Chavez criticizes human rights court over ruling
By JORGE RUEDA
Associated Press
CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez criticized the
Inter-American Court of Human Rights on Saturday after it ruled in favor
of an opposition politician who is seeking to run for president.
The Costa Rica-based court said in its ruling released Friday that
Leopoldo Lopez should be allowed to run for office despite a decision by
Venezuela's top anti-corruption official that had barred him from being
a candidate due to a corruption investigation.
Chavez said the court is part of an international system that "protects
the corrupt and obeys the mandate of the (U.S.) imperial power and the
bourgeoisie."
"What value can that court have?" Chavez said. "For me, it's worthless."
Chavez didn't respond specifically to the court's conclusions in its
decision. "It's not up to me to comment on the legal details of that
issue," he said, adding that other Venezuelan institutions would respond
to the ruling.
He said the court's decision reflected "the desperation of the
bourgeoisie seeking to make itself a victim, searching for a candidate
whoever it is." Chavez has drawn key support from the poor since he was
first elected in 1998, and has sought to portray his opponents as
representing the interests of the wealthy.
A Lopez candidacy could lead to a significant shift in the field of
opposition candidates as contenders begin campaigning for a primary vote
in February designed to pick a unity candidate to challenge Chavez. The
presidential election will be held in October 2012.
Lopez, a former Caracas district mayor, was barred from running for
office in 2005 by the country's comptroller general. Lopez was accused
of receiving donations on behalf of an organization he led between 1998
and 2001 from the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA, where his
mother worked at the time.
Lopez was among a list of politicians blacklisted due to corruption
investigations, but he has not been formally charged with any crime and
he maintains he is innocent. He challenged his disqualification before
the human rights court, arguing his rights were violated.
The court agreed, saying Venezuela's National Electoral Council "should
assure that the sanctions ... don't constitute an impediment to the
candidacy of Mr. Lopez."
The government said in a statement Friday that it would await decisions
on the matter by Venezuela's Supreme Court.
Chavez mentioned the decision by the Inter-American Court of Human
Rights during a televised meeting with Bolivian President Evo Morales.
The two leaders later left for Cuba, where Chavez will be undergoing
cancer treatment.
Chavez said Venezuela has institutions that "know how to occupy their
position and defend the constitutional mandate."
Lopez confirmed Friday that he intends to run for president and said
Venezuela has an obligation to comply with the court's ruling.
Venezuela is a signatory to the American Convention on Human Rights,
which the regional court cited in its ruling.
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/09/17/2411959/chavez-criticizes-human-rights.html#storylink=misearch
No comments:
Post a Comment