Venezuela Debate: Latin America’s Moment of Truth
Venezuela Debate: Latin America’s Moment of Truth
“The OAS doesn’t really have many other stronger tools for enforcement…It can kick Venezuela out, but that could lead to even greater isolation,” comments AS/COA’s Eric Farnsworth.
The Organization of American States first took steps 15 years ago to make sure that democratically elected government survived in the Western Hemisphere after decades of rule by military governments.
Now members of that organization are being called on to explain what democracy means to them and how far they’re willing to go to defend those ideals.
On Thursday, the OAS will debate whether the embattled Venezuelan government is truly democratic after OAS Secretary-General Luis Almagro invoked the group’s Democratic Charter, the document the organization approved in 2001 to ensure that the hemisphere’s elected governments never again would be subject to military coups. If the OAS determines that Venezuela has violated the charter, it could be suspended from the 34-nation group….
… While invoking the Democratic Charter could lead to Venezuela’s suspension, that scenario is unlikely. But Noriega and others said the group could draft a resolution recognizing the crisis, offer OAS support and call for a recall referendum.
The OAS doesn’t really have many other stronger tools for enforcement, said Eric Farnsworth, vice president of the Washington-based Council of the Americas. It has no military or police force. It can kick Venezuela out, but that could lead to even greater isolation….
