BTN News: The Organization of American States (OAS) is convening an extraordinary session on Friday to address the ongoing political crisis in Venezuela following the disputed re-election of Nicolás Maduro in the controversial presidential elections held on July 28. The meeting, scheduled for 20:00 GMT (3 p.m. in Colombia) at the OAS headquarters in Washington, was called at the request of the United States, as announced by the organization in a statement on Thursday. This session comes in response to growing international concern and aims to evaluate a resolution that could significantly impact the future political landscape in Venezuela.
The proposed resolution, supported by a coalition of countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Uruguay, urges the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE) to promptly release the voting records for each polling station in the presidential elections. This transparency measure is deemed crucial for allowing an impartial verification of the election results, which have been widely contested. The document also calls on the Maduro government to respect fundamental human rights, such as the right to peaceful assembly without fear of retaliation, protection against arbitrary detention, and the guarantee of fair trials.
The resolution’s emphasis on human rights is particularly significant given the reports of violations that have surfaced following the election. The international community, alongside the Venezuelan opposition, has demanded the immediate publication of the electoral records after the CNE declared Maduro the winner over opposition candidate Edmundo González Urrutia on the night of the elections. The United States, echoing the concerns of many Venezuelans, has asserted that González Urrutia was the true victor of the election, a claim that has fueled further unrest.
The controversial electoral process has already led to widespread protests, resulting in 25 deaths and over 2,400 arrests. The OAS had previously convened a session 15 days ago to consider a resolution advocating for transparency from the Maduro government. However, that resolution was rejected due to a lack of majority support from the 34 member states. Notably, Brazil and Colombia, which voted against the earlier resolution, have since suggested that Venezuela should hold new elections to resolve the crisis.
As the international community closely watches the developments in Venezuela, the outcome of the OAS meeting could play a pivotal role in shaping the country’s future. The resolution, if passed, would send a strong message to the Maduro government, emphasizing the need for transparency and respect for democratic processes. The world awaits to see whether this session will lead to meaningful change or if the political deadlock will continue, further deepening the crisis in Venezuela.
