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A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 15 February 2019
Neglect, rain threatening 'Sistine Chapel of the Andes'

By CARLOS VALDEZ buttresses to weaken and
CURAHUARA DE CARAN- fall.
GAS, Bolivia (AP) — A but- Facing an emergency, offi-
tress supporting an adobe cials from the Roman Cath-
wall has collapsed and olic Church, Bolivia's cul-
grass overgrows the pa- ture ministry and the local
tio of the four-century-old government are planning
church whose dazzling to meet to figure out a plan
murals depicting biblical to save the church, built
scenes and remote loca- between 1570 and 1608.
tion high atop a Bolivian While no plan has been
plateau have earned it the formalized, two architects
nickname the "Sistine Cha- arrived last week to look at
pel of the Andes." the damage and the gov-
Abandonment and heavy ernment has a responsibility
rains are threatening one to maintain the Curahuara
of the continent's oldest church since it is registered
churches in Curahuara de as a national monument.
Carangas, an impover- On the outside, the church
ished Aymara town in Oruro looks like anything but the
province that saw many of In this Feb. 9, 2019 photo, an architect, an expert in restoration, enters the local church in Cura- Sistine Chapel in Vatican
its residents migrate to big- huara de Carangas, Bolivia. City. Its rough walls of ado-
ger cities in past decades, Associated Press be and straw give it the
a flow that disrupted the appearance of a humble,
traditional, communal sys- care of it. The work was col- said historian Carmen Bea- Dust covering the temple's rural chapel. But opening
tem for maintaining the lective based on ayni (pre- triz Loza, head of the heri- candelabras and furniture its doors and entering, one
church. Hispanic communal ser- tage unit at Bolivia's Ministry and the bird droppings is overwhelmed by the bril-
"Each ayllu (indigenous vice). That's how it worked of Cultures. "Now the com- coating its bell reflect this liantly colored paintings
community) had their sec- until the 1980s. Migration munity expects vertical aid neglect. Heavy rains re- that cover its walls, ceilings
tion of the temple and took has changed customs," from the government." cently caused one of its and cupula. q

Venezuela prosecutor to investigate Guaido appointments

Associated Press Maduro has blocked the
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) emergency food and
— Venezuela's chief prose- medicine from entering
cutor said Thursday he has and says that the interven-
launched an investigation tion is part of a U.S. coup
into opposition leader Juan attempt.
Guaido's appointment of a An oil-rich nation, Venezu-
transitional board of direc- ela was once among Latin
tors for the state oil com- America's wealthiest and
pany. politically stable nations.
Attorney General Tarek Wil- However, oil production
liam Saab said the appoint- has collapsed to one-third
ments by Guaido and his of historic output, which
National Assembly are part critics blame on two de-
of an illegal power grab cades of socialist rule.
backed by foreign govern- The administration of U.S.
ments. He also said that President Donald Trump
ambassadors of Guaido's recently lodged sanctions
self-declared interim gov- that it says could further
ernment are being investi- cripple the country by cut-
gated as part of the probe. ting off an estimated $11
"Clearly, this legislative billion in cash-flow to Mad-
body through criminal uro's government this year.
means pretends to seize Venezuela' self proclaimed interim president and President of the National Assembly Juan Guai- On Thursday, the White
national powers," Saab do, speaks during a session at the National Assembly, in Caracas, Venezuela, Wednesday, Feb. House said that Trump will
said in a news conference 13, 2019. travel to Florida Interna-
broadcast on state TV, call- Associated Press tional University in Miami
ing the move part of a "cir- to warn of "the dangers
cus." which are urging President has also been put under Guaido said he will try to run of socialism" in a Monday
Guaido declared last Nicolas Maduro to step investigation and been for- caravans of U.S. humanitar- speech in support of Guai-
month that he has a con- down. bidden from leaving the ian aid across the Colombi- do.
stitutional right to presi- Saab said he's looking country, but has managed an border into Venezuela. Trump is looking to draw a
dential power as head of into the board members to avoid arrest. The United States and other contrast with the policies
the opposition-controlled who were designated on The struggle for control countries will also send sup- of progressive Democrats,
National Assembly. He cur- Wednesday to oversee PD- of Venezuela could now plies through Brazil and the which he has branded as
rently has support from the VSA and its Houston-based come to a potentially vio- Caribbean island of Cura- "socialist" as he gears up for
U.S. and about 60 countries subsidiary Citgo. Guaido lent head on Feb. 23, when cao. re-election.q