The White House signalled today that sanctions against Venezuelan officials deemed to be responsible for human rights violations were imminent. Press Secretary John Earnest said today that President Obama was ready to sign the bill.
Maduro was quick to react to these latest news, saying that the Alianza Bolivariana para los pueblos de Nuestra America [Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America] had issued a formal response. Through state-owned television, Maduro said:
The ALBA countries wish to express that they will not allow the use of old tactics already used against countries in this region with the goal of achieving political change, as has happened in other parts of the world. In this respect, they express their deepest support and solidarity with the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
He took a more scathing tone later in his speech, saying:
The pelucones [literally, “people who wear wigs”, similar to “aristocrats”, in this case the opposition] are murderers and then they go and ask for the Empire’s help (…) the U.S. thinks that by sanctioning Venezuela we’re going to release the murderer [Leopoldo Lopez]. There’s no way they can pressure us to do anything because Venezuela is a free country. Listen carefully: Our country is free.
U.S. Department of State Issues Venezuela Travel Warning
The Department of State has issued a warning for citizens travelling to Venezuela. This latest warning is an amendment to a warning issued on January of this year, and includes a specific warning to U.S. Embassy personnel and their families.
The warning cites “pervasive” violent crime, including homicide and kidnapping. It highlights the fact that U.S. Embassy personnel in the country “live and work under strict security restrictions”, and calls on all U.S. citizens in the country to “remain vigilant” at all times, and avoid driving at night and wearing jewellery while out.
IACHR Expresses Worry Over Venezuela
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights expressed “deep concern” over the deaths of at least 40 inmates at the Uribana prison in late November.
The organization issued a press release in which it claims to have received information leading to the conclusion that the inmates had been poisoned, and urges Venezuelan authorities to “investigate these acts” according to international human rights standards.
Eternal Commander Alive and Well in Children’s Workshop
The Fundacion Comandante Eterno Hugo Chavez [Eternal Commander Hugo Chavez Foundation] was launched earlier this year at the Instituto de Altos Estudios del Pensamiento Politico de Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias [Institute of Higher Learning of the Political Thoughts of Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias]. The foundation, headed by Chavez’s eldest daughter, Rosa Virginia Chavez, and is primarily responsible for creating museums and exhibitions to honour the life of the late leader.
Starting this weekend, the foundation is hosting a children’s workshop at the Cuaterl de la Montaña, the mausoleum in which Chavez’s remains are kept. The workshop is titled “Writing my story with Chavez”, and (according to the Ministry of Communication and Information), “allows children to write and illustrate their own stories with the Eternal Commander”.
A flyer for the event can be seen below:
In Venezuela 