Union of South American Nations Secretary General Ernesto Samper speaks to the media as Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez (right) and Colombia’s Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin look on after their meeting with Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas.
DPA/Caracas
A delegation from the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) met Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Friday in Caracas to launch an effort to restore dialogue between Venezuela’s government and opposition.
The Unasur delegation was planning to meet with the opposition coalition Democratic Unity Table (MUD) while in Venezuela.
Opposition figures have said they plan to brief the Unasur delegation about the persecution they say they suffer and the imprisonment of several of their leaders, including Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma.
Talks last year between the MUD and the government failed after the Maduro government rejected key opposition demands.
Unasur Secretary-General Ernesto Samper was leading the delegation with foreign ministers Maria Angela Holguin of Colombia, Mauro Vieira of Brazil and Ricardo Patino of Ecuador.
Samper said they planned meetings with electoral and court officials to discuss the legal status of imprisoned opposition leaders and the need for due process.
Maduro hosted the delegation for several hours at the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry building.
After the meeting, Samper said, the region upholds “three principles”: peace, human rights and democracy. “Unasur countries are united on Venezuela’s defence and stability,” he said.
In recent weeks, Maduro has alleged several coup attempts, which he claimed were backed by the US and members of the opposition.
Samper said Maduro gave the delegation a “major and lengthy” account of his allegations, with “evidence and data” that were a cause of concern for Unasur.
Holguin said the goal of the Unasur mission is to promote dialogue among Venezuelans: “What Unasur has always wanted is for Venezuelans to resolve the situation amongst themselves.”
Human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch on Friday criticized Brazil’s response to alleged repression of the Venezuelan opposition.
“Brazil has kept a disappointing silence in the face of abuse in Venezuela, even including the arbitrary arrest of opposition figures,” Human Rights Watch said.
“Brazil’s timid position regarding the situation in Venezuela sends a very problematic message that the Maduro government should feel free to keep arresting opposition figures and beating up demonstrators.”
Amnesty called on Brazil to denounce human rights violations in Venezuela, including “arbitrary arrests, torture and an excessive use of force.”
Protests against Maduro’s rule saw 43 deaths in early 2014. A 14-year-old boy was killed last week in an anti-government rally.
