THE ORGANISATION of American States (OAS) has accused President Hugo Chavez of endangering democracy, intimidating opponents and curbing freedom of speech in Venezuela.
In a 319-page report published this week, the body’s human rights branch – the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights – painted an alarming picture of repression and intolerance.
“The commission finds that the state’s punitive power is being used to intimidate or punish people on account of their political opinions,” it said. “Venezuela lacks the conditions necessary for human rights defenders and journalists to carry out their work freely.”
The report said there was a troubling trend of harassment, violence and judicial action to deter and criminalise protests, leaving Venezuelans cowed. It detailed cases of dozens of judges who were sacked or sidelined for rulings the government did not like. “The lack of judicial independence and autonomy vis-a-vis political power is one of the weakest points in Venezuelan democracy,” it said.
Such strident language from a 34-nation forum that tends to shy away from criticising member states’ internal policies reflected growing concern about Venezuela’s socialist leader.
The report praised Caracas for reducing poverty and illiteracy and increasing access to healthcare but said that did not justify eroding civil rights. Venezuela has not allowed the commission to visit since 2002, so the report was based on hundreds of interviews conducted from Washington, where the organisation is based.
Mr Chavez did not immediately respond but Roy Chaderton, Venezuela’s ambassador to the OAS, criticised the report as the work of “imperialist bureaucrats”.
Gabriela Ramirez, a government-appointed civil rights ombudsman, accused the commission of repeating propaganda from Venezuela’s opposition.
After 11 years in power Mr Chavez remains popular with the poor.
– (Guardian service)