Western Hemisphere
Group 400+, composed of former ministers, ex ambassadors, professionals in several areas, artists, union leaders, businesspersons and retired military officers, among others, issued on Monday an extensive letter addressed to the Secretary General of the Organization of the American States (OAS), José Miguel Insulza, urging the diplomat to "take firm and unequivocal steps to defend the democratic heritage" that justifies the existence of the regional organization.

The dissenters also voiced concern at Insulza's remarks in Spain, where he cast doubt on claims that democracy in Venezuela is retreating. The G-400+ said that all the events taking place in Venezuela are a good reason to convene a meeting of the Permanent Council of the OAS, and added that under Article 20 of the American Convention, the Secretary General has an obligation to call the meeting.

The communication highlighted both a recent resolution issued by the European Parliament in connection with the case of former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales and a report of the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights on Venezuela, which pointed to the fact that in Venezuela there is "a hostile environment for political dissent."

The group also referred to threats to terminate private property rights and the likely closure of private TV news channel Globovisión. The G-400+ thinks that these factors "represent an alteration of the constitutional order that is seriously harming the democratic order in Venezuela (...) The best examples of the 'authoritarian trend' that raised the alarm in the European Parliament are the repressive police and military actions taken by the Venezuelan government, as instructed by President (Hugo) Chávez, against a peaceful march of workers during last May Day."

"The Venezuelan people will not forget the indifference, leniency or, still worse, complicity," warned the G-400+.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas