05/12/2014
Madrid, 05.12.14.- The former Prime Minister of Spain and President of FAES Foundation, José María Aznar, and the former president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, have written an open letter in defense of the freedom and the rights of all Venezuelan Democrats. Aznar and Piñera have signed this letter after learning that the Venezuelan opposition leader, María Corina Machado, will be taken to court accused of 'conspiring to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro'. They have also denounced the illegal detention of Leopoldo López, another opposition leader, and the constant political and legal pressure exerted on all the Venezuelan opposition. In their opinion, 'the time has come to end the ambiguity and passivity regarding the undemocratic behavior of the government of Venezuela'.
Open letter:
'GIVEN the worsening of the attacks on freedom, democracy, the Rule of Law and human rights in Venezuela, it is time to speak and act loudly and clearly, breaking the silence and ending the ambiguity and passivity regarding the undemocratic behavior of the government of Venezuela.
The international public opinion has learned with amazement that the Venezuelan political leader, Maria Corina Machado, after being removed from her parliamentary office a few months ago without any grounds whatsoever, will be brought to court accused of 'conspiring to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro'. To this absurd and unjustified accusation, we must add the illegal and illegitimate arrest of Leopoldo López, whose release has been instructed by the United Nations, as well as the ongoing political and legal pressure suffered on a daily basis by the whole of the Venezuelan democratic opposition.
These unacceptable violations must be denounced in a firm and clear manner. In addition to this, countries and regional and international organizations must act accordingly, demanding freedom and rights for all Venezuelans Democrats, applying the corresponding democratic clauses and imposing the appropriate sanctions to demand the regime of President Maduro to restore full respect for freedoms, democracy, the Rule of Law and human rights.'