Panama joins call to free Venezuela political prisoners

THE ORGANIZATION of American States (OAS) has backed away from expelling Venezuela but 14 member states, including Panama, have urged the country  to release its “political prisoners” and establish an electoral calendar. 

In a joint statement issued by the Mexican and Brazilian foreign ministries, the 14 countries considered it “urgent” that Venezuela “make the release of political prisoners a priority.”

The statement was signed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the

United States, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

Presidential elections in Venezuela are scheduled for December 2018, while those of governors,

due to be held last December, were postponed until 2017 and have no date yet.

OAS Secretary General Luis Almagro, who this week equated Venezuela with a “dictatorship,” and urged its ousting

if it refused to convene general elections that are “free, fair and transparent.”

In response, the government of President Nicolás Maduro accused Almagro of promoting

“international intervention” in his country.

The 14 countries expressed “deep concern” about the situation of political, economic and social crisis in Venezuela, and assured that they will evaluate “in detail” the report of the Uruguayan foreign minister “with a view to agreeing the corresponding course of action.”

In their letter, they also asked Venezuela to guarantee the effective separation of powers and respect for the rule of law and democratic institutions.