[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 43 (Wednesday, April 17, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S2823]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               VENEZUELA

 Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I rise regarding recent events in 
Venezuela and my concern that the response of the administration was 
inconsistent with our foreign policy goal of promoting democracy 
abroad.
  On April 12, following anti-government protests by civil opposition 
sectors, supported by parts of the military, President Hugo Chavez was 
briefly forced to resign power. The civil-military movement named 
businessman Pedro Carmona as interim president, and he then took steps 
which further undermined constitutional order, dissolving the 
legislature and the Supreme Court. Instead of protesting these clear 
violations of democratic order, the U.S. found itself virtually alone 
in the region in seemingly welcoming the undemocratic change in 
government in Venezuela.
  Latin American presidents, meeting in Costa Rica, quickly condemned 
the coup as contrary to democratic obligations of members of the 
Organization of American States. Their action had nothing to do with 
support for President Chavez, whose radical declarations and friendly 
links to Cuba and Iraq had caused discomfort in the region and in 
Washington.
  However, the American government did not acknowledge that a coup had 
occurred and referred to the action as ``a change in the government.'' 
After 2 days, the lack of full support inside the Venezuelan military, 
the extreme nature of the actions of the interim president in voiding 
Venezuela's democratic institutions, and the clear opposition of 
hemispheric leaders resulted in Chavez being reinstated to the 
presidency.
  The Inter-American Democratic Charter, which the United States and 
the other members of the Organization of American States agreed to last 
year, commits all member governments to condemn and investigate the 
overthrow of any democratically elected OAS member government. These 
events tested the resolve of Western Hemisphere leaders in their 
support of democracy, and Latin American leaders responded decisively. 
Unfortunately, the American government failed the test.
  Our government must support changes of government through a 
constitutional process, not military means. America's failure to 
condemn the illegal overthrow of a democratically elected leader in 
Venezuela has seriously undermined our credibility in the Western 
Hemisphere.
  The United States must be a leader in promoting the strengthening of 
democracy in our hemisphere. We can do this by abiding by the OAS 
charter and by working within the OAS to maintain close scrutiny of 
democracies at risk.
  The Secretary-General of the OAS, Dr. Cesar Gaviria, arrived in 
Venezuela this week to evaluate the latest developments and explore how 
the OAS can support Venezuela in its efforts to strengthen democracy. 
As a member of the OAS, our government should strongly and 
unequivocally support Secretary-General Gaviria's mission. We must also 
support the right of the voters of Venezuela to decide their political 
future. At the same time, President Chavez should fully respect 
individual freedoms, including freedom of the press, due process, and 
the rule of law. The OAS should continue to monitor the situation in 
Venezuela closely, and the U.S. Government should renew its commitment 
to democracy and democratic standards in the region.

                          ____________________