Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 8 augusT 2017

Dueling factions in Venezuela stake claims at power

By FABIOLA SANCHEZ
Associated Press and member of the new
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) assembly, told a crowd of
— Pro- and anti-govern- supporters Monday. “But
ment factions dug them- also, to create strong bas-
selves further into their es for the construction of
trenches Monday amid Bolivarian and Chavista so-
Venezuela’s deepening cialism.”
political crisis, with each Several hundred pro-
side staking a claim to the government Venezuelans
powers granted them by marched to the legislative
dueling national assem- palace, where opposition
blies. lawmakers were inside
The new chief prosecutor crafting a resolution dis-
who replaced an outspo- avowing the new assem-
ken government critic out- bly.
lined plans for restructuring National Assembly mem-
the Public Ministry, while bers voted unanimously
the opposition-controlled not to recognize any of
National Assembly vowed the new super-body’s
to continue meeting at the decisions, which include
stately legislative palace — removing chief prosecu-
a short walk across a plaza tor Luisa Ortega Diaz from
from where the all-power- Brazil’s Ambassador in Venezuela, Ruy Pereira, left, speaks with National Assembly President power and installing a
ful constitutional assembly Julio Borges, before the start of a session in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Aug. 7, 2017. The “truth commission” that will
is expected to hold its next opposition-controlled National Assembly vowed to continue meeting at the stately legislative wield unusual authority to
palace - a short walk across a plaza from where the all-powerful Constitutional Assembly is
meeting Tuesday. expected to hold its next meeting Tuesday. Borges told fellow lawmakers they should keep an prosecute and levy sen-
National Assembly presi- active presence in the building despite threats from the new assembly to swiftly strip them of any tences.
dent Julio Borges told fel- authority and lock up key leaders. “The intent is to pursue
low lawmakers they should (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) those who think different-
keep an active presence in ly,” lawmaker Delsa Solor-
the building despite threats trump any other branch of bly has signaled that it will immunity from prosecution. zano said.
from the new assembly to government — and Vene- act swiftly in response to “It should be clear: We ar- Brazil’s ambassador to
swiftly strip them of any zuela’s leaders have prom- President Nicolas Maduro’s rived there to help Presi- Venezuela, Ruy Pereira,
authority and lock up key ised to do just that. commands, which have dent Nicolas Maduro,” Di- attended the session in
leaders. Borges called the Since its installation Friday, included calls to strip legis- osdado Cabello, a leader a show of support for the
building, with its gold cupo- the constitutional assem- lators of their constitutional of the ruling socialist party congress. q
la, the “symbol of popular
sovereignty.”
“We are a testament to the Haiti may ban gay marriage, support for LGBTQ rights
fight for democracy,” he
said at a meeting cobbled PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) a marriage not between persuade members of the scheduled.
together amid mounting — A gay rights group in a man and a woman. The Chamber of Deputies to LGBTQ people have long
uncertainty about the leg- Haiti said Monday it is fight- bill also would prohibit any reject it. faced discrimination in
islature’s future. “It should ing to head off a proposed public support or advoca- “We have the right to pro- Haiti. In September, a cul-
be known this assembly law that would ban same- cy for LGBTQ rights. test and we have the right tural festival celebrating
was true to its mandate.” sex marriage as well as any Haitian law already spe- to be who we are and we the community in Port-au-
In theory, both the Nation- public demonstrations in cifically defines marriage have the right to be free,” Prince was canceled the
al Assembly and the pro- favor of LGBTQ people in as between a man and a Jeudy said in an interview. after organizers received
government constitutional the Caribbean country. woman. Jeudy said his group has threats and a local govern-
assembly can rule simulta- A bill passed by the Haitian Charlot Jeudy of the gay been collecting signatures ment official said he would
neously, but the new super Senate last week provides rights organization Kouraj on a petition that it hopes prohibit the event he said
body created through a for up to three years in said the legislation would to present to sympathetic violates the country’s mor-
July 30 election that drew prison and a fine of about violate Haiti’s constitution lawmakers in the chamber. al values.q
international condemna- $8,000 for either party to and his group will try to A vote has not yet been
tion has the authority to