Page 11 - Aruba Today

WORLD NEWS A11
Harsh sentence for protest leader a gamble for Venezuela
Lilian Tintori, wife of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Guyana, alarming even al-
speaks to her husband supporters, in Caracas, Venezuela,
Friday, Sept. 11, 2015. Lopez was convicted late Thursday of
inciting violence during a wave of protests against the South
American country’s socialist administration in 2014, and was
sentenced to the maximum punishment of nearly 14 years in
military prison.
HANNAH DREIER
Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela
(AP) — The stiff sentence
handed down to Ven-
ezuela’s most prominent
jailed opposition leader
brought a cascade of criti-
cism on Friday as President
Nicolas Maduro’s govern-
ment continued along a
combative path despite
a crushing economic cri-
sis, feuds with neighboring
countries and accusations
of authoritarianism.
Leopoldo Lopez was con-
victed late Thursday of in-
citing violence during a
wave of protests against
the South American coun-
try’s socialist administra-
tion in 2014, and was sen-
tenced to the maximum
punishment of nearly 14
years in military prison.
Critics at home immediate-
ly said the sentence should
rally anti-government vot-
ers to the polls for crucial
December elections. From
abroad, the White House
said it was “deeply sad-
dened” by the ruling. Am-
nesty International, the Eu-
ropean Union and U.N. hu-
man rights officials joined in
condemnation.
“This case is a complete
travesty of justice,” said
Saturday 12 September

sanctions on top officials in nest said the country was
lies in the Caribbean. To the the spring for human rights using the justice system to
west, he’s closed much of abuses connected to last attempt to silence critics.
the border with Colombia, year’s protests. Venezuelan officials re-
accusing the U.S. ally of Venezuela reacted to that acted furiously, accusing
nurturing smuggling gangs action, as it often does, by the U.S. of coup-monger-
that he blames for causing denouncing those sanc- ing.
widespread shortages by tions as part of an attempt “The U.S. has erased the
hauling cheap, subsidized to topple the government. small steps taken toward
gasoline and other prod- U.S. Secretary of State John regularizing bilateral rela-
ucts across the border. Kerry met with Lopez’s wife tions with this insolent med-
The conviction of Lopez last week and phoned dling,” Rodriguez said on
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) is likely to end, for now, a Venezuelan Foreign Minis- Twitter.
behind-the-scenes push by ter Delcy Rodriguez ahead Meanwhile, conservative
the U.S. to normalize rela- of the verdict to express lawmakers, including Flor-
tions with the country it de- displeasure about the na- ida Sen. Marco Rubio, be-
clared a national security ture of the trial, which the gan calling for a new round
threat in March. The U.S. defense said was marred of sanctions in response to
has not exchanged am- by irregularities. what the Republican presi-
bassadors with Venezuela On Friday, White House dential contender called a
since 2010, and it imposed Press Secretary Josh Ear- “show trial.”q
Jose Miguel Vivanco,
Americas director at Hu-
man Rights Watch. “In a
country that lacks judicial
independence, a provi-
sional judge convicts four
innocent people after a
trial in which the prosecu-
tion did not present basic
evidence”
The court rejected all but
two defense witnesses,
both of whom ultimately
declined to testify, while
letting the prosecution call
more than 100 during the
closed-door sessions, ac-
cording to Lopez’s attor-
neys.
Lopez insists he called only
for peaceful protests and
his backers blame armed
government supporters for
much of the bloodshed.
Government officials said
Lopez implicitly encour-
aged the violence.
The Maduro administra-
tion has grown increas-
ingly combative in recent
months as it grapples with
a dysfunctional economy
that has plummeted along
with oil prices, contributing
to the world’s highest infla-
tion and chronic shortages.
The embattled president
has revived Venezuela’s
long-dormant claim to half
of its eastern neighbor,