[Peace-discuss] Venezuela Denounces at OAS US Intervention Aimed at Ousting Chavez (English)

[Phil Stinard]

Venezuela Denounces at OAS US Intervention Aimed at Ousting Chavez
Thursday, Apr 01, 2004


By: Venezuelanalysis.com

Caracas, Venezuela. Apr 1 (Venezuelanalysis.com).- The Government of 
Venezuela denounced before the Organization of the American States (O.A.S.), 
the intervention of the government of the United States in Venezuela’s 
internal politics aimed at ousting President Hugo Chavez.

Through a speech before the Permanent Council of the O.A.S., the ambassador 
of Venezuela before that organization, Jorge Valero, denounced actions by 
the government of the United States that violated Venezuela’s sovereignty 
and articles 3 and 19 of the O.A.S. charter.

"The Bolivarian Government denounces in a responsible manner before this 
forum, that the U.S. National for Endowment Democracy (NED) has been used - 
and continues being used by the Government of the United States, to support 
undemocratic activities of groups of the opposition in Venezuela," Valero 
said.

The ambassador stressed the democratic and peaceful character of the 
Venezuelan process of changes led by President Chavez." The Bolivarian 
revolution has a democratic and peaceful character, but it is being opposed 
irrationally by minority sectors that, allied with international interests, 
who fear losing their immoral privileges," Valero stressed.

Valero denounced that the 11 of April, 2002 coup d'etat, and the oil 
sabotage that caused more than 10 billion dollars in losses, were actions 
that counted with the support "of personalities of the Department of State 
and the National for Endowment Democracy (NED)."

"Officials at the Department of State and the Permanent Mission of the 
United States before the O.A.S. made on Friday 12 of April of the 2002 (the 
day after the coup), engaged in an intense lobby campaign before this 
organization, and before the diplomatic body of Latin American and Caribbean 
countries in Washington, destined to justify the coup d'etat in Venezuela. 
Meanwhile, in Caracas, the Ambassador of the United States, Charles Shapiro, 
made a "courtesy visit" to Dictator Pedro Carmona Estanga," said the 
Ambassador.

Valero added that the same year that the coup d'etat took place, the US 
Agency for International Development (USAID) of the Department of State, 
also disbursed two million dollars to support leaders and Venezuelan groups 
they call "moderate" but that in reality were opposed to President Hugo 
Chávez.

The ambassador denounced the aid of the National for Endowment Democracy to 
SUMATE, the group that organized the signature collection process to request 
a recall referendum against Chavez.

The NED has also been financing the Center for Justice & International Law 
(CEJIL), to promote denunciations against the Venezuelan Government in the 
matters of human rights before the Inter American System of Human Rights.

Valero invited OAS members to visit the website www.venezuelafoia.info, 
where one can find copies of the documents that show the monetary and 
logistical aid of NED to the political opposition of Venezuela.

What would be the reaction of the Government of the United States, if a 
foreign government financed political parties or NGOs so that they interfere 
in its national or international policy; to sabotage nuclear plants; or to 
call U.S. citizens to stop recognizing or to rebel violently against its 
democratic institutions,” asked the Ambassador.

"We demand a stop to the foreign intervention in Venezuela," concluded 
Valero.

The whole speech is available in Spanish at 
www.aporrea.org/dameletra.php?docid=7633

U.S. reactions

The reaction from the U.S. government came out immediately. John Maisto, 
permanent representative of the United States before the O.A.S., said at the 
meeting that "these irresponsible and baseless accusations are being made to 
distract the attention of the Permanent Council and international public 
opinion from what we all know is the real issue at stake in Venezuela". 
Maisto was referring to the process of referendum underway in Venezuela to 
revoke the mandate of President Chavez.

“My Government is proud to promote democracy and democratic institutions in 
the Hemisphere,” Maisto added.

Recent claims of kidnapping of the President de Haiti by U.S. forces, and 
well know U.S. campaigns aimed at toppling governments in Central America 
and Chile; seem to contradict the U.S. government’s claims of “promoters of 
democracy around the world.”

The evidence of the financing by the U.S. government to anti-Chavez groups, 
has received coverage in foreign media, revealing before international 
audiences what some describe as an imperialistic attitude of the Bush 
administration towards Venezuela.

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