What
can we learn from the Venezuelan Crisis?
can we learn from the Venezuelan Crisis?
The ongoing crisis in Venezuela brought on due to extreme economic turmoil and widespread
corruption has established a series of civil unrest within several cities
including its capital, Caracas. With hundreds of thousands of its nationals
going hungry as food becomes even scarcer throughout the nation and several
medical necessities being non-existent within the country’s medical/health
sector the country is almost beyond a humanitarian crisis.
corruption has established a series of civil unrest within several cities
including its capital, Caracas. With hundreds of thousands of its nationals
going hungry as food becomes even scarcer throughout the nation and several
medical necessities being non-existent within the country’s medical/health
sector the country is almost beyond a humanitarian crisis.
 |
| A protester in Venezuela runs with a Flare. Adapted from: latino.foxnews.com |
Venezuela, who for many
years adapted to its Totalitarian regime with illiberal democracy which lacks
democratic qualities such as civil and human rights, has one the highest
inflation rates worldwide. Venezuela has one of the highest crime and murder
rates on earth whereby according to statistics a person is murdered every 21
minutes. Currently Transparency International has ranked the country among the
top 20 most corrupt countries, tied with four other countries as the 8th most
corrupt nation in the world. The current Venezuelan government has yet to learn
from its neighbors Brazil, who recently ousted its President due to strong
allegations of corruption. Venezuela and its neighboring ally Trinidad and
Tobago earlier this year came to an agreement to export food to Venezuela but
many persons and businesses in the private sector remain mummed on the matter
because with the Latin American country strongly lacking in foreign exchange
how could we trust and assure the payment for goods being exported.
years adapted to its Totalitarian regime with illiberal democracy which lacks
democratic qualities such as civil and human rights, has one the highest
inflation rates worldwide. Venezuela has one of the highest crime and murder
rates on earth whereby according to statistics a person is murdered every 21
minutes. Currently Transparency International has ranked the country among the
top 20 most corrupt countries, tied with four other countries as the 8th most
corrupt nation in the world. The current Venezuelan government has yet to learn
from its neighbors Brazil, who recently ousted its President due to strong
allegations of corruption. Venezuela and its neighboring ally Trinidad and
Tobago earlier this year came to an agreement to export food to Venezuela but
many persons and businesses in the private sector remain mummed on the matter
because with the Latin American country strongly lacking in foreign exchange
how could we trust and assure the payment for goods being exported.
 |
| A Venezuelan Soldier aims his weapon at protesters. Adapted from isiseurope.worldpress.com |
The United Nations
human rights office in 2014 stated that they were, deeply concerned about the
escalation of violence in Venezuela, and called on all parties to engage in
dialogue to peacefully resolve the crisis. They also stated that they received
worrying reports of intimidation of journalists, some of whom have had their
equipment seized, as well as reports that some local and international
journalists were attacked while covering protests. In addition, some protesters
have reportedly been detained and may be prosecuted on terrorism charges. It
has also been reported that some protesters, including minors, are being denied
contact with family or lawyers. The Regional Representative of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights in South America had called on the Venezuelan
Government to ensure that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
freedom of opinion and expression are guaranteed, and that a prompt, full and
impartial investigation into the killings and any act of excessive use of force
is undertaken. He also called for all detainees to be promptly brought before
justice in order to decide on the lawfulness of their detention or to order
their release. We are now in September of 2016 and it is still seen time and
time again via social media and on various international news programs of
peaceful protesters being attacked by the Venezuelan armed forces and the
illegal detaining of persons who speak out against the current regime. This
once beautiful country which has now become a failed a state and has proven
that its totalitarian regimes are not capable of running a country. The most important thing the citizens of Venezuela need and want are food, health care and a government that can make a difference for the better.
human rights office in 2014 stated that they were, deeply concerned about the
escalation of violence in Venezuela, and called on all parties to engage in
dialogue to peacefully resolve the crisis. They also stated that they received
worrying reports of intimidation of journalists, some of whom have had their
equipment seized, as well as reports that some local and international
journalists were attacked while covering protests. In addition, some protesters
have reportedly been detained and may be prosecuted on terrorism charges. It
has also been reported that some protesters, including minors, are being denied
contact with family or lawyers. The Regional Representative of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights in South America had called on the Venezuelan
Government to ensure that the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and
freedom of opinion and expression are guaranteed, and that a prompt, full and
impartial investigation into the killings and any act of excessive use of force
is undertaken. He also called for all detainees to be promptly brought before
justice in order to decide on the lawfulness of their detention or to order
their release. We are now in September of 2016 and it is still seen time and
time again via social media and on various international news programs of
peaceful protesters being attacked by the Venezuelan armed forces and the
illegal detaining of persons who speak out against the current regime. This
once beautiful country which has now become a failed a state and has proven
that its totalitarian regimes are not capable of running a country. The most important thing the citizens of Venezuela need and want are food, health care and a government that can make a difference for the better.
 |
| Protesters create a human chain as a sign for peace. Adapted from: theeconomictrail.com |
Daniel Bertie,
Human Rights Advocate
Trinidad and
Tobago
Tobago
References:
- Iacob, I. (n.d.). Venezuela’s Failed
Socialist Experiment. Retrieved July 24, 2016, from
http://www.forbes.com/sites/ivonaiacob/2016/07/24/venezuelas-failed-socialist-experiment/#54f1416958d4 - Bremmer, I. (n.d.). These 5 Facts
Explain Why Venezuela Could Be on the Brink of Collapse. Retrieved May 19,
2016, from http://time.com/4342329/venezuela-economic-collapse-nicolas-maduro/. - UN rights office urges probe into
Venezuela violence, calls for dialogue to resolve crisis. (2014). Retrieved
September 14, 2016, from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=47142 - Castillo, M., & C. (2014, January
10). Beauty queen’s killers nabbed, Venezuela says. Retrieved September 14,
2016, from http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/09/world/americas/monica-spear-venezuela-beauty-queen-killed/ - E.V., T. I. (n.d.). Corruption by
Country / Territory. Retrieved September 14, 2016, from
http://www.transparency.org/country#VEN - Hassanali, S. (2016, May 24th).
Venezuela to buy US50m in goods. Retrieved September 14, 2016, from
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2016-05-23/venezuela-buy-us50m-goods