodney Charles. -

NAPARIMA MP Rodney Charles on Friday expressed his alarm at a recent UN report alleging crimes against humanity in Venezuela, but Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Amery Browne said he could not yet comment as he has not seen the report.

The United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council said its mission to Venezuela had investigated 223 cases and reviewed 2,891 other cases to find “egregious violations” by the Venezuela Government, State agents and groups working with them.

“It identified patterns of violations and crimes that were highly coordinated pursuant to state policies, and part of a widespread and systematic course of conduct, thus amounting to crimes against humanity.”

The mission said top state authorities held power and oversight over the security forces and intelligence agencies responsible for these violations.

“President Maduro and the Ministers of the Interior and of Defence were aware of the crimes. They gave orders, coordinated activities and supplied resources in furtherance of the plans and policies under which the crimes were committed.”

The mission said the Venezuelan authorities and security forces had executed serious human rights violations, including arbitrary killings and the systematic use of torture, amounting to crimes against humanity.

“Far from being isolated acts, these crimes were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies, with the knowledge or direct support of commanding officers and senior government officials.”

The report said torture was used including stress positions, asphyxiation, beatings, electric shocks, cuts and mutilations, death threats and psychological torture.

“Intelligence agencies also subjected dissidents – both men and women, to sexual violence including rape with body parts or objects, and threats to rape either the detainee or the detainee's loved ones, forced nudity, as well as beatings and electric shocks to the genitals.”

Browne told Newsday, “I haven’t seen the report you are referring to as yet. It has not come to my desk. But if I do, maybe we can speak then.”

Charles told Newsday, “We are troubled by the finding that far from being isolated acts, these crimes against humanity, including arbitrary killings and torture, were coordinated and committed pursuant to state policies with the knowledge or direct support of ‘commanding officers and senior government officials.’

“What is most incomprehensible is that this Keith Rowley administration by various acts, of omission and commission, has persistently cosied up to this administration that the UN has condemned as committing sustained acts of oppression against its citizens.”

Charles lamented that TT had hosted Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez in a meeting in defiance of US sanctions and totally unmindful of whether she may be part of the atrocities unearthed in the UN report.

He said TT was paying a huge price, yet to be determined, for what was taking place in Venezuela.

“Anecdotal evidence on the streets suggests that one in 12 persons in our country may be Venezuelan. If correct, we may be harbouring close to 100,000 uninvited guests in our midst. Most have not been tested for covid.

“Yet Rowley refuses to develop a comprehensive refugee policy since it requires an acknowledgement of a humanitarian crisis next door.”

Charles said the UNC has called in vain for a proper refugee policy which is humane, acknowledges TT’s international treaty obligations, is based on global best practices, recognises the limits of our absorptive capacity and is based on our skills deficiencies.

“We have also asked for TT to act as an honest broker bringing contending forces in Venezuela to the table of reason.

"By siding so openly with Maduro, we have lost the credibility to lead such an initiative in Caricom.”

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"Charles alarmed at alleged human rights violations in Venezuela"

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