[wanabidii] Press Releases: Venezuela: Inclusion of All Parties a Key to Solving Challenges

You are subscribed to Press Releases for U.S. Department of State. This information has recently been updated, and is now available. Press Releases: Venezuela: Inclusion of All Parties a Key to Solving Challenges 02/17/2016 05:21 PM EST Venezuela: Inclusion of All Parties a Key to Solving Challenges Press Statement Mark C. Toner Deputy Department Spokesperson Washington, DC February 17, 2016 The United States remains concerned about actions taken by the Venezuelan administration to silence its opponents, which have led to a climate of intimidation and repression. Dozens of leaders from Venezuelan society have been imprisoned for their political beliefs. These include: Leopoldo Lopez, who will complete his second year in detention tomorrow; Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, who was arrested almost one year ago and remains silenced and on house arrest; former Mayor Daniel Ceballos; and numerous students. In the meantime, those who commit crimes against members of the opposition often appear to act with impunity. The most recent example occurred February 14, when criminals broke into the home of El Hatillo Mayor David Smolansky and covered the walls with hate slogans based on his religion. We continue to call for respect for the will of the people, the rule of law, the separation of powers within the government, and the democratic process. We are deeply concerned by decisions of the Venezuelan Supreme Court limiting the authority of the recently elected National Assembly, which have undermined Venezuelan democracy. We join other countries in the region and around the world in their calls for dialogue among all branches of government, in order to address the social and economic challenges facing the Venezuelan people. The solution to these challenges will require the inclusion of all interested parties. Rather than suppressing peaceful democratic dissent in order to silence opposing views, now is the time for leaders to listen to diverse Venezuelan voices and work together to find solutions. The Office of Website Management, Bureau of Public Affairs, manages this site as a portal for information from the U.S. State Department. External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein. Stay connected with the State Department:       External links found in this content or on Department of State websites that go to other non-Department websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.  Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com. This service is provided to you at no charge by U.S. Department of State. This email was sent to wanabidii@googlegroups.com using GovDelivery, on behalf of: U.S. Department of State · 2201 C Street NW · Washington, DC 20520