Maduro Alerts Guterres on Peril of Possible 'Foreign Interference' Toward Venezuela
Rewritten Article:
September 24, 2024 in Mexico City, Mexico (our website) - While talking with UN Secretary General António Guterres over the phone, President Nicolás Maduro denounced the US-based efforts to destabilize Venezuela. Maduro accused these attempts of openly violating international law and the United Nations Charter.
According to government statements, Maduro expressed his concern about these "destabilization attempts and conspiracies originating from US territory" during their conversation on Friday. He also highlighted the potential for further "external aggression" against his country, such as the recruitment of mercenaries for assassination plots.
Last week, reports emerged about the arrest of several foreigners, including a US Navy SEAL. These individuals are implicated in a plot to kill Maduro and other prominent Venezuelan officials.
Maduro's comments referred to an initiative led by notorious mercenary contractor Erik Prince who recently launched a crowdfunding campaign promoting regime change in Venezuela. The Venezuelan Attorney General's office has opened a criminal investigation into the campaign, accusing its supporters of being accomplices.
The US-backed opposition bloc, led by María Corina Machado, refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of the July 28 presidential election. Their candidate, Edmundo González, fled to Spain earlier this month.
Guterres reportedly expressed worry over the post-electoral situation. He called for a peaceful resolution to the dispute through a "genuine and inclusive dialogue." Guterres also made it clear that the UN rejects regime change and any interference in other nations' internal affairs.
Maduro and Guterres agreed to maintain a high-level dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the office of the secretary general.
The UN has received increased pressure to intervene in Venezuela due to the opposition's allegations of fraud and claims of human rights abuses in the country. Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay have joined forces with the US in calling for an investigation into the alleged abuses by the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Venezuelan authorities have criticized a recent report presented before the Human Rights Council by the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission. The government claims that the mission is illegal, politically biased, and ideologically driven, with links to the now defunct Lima Group coalition.
Due to its objections to the mission's mandate and work, Caracas has chosen not to allow its members to enter the country. Consequently, the mission's conclusions draw upon interviews with people outside Venezuela or via digital platforms.
Venezuelan human rights advocacy groups within the country have raised questions about the mission's repeated renewals and expansions. Since 2019, the mission has been continuously extended, had its mandate expanded in certain ways, and has enjoyed ample financial support.
In February, the Venezuelan government ordered the closure of the local office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) due to its perceived inappropriate role in granting impunity to individuals involved in violent coup attempts.
Despite their differences, Maduro and the UN's coordinator in Venezuela, Gianluca Rampolla del Tindaro, recently held a cordial meeting. Maduro presented evidence of destabilization efforts against his government during the meeting, while Foreign Minister Yvan Gil is currently in New York for the UN General Assembly and bilateral meetings with counterparts.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Lisbon, Portugal.
Additional Insights:- The UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela continues documenting human rights violations, including potential crimes against humanity linked to state repression.- The International Criminal Court (ICC) is actively investigating crimes against humanity in Venezuela. This includes alleged arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, and violence against Indigenous communities in mining regions.- The recent deportation of 137 Venezuelans from the US to El Salvador’s prisons, under the Alien Enemies Act, has heightened tensions.- The World Food Programme (WFP) reported ongoing severe food insecurity and reliance on external aid amid systemic healthcare collapse in Venezuela. The Venezuelan government has failed to implement agreed-upon 2022 humanitarian measures, worsening crises.
- President Maduro, during a phone conversation with UN Secretary General Guterres, denounced US-based efforts for Venezuelan destabilization, claiming they violate international law and the United Nations Charter.
- Maduro's comments referred to an initiative led by mercenary contractor Erik Prince, who recently launched a crowdfunding campaign promoting regime change in Venezuela, for which the Venezuelan Attorney General's office has opened a criminal investigation.
- The US-backed opposition bloc, led by María Corina Machado, refuses to acknowledge the legitimacy of Maduro's mandate, a point of contention that has escalated the political tension in the region.
- The UN Human Rights Council has been under increased scrutiny, with Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Uruguay, along with the US, calling for an investigation into alleged abuses by the council in Geneva.
- In an effort to address the ongoing crisis, Maduro and Guterres agreed to maintain a high-level dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the office of the secretary general, while Venezuelan human rights advocacy groups have raised questions about the mandate and work of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Venezuela.
