Canada can use sanctions to protect democracy

Sanctions an option for Canada’s response, says Isaac Nahón-Serfaty.

Civil war is a possibility in Venezuela, but things have changed, at least politically, since the illegitimate and unconstitutional Constituent Assembly was “elected” (this is an overstatement) on July 30. There is a new “normal” in which all political actors are trying to find their place, including the opposition, represented under the coalition umbrella called Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (MUD).

This new “normalcy” has not prevented the regime from continuing to violate human rights and literally destroying the economic and social tissue of the country: Venezuela has the highest inflation rate in the world, one of the highest murder rates and a devastated public health care system. The regime has now found a way to “domesticate” the opposition, reduce or even stop street protests, and consolidate a police state that controls everything.

Venezuela is heading toward the consolidation of a military narco-dictatorship with a facade of civilian presidents. The current president, Nicolás Maduro, could be replaced, but that won’t change anything.

The situation of the poor and middle class will continue to deteriorate, but through psychological warfare and selective repression the regime will prevent any relevant threat to its survival.

Even the military, who recently rebelled, have shown that they are either very clumsy or part of a performance staged by the government, with the help of Cuban secret services, who have been very active in Venezuela for more than 18 years.

What Canada can do? Canada should put more pressure on the Venezuelan dictatorship, and sanction public officials and highranking army officers. It should prevent their having assets here, or having their families live comfortably in Canada, while they continue to violate human rights and benefit through corruption. The supporters of the dictatorship, and corrupted officials are not welcome in Canada, where they and their families can enjoy the human rights and democracy they have denied Venezuelans. Neither should they be able to enjoy the money stolen from Venezuelans.

Canada should act swiftly to help Venezuela overcome this tragic situation and send a clear message to its current criminal regime that Canada stands for human rights and democracy in the Americas.