Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 7 March 2018

US aides claim new backchannel

for jailed American in Venezuela

By JOSHUA GOODMAN
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelan President
Nicolas Maduro welcomed a visit by a top-ranking Re-
publican congressional staffer last month to discuss the
possible release of a Utah man jailed for more than 20
months in this volatile South American nation, six U.S.
congressional and administration aides told The Associ-
ated Press.
It's not known if there has been any progress in the
backchannel talks to secure Joshua Holt's freedom, but
the mere fact that Maduro met with the staffer, and in
turn sent an envoy of his own this week to Washington,
may be a sign of movement in a case that has become
a major irritant as tensions between the two countries
rise.
The unannounced discussions began when Caleb Mc-
Carry, a Republican aide on the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, traveled to Caracas in February and
Brazil's former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends a ceremony in Brasilia, Brazil. A panel of
judges on Brazil’s Superior Court of Justice on Tuesday, March 6, 2018, rejected da Silva’s request met with Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores to discuss
for an injunction that would prevent him from being imprisoned as he appeals a corruption con- Holt's imprisonment, said the aides, who agreed to dis-
viction. cuss the matter only if not quoted by name because
(AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) the talks are sensitive.
They said McCarry, who has known Maduro for more
Brazil rejects Lula's request to avoid jail than 15 years, made the unusual visit at the request of
Sen. Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah. While in Ca-
racas, McCarry visited Holt in jail, delivering him a letter
SAO PAULO (AP) — Former conviction. nal. from Hatch.
Brazilian President Luiz Ina- A group of federal judges Da Silva was wildly popular The Trump administration is said to be aware of McCar-
cio Lula da Silva is a step upheld the conviction in during his 2003-2011 term ry's lobbying, though there is no indication it has lent
closer to prison. January and Brazilian law and is the front-runner for support to the effort. State Department spokeswoman
A panel of judges on Brazil's states that people should the 2018 presidential elec- Heather Nauert declined to comment Monday when
Superior Court of Justice on be arrested after such a tion. asked about the informal talks, saying only: "We are dis-
Tuesday rejected da Silva's ruling. He denies any wrongdoing appointed Mr. Holt has still not been released on hu-
request for an injunction The former president can and insists he's being per- manitarian grounds."
that would prevent him still appeal Tuesday's ruling secuted by those trying to The behind-the-scenes dialogue prompted a surprise
from being imprisoned as to the country's top court, prevent his election. visit this week to Washington by a trusted ally of Maduro,
he appeals a corruption the Superior Federal Tribu- q Gov. Rafael Lacava of Carabobo state, to discuss Holt,
three congressional aides familiar with the visit said.
Argentina proposes legalizing elective abortion Holt, 25, traveled to Caracas in June 2016 to marry a fel-
low Mormon he met online practicing his Spanish. The
couple was waiting for her U.S. visa when they were
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina and risks to a woman's backing. arrested during a police raid on the government-built
(AP) — More than 70 Argen- health. But advocates say Argentina's conservative housing complex where they were living in her apart-
tine lawmakers of several that doctors and judges President Mauricio Macri ment. Venezuelan authorities alleged Holt was stock-
political parties presented often continue to block also recently said that even piling "weapons of war." His imprisonment while await-
a bill Tuesday to legalize therapeutic abortions de- though he is anti-abortion, ing trial in a Caracas jail where some of Maduro’s chief
elective abortion in the first spite a 2012 Supreme Court Congress should launch a opponents are being held has further strained relations
14 weeks of pregnancy. ruling that was supposed to debate on broader legal- already marred by U.S. sanctions and almost-daily ac-
Most lawmakers wore remove barriers and take ization of abortion. cusations by Maduro that the U.S. is working with his op-
green handkerchiefs sym- judges out of such deci- Several countries in Latin ponents to topple his socialist administration. Secretary
bolizing the abortion rights sions. America allow therapeutic of State Rex Tillerson on a recent trip to South America
movement as the measure Legislative efforts to allow abortions, although El Sal- warned that the U.S. may slap crippling oil sanctions on
was introduced to cheers. elective abortions have vador and Nicaragua ban Venezuela and cheered on the prospect of the Ven-
Abortion is only allowed in failed in the past, but the the procedure under all ezuelan military overthrowing Maduro.q
Argentina in cases of rape new initiative has wider circumstances.q