Western Hemisphere
Members of Venezuela's Unified Panel visited the head offices of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas with the firm intention of "calling the attention" of the Secretary-General of the OAS José Miguel Insulza and the rest of the member states of the hemispheric organization.

There, members of the opposition's umbrella organization requested the "blinded and deafened OAS" to include in its agenda an issue "deeper and older" than that of Honduras: the "persistent violation" of the constitution and the popular will by President Hugo Chávez's Administration.

Their request was made in support of Caracas Metropolitan Mayor Antonio Ledezma (Alianza Bravo Pueblo), on hunger strike since Friday at the OAS headquarters in Caracas, for the progressive encroachment of his functions.

"The OAS disregards these violations. Why does the OAS pay attention to some countries and ignore the situation in other countries?" wondered Henry Ramos Allup, the Secretary General of the opposition party Acción Democrática (AD) and speaker of the Unified Panel.

Ramos Allup was accompanied by leaders of the fourteen political parties grouped in the opposition umbrella organization.

The leader said that the group of parties was surprised by the "unusual speed" and "vigor" that the OAS showed to discuss the ouster of Honduras President Manuel Zelaya "whereas the hemispheric organization has not paid any attention to the frequent violations of the Constitution in Venezuela."

"Why has the OAS not realized that there is no separation of powers in Venezuela; that after having drafted a tailor-made Constitution, the president systematically violates via statutory decrees? The OAS has disregarded this situation."

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Elvia Gomez
EL UNIVERSAL