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A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 4 december 2019
Rio Treaty nations move to further isolate Venezuela

By CHRISTINE ARMARIO strategy toward Venezu-
Associated Press ela as one "mixed with re-
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — straint" that would continue
Representatives from over to focus on economic pen-
a dozen nations that are alties. "We've learned from
signatories to a Cold War- history that the risks from us-
era defense treaty for the ing military force are signifi-
Americas moved Tuesday cant," he said.
to further isolate close allies Venezuelan leaders none-
of Venezuelan President theless point to the Rio
Nicolás Maduro with tar- Treaty's invocation as a
geted sanctions. sign that adversaries plan
The 1947 Rio Treaty signato- to invade.
ries vowed to cooperate in "The people should be
pursuing economic sanc- prepared and alert on the
tions and travel restrictions streets," Diosdado Cabello,
for Maduro government head of Venezuela's all-
associates accused of cor- powerful National Constitu-
ruption, drug trafficking, tional Assembly, said Tues-
money laundering or hu- day. Maduro also blasted
man rights violations. the Rio Treaty event, saying
"The political, economic it constitutes little more than
and social crisis in the Boli- a distraction for Duque,
varian Republic of Venezu- In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 photo, May Vera eyes the camera during a demonstration led by who is currently grappling
ela represents a threat for opposition politician Juan Guaido, who's urging masses into the streets to force President Nicolás with a wave of anti-gov-
the peace and security of Maduro from power, in Maracaibo, Venezuela. Associated Press ernment protests that have
the continent," Colombian drawn thousands of Co-
Foreign Minister Claudia nations who are support- sition is faltering. Guaidó "The important thing is for lombians to the streets.
Blum said in the meeting's ing opposition leader Juan has struggled to mobilize international pressure to re- "It's a meeting of puppets,
final remarks. Guaidó have largely resort- supporters onto the streets main," he said. of clowns," Maduro said.
While the United States ed to diplomatic pressure. and dipped in popularity. Rio Treaty nations have It remains unclear how
and the European Union The promise of enhanced Meanwhile, fissures within been treading cautiously in quickly any individual Rio
have targeted Maduro as- economic pressure against the opposition are coming pursuing economic restric- Treaty nation will move to
sociates with economic Maduro comes at a time to light amidst recent con- tions against Venezuela freeze bank accounts and
sanctions, Latin American when Venezuela's oppo- troversies involving alleged while vowing not to invoke enforce other restrictions –
abuses of power. a provision in the accord though nations recognizing
Dominica protesters David Smilde, a senior fel- that authorizes them to Guaidó as interim president
hailed it as an important
low at the Washington Of-
pursue a military interven-
block airport roads in fice on Latin America, said tion. The accord instructs all step.
the Rio Treaty's resolution 19 signatories to consider a "If they can't take their
election fight Tuesday marks a "small vic- threat against any one of money to the United States,
to Europe, and now, they
tory" for the opposition but them a danger to all.
"not enough to really put Colombian President Iván can't take it to Central
By CARLISLE JNO BAPTISTE and MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN them in a different place." Duque maintains that Mad- America, they can't take
Associated Press "Their strategy of maximum uro is offering a safe haven it to South America, they
ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Protesters trying to cancel pressure seems to be stall- to rebel factions of the Na- can't travel to those plac-
national elections blocked roads leading to the main ing," he said. tional Liberation Army and es, it starts to really limit
airport on the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica Those identified for target- dissidents with the former their options," said Michael
on Tuesday, forcing passengers to drag suitcases ed sanctions by Rio Treaty Revolutionary Armed Forc- Kozak, the acting head of
through the street to make their flights. member nations include: es of Colombia, an asser- U.S. diplomacy toward Lat-
Supporters of the opposition United Workers' Party set Diosdado Cabello, head tion the Venezuelan leader in America.
up burning roadblocks on the two main roads lead- of the all-powerful Nation- denies. But he repeated Kozak described recent
ing to Douglas-Charles Airport. Some passengers al Constitutional Assem- previous remarks urging a revelations published by
were forced to walk more than a mile to the airport. bly; Judge Maikel Moreno, diplomatic response rather investigative news website
Seaborne Airlines, which flies to Dominica from Puer- chief of the government- than a military resolution to Armando.info asserting
to Rico, cancelled its sole Tuesday flight "due to the stacked Supreme Court; Venezuela's political and that a group of opposition
uncertain situation," according to a statement on its media magnate Raúl Gor- economic turmoil. legislators had recently
website. rín; and Alex Saab, an ob- "Here there's no invitation written letters in support of
The former French and British colony of about 75,000 scure Colombian business- for use of force," Duque businessmen associated
residents holds elections on Dec. 6. The opposition man who came onto the said. with the Maduro govern-
United Workers' Party has been pushing the ruling radar of U.S. authorities af- Venezuela's tumult is hav- ment to authorities in the
party to enact reforms that could reduce the ruling ter amassing a large num- ing increasingly geopoliti- U.S. and Colombia as "dis-
party's electoral advantage. ber of contracts from the cal ramifications as nearly turbing." But he said the U.S.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit's government has not Maduro government. 6 million flee, putting stress was satisfied with Guaidó's
enacted the reforms, leading to charges of unfair- Carlos Vecchio, who rep- on neighboring countries, response in initiating an in-
ness. resents Guaidó in Wash- and powerful Maduro allies vestigation against the al-
Opposition supporters have called for more rigorous ington, said that list of over like Russia and Chine step leged misconduct.
checking of voter registrations and a prohibition on two dozen individuals is in to support the socialist "It does not undermine our
expatriate Dominican citizens returning to vote in a "first step" and that the government. confidence in the Nation-
elections. The opposition has accused the govern- opposition will be pressur- Secretary of State Mike al Assembly," he said. "It
ment of buying voters by providing supporters with ing for more names to be Pompeo said Monday that shows why we have con-
tickets home around election time.q added to the sanctions list all options remain on the fidence in the National
in the months ahead. table but described U.S. Assembly."q