[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 THE DANGER OF THE CHAVEZ REGIME TO HUMAN RIGHTS AND HEMISPHERIC PEACE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to 
speak about the deterioration of democratic institutions in Venezuela 
under Hugo Chavez and the need for immediate international action.
  Under Hugo Chavez, Venezuela is becoming a cancer in the Americas. As 
Chavez seeks closer ties with the tyrant Castro, and other totalitarian 
regimes, the rule of law in Venezuela is eroding, human rights abuses 
are on the rise, and ties with terrorists are continuing.
  The community of nations can no longer remain impassive as freedom 
loving Venezuelans are trampled on by the Chavez regime. At this moment 
in time, the countries of the Western Hemisphere must take a stand for 
freedom, and support the immediate approval of the recall referendum on 
the tenure of Chavez.
  Why is immediate international action needed? Under the OAS agreement 
of May 2003, the recall referendum must occur before August 19, 2004 if 
the Chavez regime is to be removed from office before January 2007. If 
the referendum is held after August 19, 2004, and Chavez is removed 
from office by the Venezuelan people, then his appointed Vice-President 
would serve the remainder of his term. The Chavez regime will then have 
been removed from office but allowed to retain power. This would be a 
tragedy for the Venezuelan people.
  If the referendum is held before August 19, 2004, and Chavez is 
ousted by the Venezuelan people, then there will be a special election 
30 days later to elect a new President. Under the OAS agreement of May 
2003, after the recall is certified and approved, the recall referendum 
must be held within the next 97 days. If Chavez is to be held 
accountable to the democratic will of Venezuela, then the recall must 
be approved by the second week of May.
  The community of democracies must not allow Venezuela to become the 
next totalitarian state in the Western Hemisphere. Though Venezuela has 
been moving steadily towards a dictatorship, we must not allow the slow 
pace of repression to shield us from the reality of a Chavez regime 
with tyrannical intent.
  Today and everyday we must extend our solidarity to the freedom 
loving people in Venezuela. We must bring an international spotlight 
and coordinated pressure on the recall process and Chavez' delaying 
tactics. It is my belief that the longer the international community 
passively observes the erosion of rights in Venezuela, the more 
probable dictatorship becomes. We cannot practice the politics of 
appeasement in Venezuela. We must practice the politics of solidarity 
and put pressure on the regime to ratify the recall signatures before 
the regime runs out the clock and retains two more years to wrap the 
rope of dictatorship around the necks of all Venezuelans.

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