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| Venezuela crisis: US imposes fresh sanctions in effort to stop rewrite of constitution | Venezuela crisis: US imposes fresh sanctions in effort to stop rewrite of constitution |
| (1 day later) | |
| Sanctions unveiled for alleged human rights abuses and corruption | |
| Opposition activists launch 48-hour strike before Sunday’s controversial vote | |
| Sibylla Brodzinsky | |
| Wed 26 Jul 2017 18.43 BST | |
| Last modified on Thu 3 Aug 2017 14.20 BST | |
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| The United States has imposed new sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials, turning up the heat on the beleaguered government of Nicolás Maduro as opposition activists launched a 48-hour strike in protest against an upcoming vote they say will mark the end of democracy. | The United States has imposed new sanctions on 13 senior Venezuelan officials, turning up the heat on the beleaguered government of Nicolás Maduro as opposition activists launched a 48-hour strike in protest against an upcoming vote they say will mark the end of democracy. |
| The sanctions unveiled on Wednesday targeted current and former government officials, high-ranking military officers, and managers of the state oil company known as PDVSA for alleged human rights abuses, undermining democracy and corruption. | The sanctions unveiled on Wednesday targeted current and former government officials, high-ranking military officers, and managers of the state oil company known as PDVSA for alleged human rights abuses, undermining democracy and corruption. |
| But they were also part of an international effort to pressure Maduro to cancel this Sunday’s election to choose members of a new body to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution. | But they were also part of an international effort to pressure Maduro to cancel this Sunday’s election to choose members of a new body to rewrite Venezuela’s constitution. |
| “Anyone elected to the national constituent assembly should know that their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela could expose them to potential US sanctions,” said the US treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin. | “Anyone elected to the national constituent assembly should know that their role in undermining democratic processes and institutions in Venezuela could expose them to potential US sanctions,” said the US treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin. |
| The targets include Néstor Reverol, the interior minister for security, who has helped lead the crackdown on four months of political unrest; army chief Jesus Suárez; national police director Carlos Pérez; and PDVSA vice-president for finance Simón Zerpa. | The targets include Néstor Reverol, the interior minister for security, who has helped lead the crackdown on four months of political unrest; army chief Jesus Suárez; national police director Carlos Pérez; and PDVSA vice-president for finance Simón Zerpa. |
| Reverol, a former head of the Venezuelan anti-drug agency and director of the national guard, was promoted to his current position last year, a day after the US indicted him on drug trafficking charges. | Reverol, a former head of the Venezuelan anti-drug agency and director of the national guard, was promoted to his current position last year, a day after the US indicted him on drug trafficking charges. |
| Other targets were the national elections director, Tibisay Lucena, who has repeatedly thwarted opposition efforts to seek to replace the Maduro government through constitutional means. Opposition leaders accuse Lucena of stalling last year’s attempt at holding a recall referendum against the president. | Other targets were the national elections director, Tibisay Lucena, who has repeatedly thwarted opposition efforts to seek to replace the Maduro government through constitutional means. Opposition leaders accuse Lucena of stalling last year’s attempt at holding a recall referendum against the president. |
| Former minister Elías Jaua – now head of the committee overseeing the constituent assembly – the country’s ombudsman, Tarek Willian Saab, and former PDVSA vice-president Erik Malpica were also named. | Former minister Elías Jaua – now head of the committee overseeing the constituent assembly – the country’s ombudsman, Tarek Willian Saab, and former PDVSA vice-president Erik Malpica were also named. |
| Maduro is the president of Venezuela. He served as the interim president upon the death of Hugo Chávez in March 2013, and won a hastily arranged general election in April 2013, narrowly defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. | Maduro is the president of Venezuela. He served as the interim president upon the death of Hugo Chávez in March 2013, and won a hastily arranged general election in April 2013, narrowly defeating opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. |
| Maduro was previously a bus driver and trade union leader. He was elected to the national assembly in 2000 and was appointed to a number of government positions by Chávez, including foreign minister | Maduro was previously a bus driver and trade union leader. He was elected to the national assembly in 2000 and was appointed to a number of government positions by Chávez, including foreign minister |
| The president, who lacks the charisma of his predecessor, has seen his approval ratings plunge amid widespread food shortages and triple-digit inflation. He stands accused of authoritarianism over his crackdowns on protests and attempts to shut off opposition paths to power. He claims he is the target of a US-backed economic war aimed at removing socialist control over the world's biggest oil resources | The president, who lacks the charisma of his predecessor, has seen his approval ratings plunge amid widespread food shortages and triple-digit inflation. He stands accused of authoritarianism over his crackdowns on protests and attempts to shut off opposition paths to power. He claims he is the target of a US-backed economic war aimed at removing socialist control over the world's biggest oil resources |
| Donald Trump has warned the White House would take “strong and swift economic actions” against “a bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator”, but the new measures spared Venezuela from broader financial sanctions or “sectoral” sanctions targeting its oil industry. | Donald Trump has warned the White House would take “strong and swift economic actions” against “a bad leader who dreams of becoming a dictator”, but the new measures spared Venezuela from broader financial sanctions or “sectoral” sanctions targeting its oil industry. |
| Venezuela relies on oil exports for 95% of its income, and experts have warned that such a move could further exacerbate the already critical humanitarian situation. The country’s foreign currency reserves – currently at less than $10bn – hit their lowest ever level earlier this month. | Venezuela relies on oil exports for 95% of its income, and experts have warned that such a move could further exacerbate the already critical humanitarian situation. The country’s foreign currency reserves – currently at less than $10bn – hit their lowest ever level earlier this month. |
| Maduro responded to the new sanctions by granting a copy of a sabre used by independence hero Rafael Urdaneta to each of those targeted by the “imperialist sanctions” as a recognition of their “honor in defense of the homeland”. | Maduro responded to the new sanctions by granting a copy of a sabre used by independence hero Rafael Urdaneta to each of those targeted by the “imperialist sanctions” as a recognition of their “honor in defense of the homeland”. |
| Maduro said his government does not “recognize any sanctions” and insisted that the government would go ahead with the vote on Sunday. | Maduro said his government does not “recognize any sanctions” and insisted that the government would go ahead with the vote on Sunday. |
| The streets of opposition strongholds in Caracas and other cities were mostly deserted on Wednesday morning, at the start of the strike, before what promise to be massive street protests on Friday – two days before the controversial vote to elect a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution. | The streets of opposition strongholds in Caracas and other cities were mostly deserted on Wednesday morning, at the start of the strike, before what promise to be massive street protests on Friday – two days before the controversial vote to elect a constituent assembly to rewrite the constitution. |
| “We’re stopping the country – or was is left of it – because we risk losing it. This government destroyed our industries and now they’re one step from becoming dictatorial with this new vote. That’s why we stopped today and why we must keep fighting,” said a 35-year-old lawyer who refused to give his name for fear of reprisals. | “We’re stopping the country – or was is left of it – because we risk losing it. This government destroyed our industries and now they’re one step from becoming dictatorial with this new vote. That’s why we stopped today and why we must keep fighting,” said a 35-year-old lawyer who refused to give his name for fear of reprisals. |
| “It is an extreme measure but one we’ve had to arrive at because the government fails to listen to what the people want”, said Alejandro Pérez, a publicist. | “It is an extreme measure but one we’ve had to arrive at because the government fails to listen to what the people want”, said Alejandro Pérez, a publicist. |
| Alexander Garcia, a 24-year-old student at Venezuela’s Central University, was one of about 10 people who manned a barricade on the campus. Trucks packed with riot police circled them for most of the day, but the protesting students and professors chose not to engage, Garcia said in a phone interview with the Guardian. | Alexander Garcia, a 24-year-old student at Venezuela’s Central University, was one of about 10 people who manned a barricade on the campus. Trucks packed with riot police circled them for most of the day, but the protesting students and professors chose not to engage, Garcia said in a phone interview with the Guardian. |
| Many shops remained open in some parts of Caracas despite the call to strike for fear of reprisals. “Many shops were threatened,” Garcia said. “Some bakeries were told if they closed today they would never be allowed to open again.” | Many shops remained open in some parts of Caracas despite the call to strike for fear of reprisals. “Many shops were threatened,” Garcia said. “Some bakeries were told if they closed today they would never be allowed to open again.” |
| In other parts of the country, protesters clashed with security forces and at least one man, 30-year-old Rafael Vergara was shot dead in the western state of Mérida when troops and armed civilians confronted protesters, the Venezuelan Observatory on Social Conflict said on Twitter. Local rights group Penal Forum said 50 people had been arrested. | In other parts of the country, protesters clashed with security forces and at least one man, 30-year-old Rafael Vergara was shot dead in the western state of Mérida when troops and armed civilians confronted protesters, the Venezuelan Observatory on Social Conflict said on Twitter. Local rights group Penal Forum said 50 people had been arrested. |
| Meanwhile, secret negotiations are believed to continue between the opposition and government, mediated by the former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to try to avert a full-blown showdown. | Meanwhile, secret negotiations are believed to continue between the opposition and government, mediated by the former Spanish prime minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, to try to avert a full-blown showdown. |
| Miguel Otero, editor of the Venezuelan daily El Nacional, told Colombian radio station RCN that Maduro still had a chance to step back by calling off the vote – or at least delaying it to reduce the mounting tensions. | Miguel Otero, editor of the Venezuelan daily El Nacional, told Colombian radio station RCN that Maduro still had a chance to step back by calling off the vote – or at least delaying it to reduce the mounting tensions. |
| Zapatero met opposition leader Leopoldo López on Monday at his home, where the 46-year-old former Caracas-area mayor, who was transferred to house arrest earlier this month after spending three years in prison, serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted of inciting violence. | Zapatero met opposition leader Leopoldo López on Monday at his home, where the 46-year-old former Caracas-area mayor, who was transferred to house arrest earlier this month after spending three years in prison, serving a 14-year sentence after being convicted of inciting violence. |
| On Wednesday, López called on Venezuelans to adhere to the strike and appealed to the military not to deploy for Sunday’s election. “We are on the brink of their trying to annihilate the republic that you swore to defend,” Lopez said in a 15-minute video message. “I ask you not to be accomplices in the annihilation of the republic.” | On Wednesday, López called on Venezuelans to adhere to the strike and appealed to the military not to deploy for Sunday’s election. “We are on the brink of their trying to annihilate the republic that you swore to defend,” Lopez said in a 15-minute video message. “I ask you not to be accomplices in the annihilation of the republic.” |
| The opposition has boycotted the vote, warning it is a final power grab by an increasingly authoritarian regime but Maduro insists it is the way to peace after four months of anti-government unrest in which more than 100 people have been killed. | The opposition has boycotted the vote, warning it is a final power grab by an increasingly authoritarian regime but Maduro insists it is the way to peace after four months of anti-government unrest in which more than 100 people have been killed. |
| On Wednesday, Colombia’s national carrier Avianca announced it was suspending all flights to Venezuela from 16 August because of growing insecurity and deteriorating airport infrastructure. | On Wednesday, Colombia’s national carrier Avianca announced it was suspending all flights to Venezuela from 16 August because of growing insecurity and deteriorating airport infrastructure. |
| Venezuela | |
| Americas | |
| US foreign policy | |
| Nicolás Maduro | |
| news | |
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