Outrageous? Shameless? The sheer audacity of what happened a day ago at the OAS defies our vocabulary. But most of all, it was a profound disappointment for those of us who hoped that the government led by Justin Trudeau would have a foreign policy different from, and more honourable than, that of the government led by Steven Harper.
The United States and Canada rounded up the rightwing neoliberal governments of the region for a meeting to condemn Venezuela. These countries were Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, and Peru. Bolivia's representative as President of the Permanent Council of the OAS, stated that such a meeting was out of order, not following the OAS rules. Mr. Diego Pary, who wanted time to analyze the welcomed revision of Venezuela's Supreme Court recent decisions, was totally disregarded. The meeting was called despite his protests and that of the Vice-president held by the representative of Haiti. The representative of Honduras, in an ad hoc fashion, was made chair of that irregular meeting. This was a coup d'etat at the OAS.
Here is the astonishing part: only 17 countries so very concerned over the niceties of rules, tearing their robes over details of democratic processes in Venezuela, simply disregarded their own OAS rules, ignored their own president and vice-president, and condemned Venezuela's democracy without taking a vote of the full 35 member states. They issued declarations to the press that there was "consensus" implying that all member states voted, which is a falsehood. They did not want to put it to a vote because they know they would not have the two-third majority needed.
The principle of no-intervention in the affairs of a sovereign country - supposedly a principle of the OAS- was just cast aside by virtue of the opinions of the Venezuelan opposition, which are taken at their face value with little or no relation to facts or evidence.
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Showing posts with label Organization of American States (OAS). Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organization of American States (OAS). Show all posts
April 12, 2017
Political Report # 1243 Canada: Trump's Terrier at the OAS
September 13, 2016
Book, "The Organization of American States as the Advocate and Guardian of Democracy. An Insider’s Critical Assessment of its Role in Promoting and Defending Democracy" by Ruben M. Perina
The Organization of American States as the Advocate and Guardian of Democracy
An Insider’s Critical Assessment of its Role in Promoting and Defending Democracy
RUBÉN M. PERINA
July 12, 2016
Book, "The Organization of American States as the Advocate and Guardian of Democracy. An Insider’s Critical Assessment of its Role in Promoting and Defending Democracy" by Ruben M. Perina
The Organization of American States as the Advocate and Guardian of Democracy
An Insider’s Critical Assessment of its Role in Promoting and Defending Democracy
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