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WASHINGTON. – The United States Congress is moving closer to imposing economic sanctions against Venezuela’s government.
State Department officials were set to brief a Senate committee yesterday on street protests that have rocked the country for weeks, and a House panel will finalise its version of a sanctions Bill today.
The legislation in both chambers centres on US$15 million in new funds to promote democracy and rule of law in the South American country.
It bans visas for Venezuelan officials whom they accuse of crushing anti-government protests by students, opposition leaders and others and freezes their assets.
Venezuela’s government intensified its crackdown yesterday.
Hundreds of National Guard members and police broke up four camps maintained by student protesters in Caracas, and arrested 243 people in an early morning raid, according to Venezuela’s Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez.
He said authorities have evidence that camps were used as a haven for carrying out “terrorist” acts and manufacturing Molotov cocktails and other weapons for use against security forces.
The camps consisting of small tents were installed more than a month ago to protest against the government of President Nicolas Maduro, who took office last year in an election to replace the late President Hugo Chavez.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a sponsor of the Senate legislation, said the message penalties would carry is most important, coming at a time when human rights groups accuse Venezuelan security officials of arresting, torturing and even killing unarmed demonstrators.
He said sanctions should target anyone responsible for human rights violations, refusing to rule out president Maduro as a potential target.
Sanctions are gaining support following the release of a scathing report this week by Human Rights Watch.
The group said judges and prosecutors have repeatedly ignored evidence of systematic rights abuses by government forces, citing dozens of protesters who have suffered serious physical and psychological abuse.
At least 41 people have died since February, while others have suffered broken bones, denial of medical treatment and threats of rape or death. – AP.
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