WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence called on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to immediately release six American oil executives who have been jailed for more than a year without trial, but he acknowledged, practically in the same breath, that their freedom will be slow to come as long as Maduro remains in power.
The U.S. is among scores of countries that contend Maduro’s election last year was illegitimate and that support opposition leader Juan Guaido’s claim to the presidency. The U.S. has imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela in an attempt to force Maduro to step down, but he so far has maintained his hold on power while accusing the U.S. of attempting to overthrow him.
“The United States today calls for the immediate release of these six individuals,” Pence said at a White House meeting with relatives of those who have been held for nearly 18 months while the Venezuelan government has postponed multiple court hearings in the case.
“Of course, we recognize that none of that will happen so long as Nicolas Maduro remains in power,” the vice president added.
Pence said the five American citizens and one legal permanent U.S. resident, all with roots in Texas and Louisiana, are being “illegally detained.”
The men, all employees of Houston-based Citgo, a longtime U.S. subsidiary of the Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA, were summoned to Caracas in November 2017 for a last-minute budget meeting but were arrested and charged with embezzlement stemming from a never-executed proposal to refinance some $4 billion in Citgo bonds.
Their families claim the charges are bogus and complain that their loved ones are kept in inhumane conditions in basement cells in a military counterintelligence prison with limited access to food and medicine. One relative told Pence she worries about her father’s health and safety. It’s been about a month since her last contact with him, she said.
Another relative expressed confidence in the Trump administration’s record in winning freedom for Americans detained abroad.
Pence assured the group that “we’re with you, and we’re going to stand with you until your loved ones are free and until Venezuela is free.”
14 US senators introduce bill on the crisis in Venezuela
A day later in Washington, bipartisan group of 14 U.S. senators introduced a bill Wednesday that they say will help restore democracy and address the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela.
Sen Bob Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, said the proposed legislation is “much more expansive” than the three bills on Venezuela adopted last week by the House of Representatives with bipartisan support.
The House bills would add new restrictions on the export of tear gas, riot gear and other items to Venezuela that could be used for crime control; urge the Trump administration to provide up to $150 million in humanitarian aid; and require the State Department and intelligence agencies to provide an assessment of the threat from Russian influence in the South American country.
The Senate bill would accelerate planning at international financial institutions for Venezuela’s reconstruction, authorize $400 million in new humanitarian assistance and formally recognize and support efforts by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó to restore democracy.
It also would remove sanctions on designated Venezuelans not involved in human rights abuse if they recognize Guaidó as the country’s interim president, something the U.S. and about 50 other governments have done. They contend Nicolas Maduro’s re-election as president last year was not legitimate.
The U.S. has revoked dozens of visas and imposed multiple rounds of sanctions as part of a campaign to force Maduro to turn over power to Guaidó.
The Senate proposal does not include the “all options are on the table” language used by the White House when referring to its Venezuela policy, even though U.S. officials have said Washington is not pursuing a military option at this time.
Menendez told reporters in a conference call that he is optimistic about the prospects for the bill in the Senate, citing backing from Sen. James Risch, an Idaho Republican who is chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. He said Risch voiced support for the measure as long as Menendez and Republican Sen Marco Rubio of Florida remain among its sponsors.
The 14 senators introduced their bill one day after over 40 organizations sent letters to members of Congress urging support for dialogue to resolve the crisis in Venezuela and opposing the sanctions imposed by the Trump administration.
“We call on you to take a strong, public stand against these immoral, reckless, and illegal policies and to support efforts to advance peaceful dialogue, before it is too late,” the letter said.
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Newsroom | theworldmail.co.uk
Source/Photo by Associated Press