The Lima Group nations expressed their condemnation to recent repression actions carried out by the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela against lawmakers in said country.
The coalition also condemned manipulation attempts to pursue and repress the opposition in the South American nation.
In a recent statement, the governments of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru —members of the group— referred to Venezuelan deputy Juan Carlos Requesens' arrest, describing it as illegal and arbitrary.
As is known, deputies Requesens and Julio Borges have been accused —by the Venezuelan Government— of involvement in the August 4 attack against President Nicolas Maduro.
Additionally,
the Lima Group strongly rejected the violation of the due criminal process and international standards on law enforcement and
respect for human rights in the detention —without prior investigation— of Requesens.
It also condemned the arrest warrant issued against deputy Julio Borges in open violation of his parliamentary privileges and immunities enshrined in the Constitution of Venezuela, as well as the applicable international instruments.
The countries expressed deep concern on the use of Venezuelan State security and justice institutions to pursue opposition politicians.
As stated in the document, this situation "shows, once more, the breakdown of
democratic order and the violation of the country's Constitution, contrary to the Venezuelan people's will."
For all these reasons, the Lima Group urged the Government of Venezuela to conduct an independent, exhaustive, and transparent investigation into the events of August 4.
(END) CVC/RMB
Published: 8/12/2018