Vivanco Pops a Vein over Maduro's Upcoming Speech to UNHRC
HRW Executive Director José Miguel Vivanco is adamant that Nicolás Maduro should not address the UN HRC in Geneva tomorrow. He may yet get his wish.
Archivo - En esta fotografía de archivo del 16 de octubre de 2008, José Miguel Vivanco, director para las Américas de Human Rights Watch, habla con la prensa durante una conferencia en Bogotá. La organización identificó el martes 21 de enero de 2014 a Venezuela como el ejemplo latinoamericano de una tendencia global en la que los gobiernos adoptan formalidades democráticas pero sin respetar su esencia. (AP foto/Fernando Vergara, Archivo)
As Nicolas Maduro gears up to address the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva tomorrow, Human Rights Watch Director, José Miguel Vivanco, points out the glaring irony by summing up Venezuela’s embarrassing track record:
The human rights situation in Venezuela has deteriorated dramatically in recent years.Opposition politicians have been arbitrarily arrested, then prosecuted and convicted on politically motivated charges, and barred from running for office in the legislative elections scheduled for December. The government has targeted dozens of lesser-known critics, including independent media outlets and journalists, and harassed human rights defenders. Security forces have arbitrarily arrested, beaten, and tortured largely peaceful protesters without being called to account.
It’s not so much that the emperor has no clothes, it’s that His Majesty is in the middle of a full-on nudist orgy of human rights violations, and using the UN as lube.
Human Rights Watch is, um, more circumspect in its statement. Vivanco merely calls on Maduro’s address to be cancelled, saying “Venezuela should not be allowed to use the council as a vehicle for self-promotion.” And if the current rumor frenzy about a possible drug bust involving high-level chavistas is true, Vivanco just might get his wish.
Caracas Chronicles is 100% reader-supported.
We’ve been able to hang on for 21 years in one of the craziest media landscapes in the world. We’ve seen different media outlets in Venezuela (and abroad) closing shop, something we’re looking to avoid at all costs. Your collaboration goes a long way in helping us weather the storm.
Donate
