Members of Venezuela’s political opposition, who have been sheltering for months in Argentina’s diplomatic compound in the capital Caracas, described their deteriorating living conditions on Saturday as they sought to raise a sense of urgency among governments working to secure their departure from their homes. the country
Their comments to reporters via an online news conference came three days after Argentina’s government urged the Organization of American States to press Venezuela to allow the safe passage of six opposition members who were staying at the ambassador’s residence.
According to those who spoke to reporters, the harassment includes constant surveillance by heavily armed security agents, disruptions to water and electricity services, and the arrest this week of a longtime local employee of the Argentine embassy.
“We are seeing how the process of violating our basic human rights is intensifying, and it is important to be able to stop this situation of control and oppression over us, whether psychological or real,” said Magalli Meda, campaign manager of opposition powerhouse Maria. Corina Machado.
Venezuela’s Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello last week called the group’s accusations a “farce.” In August, President Javier Maile’s government handed over the diplomatic compound in Caracas to Brazil after Venezuela expelled Argentine diplomats. The move was prompted by serious fraud allegations after July’s presidential election and claims that both President Nicolás Maduro and the opposition had won.
But Maduro revoked Brazil’s right to protect the facility in September, even as that nation’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva tried to help Venezuela break a political deadlock after the presidential vote.
“The Brazilian Foreign Ministry has made contacts and related arrangements,” said Pedro Uruchurtu, who has been living in the diplomatic facility since March, along with three other men and two women. “We urge Brazil to have a greater sense of urgency, in the sense that this means doubling efforts and coordination with the region and understanding that the situation could clearly worsen and therefore demands the attention of the entire region.” After the July 28 presidential election, Venezuela’s long political crisis deepened.
The country’s National Electoral Council, packed with Maduro loyalists, declared him the winner just hours after polls closed. But unlike previous presidential elections, election officials did not provide detailed vote counts.
Meanwhile, the opposition led by Machado collected tally sheets from 80 percent of the country’s electronic voting machines and posted them online, and it is said that the candidate of the group, Edmundo Gonzalez, won the election with double the votes. maduro
On Wednesday, Brazil’s ambassador to the Organization of American States, Benoni Bailey, told the country’s representatives gathered in Washington to address the situation at the diplomatic compound that the safe passage of opposition members “has been the subject of high-level talks” involving Venezuela. and Brazilian officials, including the country’s foreign affairs ministers.
Diplomatic compounds are considered foreign territory and are considered “irregular” under the Vienna Conventions, and law enforcement agencies of the host country are not permitted to enter without the permission of the ambassador.
Belli said Venezuelan officials have reiterated through “informal statements” that the “indivisibility of property” in Caracas “will be protected.” Later, more than a dozen members of the regional organization joined Argentina’s call for Maduro’s government to allow safe passage to the ambassador’s residence and end the alleged harassment.
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