“Almagro is a puppet of the United States,” said Caracas resident Monica Toledo.
As Venezuela once again became the topic of discussion in one of Washington’s most notable diplomatic spaces, Venezuelans in the country’s capital were in public spaces to make their views about the Organization of American States, OAS, known.
To many, the secretary-general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, has been waging a war against the government, in open collaboration with the country’s opposition and the United States.
“She must make it clear to the imperialist empire,” said Rafael Mellado, referring to Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Delcy Rodriguez. “Here in Venezuela, there are free people who will not accept interference or instruction.”
Mellado was among a growing number gathered at the Plaza Bolivar in Caracas to support Rodriguez’s visit to the OAS office in Washington, after calling a meeting of the bloc’s Permanent Council to address a recent report against the country penned by Almagro. Venezuelan officials denounced the OAS head’s attempt to apply the organization’s so-called “Democratic Charter,” and demanded the suspension of a planned Mar. 28 meeting that will discuss the application of the charter against the South American nation.
Earlier today, Venezuela’s Supreme Court issued a strongly-worded statement against what it describes as “unconstitutional attempts to dismantle Venezuelan democracy,” and called on President Nicolas Maduro to demand the resignation of Almagro as OAS secretary-general.
Meanwhile, throughout the city, government supporters did not mince words to get their points across.
“Almagro is a puppet of the United States,” said Monica Toledo. “Our minister dignified the representation of not just Venezuela’s women, but also Venezuela’s voice. Delcy Rodriguez is Venezuela. May God continue to give her the wisdom to defend the homeland of Bolivar and Chavez.”
Meanwhile, Venezuela’s opposition, which makes up the majority of the legislative branch of government, voted last week to support the OAS head’s moves, which are in line with their agenda to oust Maduro’s government by “any means necessary.”
“I request recognition for the secretary-general of the OAS, Luis Almagro, for his struggle and commitment to the Venezuelan people,” said MUD legislator for the state of Lara, Luis Florido.
Almagro has accused Venezuela of violating the Inter-American Democratic Charter, and has placed the “failure” of peace dialogues on the government. Almagro, who frequently meets with and makes public statements in favor of Venezuela’s opposition, is demanding that the country be suspended from the OAS if it does not call early elections.
Speaking at the OAS head office in Washington, Rodriguez said that Almagro “reached the OAS with a goal of ending the Bolivarian Revolution, and he lacks the impartiality to organize a campaign funded by OAS to destabilize Venezuela.”
Rodriguez said Almagro has held 27 events with Venezuelan opposition figures, while also dedicating 21 percent of his tweets against Venezuela.
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