On Friday, September 20, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke by telephone for the first time with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro since his controversial election on July 28.
Mr. Guterres “expressed concern about reports of post-election violence and human rights violations [et] He stressed the need to resolve political disputes peacefully, through genuine and inclusive dialogue.”according to a press release from the office of his spokesperson. The Secretary General also “took note of the Venezuelan president’s positions on the situation”.
“We talked for about fifteen minutes and I explained in detail the fight we are waging against fascism. We must call it by its name, it is the devil, and no one should water down the expressions of intolerance and persecution typical of fascist projects.”President Maduro, who usually attacks his opponents in these terms, explained.
United Nations Human Rights Council taken over by seven countries
Nicolás Maduro, whose victory was validated by the Supreme Court on August 22, was declared the winner with 52% of the votes by the National Electoral Council (CNE), which however did not make public the results of the polling stations, alleging computer piracy. This cyber attack is not considered very credible by the opposition and by many observers who see it as a maneuver by the rulers to avoid providing detailed results.
According to the opposition, which published the minutes provided by its scrutineers, its candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, who has sought asylum in Spain, obtained more than 60% of the votes.
On Friday afternoon, seven American countries – Argentina, Canada, Chile, Ecuador, Guatemala, Paraguay and Uruguay – asked the United Nations in Geneva to open an investigation into “serious violations” rights in Venezuela.
The seven countries launched a «Urgent call to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the Venezuelan government to end the intensification of repression following the last elections and to investigate serious human rights violations, which could constitute crimes against humanity»Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. They also asked “an impartial verification of the election results” AND “the immediate release of persons arbitrarily detained”.
The repression of spontaneous protests that followed the announcement of Maduro’s re-election left 27 dead and 192 injured. According to official sources, some 2,400 people were arrested.
Maduro bans electronic devices as Christmas gifts
Venezuela’s president also called on his government and supporters on Friday not to accept electronic devices as Christmas gifts following the simultaneous explosion of Hezbollah pagers and other communications equipment in Lebanon.
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“Do not accept electronic gifts (…) be careful with phones and cell phones”the leader urged in a statement broadcast on radio and television. Mr. Maduro also asked everyone “ministries, institutions and state-owned enterprises”that priority be purchased for “handicrafts and toys made in Venezuela” for gift exchanges during “Venezuelan Christmas festivities”.
He brought forward the date to 1Ahem October “in tribute” to the country’s population, shaken by unrest since his disputed re-election on July 28.
Hundreds of pagers and walkie-talkies used by the Iranian-backed Lebanese Islamist movement Hezbollah, an ally of Palestinian Hamas, exploded across Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday in an unprecedented attack that left thirty-seven dead and nearly 3,000 wounded.
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