Nation gives notice of quitting diplomatic alliance
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela formally notified the Organization of American States of its intention to leave the regional body amid sometimes violent protests at home and international calls for its embattled government to hold delayed elections and release prisoners.
Venezuelan interim ambassador Carmen Velasquez submitted a letter Friday announcing the move to OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, a strong critic of socialist President Nicolas Maduro. The notice begins a two-year exit process from the Western Hemisphere’s largest diplomatic body, which had become a forum for its neighbors to exert pressure on Venezuela.
“This is a historic moment that marks a new independence for Venezuela and the region,” said Velasquez, adding that Venezuela would be the first country to leave the bloc this way. “We are not going to be participating in any OAS activities.” The decision to leave the OAS comes amid almost daily clashes between security forces and antigovernment protesters that have left at least 28 people dead and hundreds injured. The demonstrations are part of an intensifying campaign by the opposition to force Maduro from office.
Many foreign governments and human rights groups have condemned the conviction of opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez as politically motivated. Lopez is serving a nearly 14year sentence for inciting violence during a previous round of antigovernment unrest in 2014. One of the prosecutors in the case, who has since sought asylum in the U.S., even said he was under orders from the government to arrest Lopez despite a lack of evidence.
Venezuela’s decision to leave the OAS comes after a contentious meeting at the group’s headquarters in which its permanent council voted in favor of holding a special session to evaluate Venezuela’s crisis, adding to calls for Maduro to schedule delayed elections and free detained political activists.
Tensions have been steadily rising between Venezuela and a group of OAS members that includes the United States since Almagro issued a report in March accusing Maduro’s government of systematically violating human rights and standards of democracy. Venezuela denies the accusations, accusing the regional body of being a tool of the United States.