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UN chief speaks to Venezuela’s Maduro about alleged human rights violations

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  • UN chief speaks to Venezuela’s Maduro about alleged human rights violations
  • September 21, 2024
  • Article Body Text <p>United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced concern Friday to President Nicolas Maduro about alleged human rights violations in Venezuela, in their first telephone conversation since the disputed July 28 presidential election.</p> <p>The men discussed the precarious political situation in the South American nation, and Guterres &quot;expressed concern over reports of post-elections violence and allegations of human rights violations,&quot; the U.N. chief's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, told a daily briefing.</p> <p>Guterres &quot;stressed the need to resolve any political dispute peacefully, through genuine and inclusive dialogue,&quot; the spokesperson said, adding the secretary-general &quot;took note&quot; of Maduro's position on the situation.</p> <p>The Venezuelan leader, for his part, said the two spoke for 15 minutes and that he explained &quot;the struggle we are waging against fascism&quot; and the &quot;devil,&quot; words he routinely uses to describe the opposition movement seeking to oust him from power.</p> <p>Within hours of polls closing on election day, the regime-aligned CNE electoral council declared Maduro the victor with 52% of votes cast.</p> <p>The opposition immediately cried foul, and dozens of countries refused to recognize Maduro's claim to a third six-year term unless the CNE published a detailed vote breakdown, which it has not.</p> <p>According to the opposition, its presidential candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who has since sought asylum in Spain, obtained more than 60% of the vote.</p> <p>On Friday seven countries in the Americas -- Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay and Uruguay -- asked the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva to investigate the &quot;grave violations&quot; of rights in Venezuela.</p> <p>The seven nations have launched an urgent appeal to the council for Caracas to &quot;put an end to the intensification of repression after the last elections and to investigate the serious human rights violations, which could constitute crimes against humanity,&quot; Ecuador's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.</p> <p>The crackdown on protests that followed the announcement of Maduro's reelection left at least 27 people dead and 192 injured. Some 2,400 people have been arrested, according to official sources.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date September 20, 2024 23:37 EDT
  • Byline Agence France-Presse
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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