IACHR calls for continued pressure on Venezuela: “It will only be too late when there is silence”

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) remains firm in its condemnation of the development of the electoral process in Venezuela and urges the international community not to lower the pressure: “It will only be too late when there is silence”the organization’s rapporteur for that country, Gloria Monique de Mees, told EFE.

“The moment when there is silence on the part of the international community, on the part of the countries of the inter-american systemit will be too late”. Meanwhile, he pleads in a telephone interview, “There is hope”.

This very week the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) of Venezuelacontrolled by magistrates close to Chavez, ratified the disputed victory of Nicolás Maduro in the elections of last July 28 against the opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia.

With his ruling he said he concluded in a manner “unequivocal“the review of the elections at a time when the National Electoral Council (CNE) has not yet published the disaggregated results, despite what was indicated in the schedule prepared by the governing body.

The rapporteur of the IACHR condemns the validity and integrity of that opinion.Firstly, because the validation of election results is outside of its mandate and jurisdiction.“,” says De Mees, who took up his post in January for a four-year term.

His organization had already called in the past for the urgent restoration of democratic order and Rule of law in Venezuela or access to public electoral information through the dissemination of all the minutes, among other requirements.

Not publishing the minutes, in his opinion, “It is a clear sign” that is being intended “consolidate the power of the regime”.

Eleven American countries – Argentina, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, the United States, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay – rejected the judicial expert opinion requested by Maduro after the Supreme Court ruling.

“Recognition or non-recognition is a sovereign political decision of each country. The commission will not comment on that.”, says De Mees, originally from Suriname and who in her career has advised nationally on the Inter-American Human Rights System or on legislation and policies.

The question of what else can be done about the situation in Venezuelaadds the expert, “It’s on everyone’s mind”.

In addition to the presentation of the minutes, the IACHR, a principal and autonomous body of the Organization of American States (OAS)advocates for continued monitoring of the situation on the ground and for intensifying engagement with human rights defenders there and civil society organisations.

The IACHR does not have the authority or mandate to demand a rerun of the elections. That does not mean, De Mees stresses, that it was “very clear“in their expectations regarding respect for the political rights of Venezuelans.

From a personal point of view, she says she has hope and trusts that this message will reach Venezuelans.

“We must project and express to the Venezuelan population that we have hope and that the commission will maintain its monitoring mandate.“, says the professor of Human Rights at the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.

De Mees believes that the Venezuela’s structural problems have gotten worse, “Not only in volume, but in terms of the terror that is being perpetuated.”, and reiterates its request that the international community continue to denounce it.

Whether at the bilateral or multilateral level through diplomatic channels, “The actions of the international community can have a great impact”, concludes the expert, emphasizing that the IACHR will not give up on its efforts to achieve restoration in Venezuela”of democratic institutions and the rule of law”.