Venezuela crisis: Colombia calls for END to Mauro ‘terror regime’ and humanitarian crisis
COLOMBIA has called for action to end Venezuela’s humanitarian crisis and president Nicolas Maduro’s “terror regime” with a transition leading to free elections.
By NICOLE STINSON
Express.co.uk
Wed, Feb 27, 2019
Francisco Barbosa Delgado, human rights counsellor to Colombian President Ivan Duque, addressed the UN Human Rights Council hours in Geneva before Venezuelan foreign minister Jorge Arreaza as tension between the neighbouring South American nations mounts. Mr Barbosa told the meeting: “Action and solidarity should be based on full rejection of dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.
“Last weekend, the world saw directly that the terror regime, whose main characteristic is a violation of human rights, burned food and medicine being sent to hungry, famished people in Venezuela.”
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognised by most Western nations as the nation’s legitimate leader, slipped into neighbouring Colombia last week to lead an abortive effort to bring in humanitarian aid.
He is expected to slip back across the border in coming days.
Mr Barbosa said “In the face of such situations, we cannot remain silent.
“What is needed are actions that promote transition and the holding of free, transparent elections with international monitoring in order to guarantee as soon as possible the establishment of democracy in Venezuela.”
Mr Maduro denies that there is a crisis, despite overseeing a hyperinflationary economic meltdown that has spawned widespread food and medicine shortages.
As Venezuelan foreign minister took the floor at the council dozens of Western diplomats began to walk out of the Geneva forum, a witness told Reuters.
Mr Arreaza denounced the US blockade, sanctions and “theft of assets” of his country, saying $30billion has been “confiscated” since November 2017.
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